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OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW with Victoria Odekomaya
Welcome to the OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW where you'll learn how to own and grow your brand and market your business. Every week I interview entrepreneurs and/or share branding, marketing and business tips to grow your influence, build a profitable business and make an impact.
Victoria Odekomaya is an award winning photographer, brand & marketing strategist with over a decade of experience. She is passionate about helping women fulfill their dreams and purpose effortlessly.
Click to be featured, advertise on the show or connect with Victoria: https://mtr.bio/limstudios
OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW with Victoria Odekomaya
Faith, Education, and Resilience: Cathy Tooley's Journey from Classroom to Boardroom | Ep 45
Join us for an inspiring conversation about the power of education, resilience, and taking action! In this episode, we sit down with Cathy Tooley, CEO of Tools for Success, as she shares her journey from the classroom to the boardroom. Cathy talks about the vital role teachers play in shaping the future and why we need to better support and compensate educators, especially in light of the unique challenges they’ve faced during the pandemic. Her passion for improving education and investing in our teachers makes this a must-listen for anyone looking for inspiration to trust in faith and navigate challenging times.
Cathy also dives into how embracing unexpected changes—like shifting careers or navigating difficult times—can lead to new opportunities. She shares her own personal story of finding alignment with her purpose and the success that followed. Through faith and resilience, Cathy’s insights show that when we focus on progress over perfection, great things can happen, both in education and beyond.
If you're an educator, aspiring entrepreneur, or someone going through a challenging period, Cathy’s story is filled with practical advice and heartfelt wisdom that will resonate with you. She shows how faith, perseverance, and a commitment to progress can lead to transformative outcomes, even when the path forward seems unclear. Whether you’re looking for the courage to make a career shift, overcome personal setbacks, or simply move forward in your current journey, Cathy’s experience offers a powerful reminder that trusting in yourself—and in something greater—can open doors you never expected. You’ll leave this episode feeling inspired, equipped with actionable insights, and ready to embrace the next steps in your own story, no matter where you are on your journey.
//ABOUT
Victoria Odekomaya is a Nigerian American and former drug research scientist turned brand and marketing expert. Through her Creative Agency, LiMStudios, she specializes in brand photography, video creation, and strategic marketing. Victoria's mission is to empower female entrepreneurs to be SEEN, KNOWN, and HEARD, enhancing their visual presence and attracting their ideal customers to build a BANKABLE PERSONAL BRAND. Victoria's scientific background has honed her analytical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills, which she integrates into her branding strategies. Her 23-year journey to U.S. citizenship reflects the perseverance female entrepreneurs need to overcome challenges in branding and marketing. This fuels her dedication to empower women to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.
In 2022, Victoria launched the BOSS LADIES CAMPAIGN, giving participants a celebrity photoshoot experience to enhance their confidence and brand visibility. The campaign promotes these women through features in BOSS LADIES magazine, appearances on Victoria's 'OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW', and recognition at the BOSS LADIES GALA. The gala not only celebrates women but also raises funds for local non-profits, so far raising $19,000+ for Dove Recovery House for Women and PINK RIBBON CONNECTION.
For sponsorship/business inquiries, visit https://mtr.bio/limstudios or email hello@thelimstudios.com.
In life. I always say the only limited resource that the Lord gives us is time.
Speaker 1:You have a limited amount of time on this earth, that's it Everything else is an abundance and I don't want anyone to listen to this podcast and think that that is me going. Look at what I've done. If that's what you heard, then you aren't listening appropriately. Look at what God has done. Ooh, that's it. Look at what God has done. I'll give you my time. You give me money. God is a father of abundance. He knows nothing else. Satan is the devil of scarcity. It was the darkest five years of my life. There is no question so many entrepreneurs out there think that success is defined by money.
Speaker 1:And I am a successful company, because I'm making a lot of money and I don't define my success that way. I define my success in the gift that the Lord gave me was to be an educator.
Speaker 2:That's the gift. So just at the beginning stage, like how did you get started, like what are some of the things that you had to do practically to get the business going?
Speaker 1:One start surrounding yourself with people who are where you had to do practically to get the business going. One start surrounding yourself with people who are where you want to be so.
Speaker 2:my guest today is Cathy Tolley, and thank you so much. I'm so excited about this conversation and I cannot wait to dive into it. How are you doing today?
Speaker 1:I am doing so well, how are you?
Speaker 2:I am doing fantastic. I am more excited because I know today is going to be good. Before we started recording, you were already like filling my cup up, inspiring me, and I just, oh, I cannot wait for this conversation. I cannot wait, oh my goodness.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I know you are the CEO of Tools for Success. You have over 30 years of experience in the educational field. You've been doing your business for over 10 years and you have impacted so many lives along the way. So just tell us a little bit about Tools for Success before we get started.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So the easy premise of Tools for Success is that I was a teacher for 20 years and then a principal for 10. And I knew that what really makes a difference in our schools is to really I always say it's like a wraparound services by loving and supporting our teachers and administrators.
Speaker 1:And that's what we do as a company. We provide professional development, support and services to schools, specifically their teachers and their principals, because we really believe strongly as a company that every child has the right to a meaningful, impactful education. They only get one shot at getting that right and that our teachers are the greatest vessel. They are the ones delivering that instruction. And so I knew as a principal that it was a need, and so, when I was no longer a principal in a brick and mortar building, I decided to create a company to fill a need, and that's what we've done. So now we partner with schools from new jersey to california, um, and everywhere in between to, uh, support teachers. That's what we do. That's what we do so.
Speaker 2:On behalf of every parent out there, and even the teachers and the principals and all the kids, I want to say thank you, you're welcome. Thank you so much, and I say that because during the pandemic, a lot of us parents became pseudo teachers and oh my God it was the hardest job ever and that's why I'm saying they have felt thank you, because I was like looking at my kids and I'm like about to strangle them because I was like you know we what is our world every day, and not in a bad way.
Speaker 1:We're not complaining, teachers aren't complaining, but it's like you know how your children drive you crazy. Well, we've got your children all day, every day, plus 30 others. Look, and I know, I know, I know, I know, I know.
Speaker 2:I know I day every day, plus 30 others. So one time I saw my, I was sitting in. My kid was my youngest, was in kindergarten, so it was his first one. So, uh, in virtually, and I was sitting down next to him and there was, like I don't know, maybe, like I'm not 15 other kids and they could not sit still. And I thought it was just my kid because they was, like you know, jumping around and bouncing around. But I saw all the other kids and I was like, huh, how does the teacher do? Like I could not, because I was trying to have him sit down and focus and stay still and all of that. But I was like, when I saw all the kids and I was like, how is that even? How is that even manageable? So, oh, my goodness, I can't look. Wow, I, oh my goodness, I can't look.
Speaker 1:Yep, wow, I said. Well, it will give you a quick appreciation for us and then you have on the other end of the spectrum, the poor parents try to teach AP Calculus. Couple of AP Calculus. Oh my God, teachers are, I think, the most undervalued, underestimated, underutilized group of individuals and humans out there. I don't say it because I was one. Teaching is not a not. I believe that teachers are born to be teachers because it requires such a giving heart and such a nurturing spirit one thing on top of all of the latest data and standards and classroom practices and we certainly aren't compensated appropriately.
Speaker 1:But, yeah, there really isn't an appropriate compensation you can give to what we do, and I'd like it to be better than what it is. But I don't think you can measure what what we do as teachers and so with the company. I just feel't think you can measure what we do as teachers and so with the company. I just feel like my audience has changed. I'm still teaching, I just am no longer teaching high school kids.
Speaker 1:I'm teaching adults, and that's what both of our companies are doing and the teachers that we work with. They're like little sponges that just are so thankful because they're great people. They're just great people. I stand back sometimes in awe of what God can do, in that I don't. I say this all the time to our schools I don't have some secret pill or some magic little sauce that we give schools that automatically make them better. All we do is help teachers pick up.
Speaker 1:They're already digging the shovel really really hard. They're already working really really hard. We just help them move the shovel to the right area to hit gold. That's what we do as a company, and and they're, they're willing to dig because we're already digging, so we just take that hand and help them move the shovel and dig.
Speaker 1:So we always hit gold with those kids, with that standard, with those assessments, with the requirements. And I stand every single day in awe that god allowed me to have this company and have the people that work for me. I mean these are incredibly gifted. No one can work for my company unless you've been the principal's chair for at least 10 years and they love it.
Speaker 1:I'm not talking sloths, I'm talking highly educated, giving, loving, incredible people. I look at my employees and I never use that word with them because we're a team. I just haven't been told what they do. But together we make a difference in schools, In life. Right, it's just, it's incredible, it's a gift. It's a gift which is what anyone does. That's got a successful company. Wow, it's a gift to make a difference?
Speaker 2:Yeah, as you were talking, I was thinking about so you are teachers, of teachers, and the impact that a teacher has in the life of a kid oh my God, mind blowing. You know the opportunity to be able to shape a person that God has created. You know to be everything that they have been called and you know they are capable of doing. I think that that is just an oh my God, just mind blowing to just the incredible amount of work that you do, and so I am so thankful I am just again on behalf of all the parents out there and just the incredible work that you do just shaping our future, shaping our kids, shaping our lives that is just amazing.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Don't thank me. Thank the teachers that are willing to take on the work.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because it's a on the work. Yeah, because it's a labor of love.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a labor of love and for them they have to be willing to say show me, is there a better way? How could I do this differently? And the teachers in schools we work with are literally like have you ever seen that visual where the mama bird flies over and the baby birds? Do this. Those bird flies over and the baby birds do this. Those are the teachers they're like show me more, show me more, let's work together, or that wasn't? Working. How do I do this?
Speaker 1:differently. So here's simply the um vessel that takes the gifts that god gave of those teachers to make them the best that they could be. That's all that we need. That's all. Wow, bring out the best of the gifts that they've already been given. So we're, so we're like talent seekers Just dig that out a little bit like that's really good but how do you do?
Speaker 1:that and our teachers are. I love to get the emails where my school is better because you're here and you hear all the lovely accolades. But it's kind of like what I felt like as a teacher when I had a student um select me as their favorite teacher for the year that never went that never, never got dull, it never got assumed.
Speaker 1:I always used to think you're the one speaker for the others had me at least had some difference, good or bad, um, and I feel that that same way when we go into schools, that because tools for success was there, this is a better school, wow. Collaboration with the incredible educators that are already there that they were willing to say, hey, how do we get better? How do? We get better.
Speaker 1:That's really what life is all about. None of us are perfect, but and all of us get better by looking and saying, huh, how are you doing that and how could I get better at it? That's what our school is.
Speaker 2:That's what our school is, and then we just help them be better. And you have been doing this for over 10 years and you have helped I think it will be 10 years, okay. And then you've also done we've partnered with over a hundred schools, you said, from California to the other side of the you know spectrum, and so we're overseas as well. Yeah, so I know you're also a speaker, you're also an author. I want to like dive in a little bit into you, know your world as an entrepreneur, because you have. I just, can you just teach us, teach us in this, like, teach us how to be the best that we can be, because you're a born teacher.
Speaker 1:I think you know what I mean. So so first let me get clear. I started this company because I was fired, so let's get a basis for that. Everyone looks like, oh my gosh, she should have. You know, I have always known, it's always been in my heart, that the Lord wanted me to be an entrepreneur. I've always known that. I had dreams and visions that I would be in this position. But I went to school. I went to college, I got a degree for teaching. I moved on up the ladder, became a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal. I got all the appropriate degrees. And, um, that dream just sat there while I did what the world told me I was supposed to do, because the world teaches us limitation. The world does not teach us God's abundance. The world teaches us to get a degree and go get a job. So then what you do is exchange your time for their money.
Speaker 1:That's what the world teaches us, and I'm not saying my parents did anything wrong. I did the same thing with my three children Go to school, get a college, they all have degrees, they all have great jobs.
Speaker 2:That's all we know. That's what we've been programmed to do. That's what we've been programmed.
Speaker 1:Matter of fact, you are defined successful by the kind of degree and kind of job you have. Look, I can say let me just interject real quickly.
Speaker 2:As a Nigerian, you know my parents and a lot of our parents also groom us to be doctors, lawyers or, you know, engineers. Why is that? Because they feel like that's the success, Because it's more money. Yes, that's the success.
Speaker 1:In life. I always say the only limited resource that the Lord gives us is time. You have a limited amount of time on this earth, that's it. Everything else is an abundance. So what we've been taught as americans is if I'm going to work for an hour, I need to go get a job that's going to give me the biggest dollar for an hour exchange give me my, I'll give you my time, you give me money.
Speaker 1:So it wasn't until I was fired. Um, I'll give you my time, you give me money. So it wasn't until I was fired Budget cuts. They called me into a meeting I tell the story all the time on November 14th of 2014. I never saw it coming and my boss at the time said, and I quote we're a million dollars in debt. You're the highest paid administrator, we'll give you a two week severance package. I never saw it coming. I never saw the meeting coming.
Speaker 1:I didn't know, two week severance package, that's it november 14th, so I I left that meeting, you know, because at first you're kind of dumbfounded.
Speaker 2:I've never been fired, ever, ever in my life and I like that, like, did that, like you know, like you're still like trying to process all right, I remember looking at his mouth and you remember the Charlie Brown work.
Speaker 1:Like I remember looking, I'm staring at his mouth, thinking I am I getting fired?
Speaker 2:Like did you just say what Like, what Like fired.
Speaker 1:Like like no job, like like that's what my brain was processing, like wow. So as I I went upstairs, I got my purse, came downstairs, sat in my car, looked at the building that 10 minutes ago I was their principal and heard the lord say to me now you live the life that I designed you for, as clear as I'm talking to you.
Speaker 1:And I put my hands in the air and said I am so frightened, Father. Wow, but I trust. So as I pulled out of the parking lot, I called my husband and he said what just happened. I said I know. I said I'm going to call Scott. He was our what do you call him financial advisor?
Speaker 1:I made a call to him for Monday and when I went into him on Monday, I said I need you to do me a favor. And he said what I said I need you to buy me about two years. Tell me that we've got enough money in investments that I can survive for two years. I need to make a mortgage payment. Jake's a freshman in college. Our youngest was a freshman in college and he said yeah, because actually you're over 50. You won't be penalized for touching this money. And I said get ready to write a check.
Speaker 1:And Tools for Success was born and what I know now almost 10 years later is when I left teaching and got my first raise as an assistant principal. It was a $30,000 raise. You would have thought I made millions, Wow. A thirty thousand dollar raise you would have thought I made millions, wow. And when I look back at that abundance that I thought it was at that time and where I am financially today. I don't think we understand the lord's abundance.
Speaker 1:I certainly didn't I thought that abundance meant get a better job that paid more money. Thought that abundance meant get a better job that paid more money. What I know now is abundance means live in the purpose that God set you to live in, and there is no limitation to what he can do.
Speaker 2:Look, I said before that you are just. Oh, my goodness, thank you, you're welcome. Look, live in your purpose.
Speaker 1:Live in your purpose. Yeah, live in. There is abundance and what the world defines as abundance financial security. The company now nets me more in a year than I would have made between that day and retirement. Wow, we were taking trips to Florida and now we're taking trips to Europe for two to three weeks.
Speaker 2:Oh, my God.
Speaker 1:We were giving our children gifts you know, like Christmas gifts and now we're paying into our grandchildren's college funds.
Speaker 2:Look at God.
Speaker 1:Because God knows no limitations.
Speaker 1:God knows no enough, god. We have done $247,000 of renovations in the past three years to our home and paid cash for it. We buy vehicles and I don't want anyone to listen to this podcast and think that that is me going. Look at what I've done. If that's what you heard, then you aren't listening appropriately. Look at what God has done. Ooh, that's it. Look at what God has done.
Speaker 1:I lived for 30 years Well, let's go 20 because I was a teacher. My husband worked at a hospital and I was a teacher. We couldn't rub two nickels together to get a nickel. Wow, I could remember coming out of the back I'm going to date myself, but some of your listeners will get it.
Speaker 1:But back in the day, you used to sit at the kitchen table and you wrote checks to write your bills right, notes on them as to when they could be mailed, based upon my paychecks. Right, because that's what you get. And I remember going to the living room and saying to my husband you want the good news and bad news, because he saw me paying bill and he said start with the good news. All our bills are going to be paid now. Paid that minimum on many things, but paid. No one's calling us. The bad news is, with two dollars and eighty cents in the checking account, that needs lasted two weeks. We have gas in our car, food and our thing, and that was it. I could remember laying in bed at night and worrying because our daughter was a cheerleader and all of a sudden they needed an extra 250 dollars for insert whatever. That may as well have been a billion to us. Now that wow, because I was living in what the world told me I was supposed to do the limitation correct.
Speaker 1:I don't even think about money. It's just because every now and then my payroll is over $90,000 a month Wait say that again $90,000 a month. A month Whoa and growing. And every now and then I'll look at the account and think, and I will literally see this hey, laura, I know you're're busy, but have you seen these numbers? And then checks will start coming in. Checks will start coming in and sometimes I'll go. You like to push it, don't you?
Speaker 1:you just like to make me worry, because I think every now and then he has to do things like do you trust me? I do, I just do, I do, I just I don't think about um, if we need to hire a new consultant, will I find one.
Speaker 1:I say now, lord, I think we're going to pick up some extra schools and I think I'm going to need some help in Michigan. So send me the right person and you know how your daughter can be a little slow, make sure I don't miss it, because I'm missing.
Speaker 2:Look what I'm hearing. You say sorry.
Speaker 1:To interrupt here is like just letting go and letting go, trusting god in every single thing claim that it's his company and then control it, and I might be might be a bit of a control freak. So if god has taught me nothing over the past 10 years is you don't get to live in his abundance and understand who he is by telling him what to do. It doesn't work. So I have lost more contracts than I was sure I was going to get, and got some that I didn't even see coming, and all I do is I have this right over here to my left. I can show you this is what I look at. This is this is how I picture my Lord. All the time with me is that when I question, so this is this is what sits right there, I call it a laughing Jesus. So when I don't put a contract, I look over at him and I go. It isn't funny. I thought we had that. Help me understand, father, what you didn't want me to get.
Speaker 1:And then when we do get it, whenever he puts something away, it's because he's got something greater, always, always. When he pulls something back, it's because he's got something greater. And then, when the come, I'll stare at that picture go, stop laughing at me, I'm careful, I let it go um, but I think so many entrepreneurs out there think that success is defined by money and I'm a successful company because I I'm making a lot of money and I don't define my success that way.
Speaker 1:I define my success in the gift that the lord gave me was to be an educator. That's the gift the gift that I was born a teacher. I used to make my brothers my students back when we were little and I would grade their little papers. I was born to be a teacher.
Speaker 1:Wow, the limiting way that I believed it was that that was to be in a brick and mortar building that I needed to stay in a brick and mortar building that I needed to stay in a brick and mortar building and it took the Lord 30 years and being fired in November because you're not finding any job in education in November. Education is one of those weird fields that the door opens in July and August and it slams shut. You're done. You're not finding a job in November. It's just not happening.
Speaker 1:And now what he's taught me is you are an educator. I created you to be an educator. I needed you to get this experience so that you could then help others be amazing educators. And people ask me all the time do you regret staying in the school as long as you did? No, it may be who I am. The Lord didn't want me to leave then, or he would have put the roadblock that he put in my way. I really believe that he put that in my place in November. Literally said checkmate. Now what do? You do.
Speaker 1:Because everyone else told me to go get a job.
Speaker 1:Right, you can go find another job, kathy, you've got a master's degree, you've got a lot of experience. They were telling me to go to work. This consulting group was hiring and I just kept hearing the Lord say no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Wow, you work for me. You work for me, create my company, create what I want. Don't listen and I didn't. And I tell people all the time. 90% of entrepreneurs don't make it because when the going gets tough, the tough get revenue of entrepreneurs don't make it, because when the going gets tough, the tough get revenue.
Speaker 1:At the moment, um, that things don't go the way we say they should go, the way we dictated that my company should go, you can make it this by this date and this by this date and this by this date. Have a secretary by this date and the moment that our story isn't appropriate, we decide not what god wanted me to do. No, sweetheart, god wants you to shut your mouth and listen to what he told you to do, and there are so many times, especially in those first two or three years.
Speaker 1:Um, remember, I went from making a six figure salary as a principal to a thousand dollars, my, my first year $5,000 my second year, and then today we're a multimillion dollar company.
Speaker 2:Wow, okay, I, I, I. There's a lot that you just dropped that I want to unpack because, like I'm getting goosebumps, I am getting he's good, look. So one of the things that I took on from what you said was like your gifts will make room for you, because when you trusted God and you were leaning on what he's actually telling you to do as an educator, you were, you know. Doors began to open for you your own, you know, your own contract, the people that you are supposed to be serving, not just because you're like, you know, I got to get this, I got to get that. No, your own people began to come to you, you know. And so let's start. Let's go back a little bit to.
Speaker 2:So you got the. You got the announcement from your um you know, administrator at the time that you're fired, and then you got in your car. You know you're going through all this emotion. You called your husband and then you then moved on to talk to your financial advisor and you were able to figure some things out. So tell me a little bit about like, okay, so now you, you, you're like God, take the wheel, jesus, take the wheel. I am going to do it your own way this time. So just at the beginning stage, like how did you get started, like what are some of the things that you had to do practically to get the business going?
Speaker 1:So you know, I knew nothing about starting a business. I thought I was really smart and I was. I knew how to run a building, but that does not a business. So the first step, once I knew that I was financially going to be okay, my husband and I knew how to pull our belt tight.
Speaker 1:We've done it our whole life raising kids. So we had some you know those necessary discussions Okay, we're not going to have this and we're not. Okay, now we're going to survive. Okay, we're not going to lose our home, we're not going to lose our life. The next step I made was get really, really quiet, which is not strong for me. As you can tell, I'm a doctor, so I journaled a lot what I believe he was wanting, because I thought I was going to travel the world to be a motivational speaker. That's what I was going to do, because I am a great motivational speaker.
Speaker 1:You are a great speaker, you are a great speaker, but the world wasn't opening up for that. So I started doing my homework and I learned very quickly that speaking is a saturated field. For every one speaking opportunity.
Speaker 1:There are over 12, 000 qualified speakers for it and I so then, I decided, okay, I've got to go find people that are where I want to be. I've got to go sit down with people, have meetings with people, have conversations with people who are women entrepreneurs, who are where I want to be, and I don't mean in education, I mean I didn't even know that you needed to go file with the secretary of state and become an llc. I didn't know that again, I was a principal. I didn't know that right, so I started putting dealers out on facebook, you know hey, I've started my company.
Speaker 1:Um, does anyone know any successful entrepreneur who would be willing to have lunch with me on my tree? I got any money, but I was willing to take you to uh panera and that's what I started doing and I would. I just became a sponge, taking in what they said. And then, yeah, be careful too as an entrepreneur take what they say and sift it through god's plan love that take what people say, because one of the first things I found is everyone not going to.
Speaker 1:Just, I'm not disrespecting multi-level marketing, but there were a lot of multi-level marketers that were like oh my gosh, you need to sell this, you need to sell that. You need to come on my team. You need to come on my team. Well, of course you want me on, right? I mean, I could sell snow to an eskimo and they think they bought something but, I used to tell my husband I'm going to get a shirt that says I don't want to sell your stuff and so I actually hooked up.
Speaker 1:I met I was doing a speech for free for a friend and I met a group, two ladies who had a branding company. I was probably November, december, january, february, march, november, may, june, seven months into my company. So I had lots of lunches and all these people telling you as they always do oh my gosh, I can't believe you're fired, oh my gosh, I'll hook you up with Susie Q and you'll make millions of dollars. And I took all those meetings because what else did I have to do? But it wasn't until I met a branding company and you don't even spend tons of money.
Speaker 1:I didn't where. They really helped me understand Tools for Success as a brand and separating from tools for success, because to me they were one of the things um and so once I really started understanding that and how to market that and how to you know, I'm doing this on a shoestring budget, to start with, yeah, my website then I literally started by myself.
Speaker 1:It's not even recognizable to the website we have today, but as you grow, then you could afford to bring different level of people and I will never forget um Dr Myron Golden I don't know if you've heard of him. I attended a thing called life surge. Long story short. I ended up hiring him as my coach okay, for money. This one is about five years ago, maybe four, I don't remember and I remember writing that check, thinking, but I thought he is exactly where I want to be and while my pedagogies didn't agree on everything.
Speaker 1:I took so many nuggets. So that's my advice to people that are brand new starting out well one start surrounding yourself with people who are where you want to be. Now my coaches and the people that I surround with are. I mean, I love people, but if you have a $100,000 company, congratulations. But you can't coach me. I'm not coached by. My current coach has a $2 billion business.
Speaker 1:I don't know how to coach me because I'm not where I was. So surround yourself and there are lots of women like me. I coach all kinds of entrepreneurs for free because I believe that when God pours into me, I will pour into others.
Speaker 2:Okay, let me just plug that. Let me just make sure everybody heard that If you're an entrepreneur, go to Kathy Dooley, she will coach you yes, I would be happy to coach you.
Speaker 1:I I consider it the giving back um, and then? The second thing I say to that is don't be scared to invest in yourself, right, when you're not making money, you get very scared of money and I really believe that the more we hold on, because, remember, the money isn't your resource right, that's right your money to serve his kingdom, and when you take what he gives you and you hold on to it like this, you're keeping god blessings.
Speaker 1:And so I learned early in the company that I okay, okay, okay, we made an extra four thousand dollars. All right, I'm gonna invest that in the company, and so I constantly just turn that back over to his investments. Did some of them not net me? What I think I put in probably, but I don't look back at those too much. And then the last thing I always say is get solid with his work, Sit down quiet, read journal. The world has taught us that success is measured by how busy you are.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, she must be so successful because it took me five weeks to get on her calendar. No, she's just really good at filling her time. There's something about success and filling your time and I have time every day built into the work and nothing will interrupt that. My secretary knows don't schedule anything. She knows the time because I don't. I am not good at centering and quieting myself and if I don't build it in, it won't happen.
Speaker 1:And I've learned the best lessons. When I get into his word and let him talk to me Directions that I thought I wanted to take Opportunities, because the more successful you become, everybody will come out of the woodwork. Kathy, you should do this. Kathy, you should do that. Kathy, why aren't you doing this? And it's very easy, I think. As entrepreneurs, we chase the money instead of focus on the vision.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 1:Focus on the vision and the calling. Success will come when you're chasing a dollar, or $500, or $50, I turn away more money in a day than I used to make 10 years ago. Wow, it's not what God called me to do and I'm not. I don't want to ever live a life where I'm chasing a dollar. I think that the world has taught us that we have to hustle. You know we have to hustle. We have to get out there and make that dollar. That's the world talking, not the Lord. The Lord said I gave you a gift. Use my gift and I will show you a book that's like you can't even understand.
Speaker 2:Oh, my goodness so.
Speaker 1:I say no to more things than I say yes. Now, as a matter of fact, I just had a meeting yesterday.
Speaker 1:And I knew they weren't going to be pleased when we went. It is a good opportunity. It is a contract that could have probably made us $750,000 next year, but it's not in alignment with who we are as a company and it will feel disjointed and I prayed about it a lot when we were away at the lake last week and I know that that's not what my marketing team wanted to hear. But I know in my heart it's right and you have to stick through to who God's called you to be when you start to surround yourself with and I've surrounded myself with incredibly gifted, brilliant, loving, amazing people who are good at their craft but, at the end of the day, they don't run this company.
Speaker 1:I do, so I have to stick with what he's called me to do and I think the world's taught us that's that scarcity. Oh my gosh. They're willing to give you 500 to do that and I need to do that because I need to pay the bills. So your bills will get paid if you just get you. Stay in focus to what he called you to do. You trust me, I don't. Does it look like?
Speaker 1:I'm starving today no, we were looking for that 600 000 lake house to buy over the weekend. Wow, we didn't but we looked at it Ten years ago. Are you kidding? I mean, are you serious? I mean, are you serious? It's just a joke. I was looking at $600 and what I was going to get at the grocery store and ask any truly, truly successful entrepreneur and they'll tell you the same thing. So I don't know that I define myself as successful. What?
Speaker 2:I do is find myself as obedient. Look, so, look, I am you. You are speaking directly to me. Even this morning, I felt like I, before I got off my bed, I was saying some, a lot of the things that you're saying, to go say lord, I, lord, I surrender this to you.
Speaker 2:I know that I do not want to hustle. You know, I really want to serve. I want my gift to be a blessing. I want to serve people that, at the end of the day, I'm going to say thank you, god, for bringing Victoria into my life. And I feel like, you know, there's going to be times where I have to make the decision about okay, you know, you know about the money and all that, but I really want my, my mission, I want it to be clear to. And I was saying this to God and I was like but then, and I, and in in my mind I was even afraid, I was like I know that's going to mean something's not going to let you know, know, be gone. But you inspire me right now to be like stay on the course and just give god the wills.
Speaker 1:And I'm saying he gives us the what ifs, but if you don't do that, victoria, this won't happen. Uh, if you don't follow that path, that won't happen. That is not of god. God is a father of abundance, he knows nothing else. But, yes, satan is the father of abundance, he knows nothing else. But Satan is the devil of scarcity, yes, so when we and I'm not going to sit here and so pompously say, oh, I never worry, I never, I never, that's not true. The difference is is.
Speaker 1:I don't stay there when I feel it coming on like, oh my goodness, we just took on that $500,000 contract. Oh my gosh, what's that going, that gonna mean in payroll and do we have the cash out front? I'm a human and in my in my humanness right, I start to worry.
Speaker 1:The difference is now I don't go very far down that road before I will literally say this oh, that was good, satan. I'm even going to give you a b plus on that. That was good, satan. I'm even going to give you a B plus on that. That was good. I started to go there. But you keep forgetting the God I serve. You keep forgetting the God that runs this company. You keep forgetting that this company is not Capitooling or Tools for Success. It belongs to Jesus Christ. So you just get your little self out of the way so that God will do it and, lord, you saw what he was trying to do.
Speaker 1:Let's not give him any time. So, lord, I took it on a big contract ready. This is me resting in you. Ah, whoo, who's the big one? We've never done one like this. I remember we used to get contracts for five thousand ten thousand dollars. That was big, and now my epf, sales and marketing, says it all the time. I want you to start looking at five and ten thousand dollar contracts like, well, we did that one and we are our contracts now 70, 80, 100, 200, 000 contract. And it's, you know, it's your. Your scarcity mindset goes that's a lot of payroll, that's a lot of insurance, that's a lot of who, but I, I got saying that you can't, you don't go there. My mind goes there, I'm a human.
Speaker 1:I am flawed and imperfect, and certainly not God. But the difference is is that now I interrupt it quickly let's say uh, uh, uh, uh, Lord, you had to get that contract, so guess what? You got payroll to make.
Speaker 2:Yes, give it back to me Back to you.
Speaker 1:Let me know. Did you need me to sign something? What do you need me to sign? I'll sign, but you got payroll to make because you made this contract and it just always happens. And I know that some of your listeners are going to listen to this and go well, I mean, that's life, but it doesn't work that way in my life, or it hasn't happened in my life. And what I will tell you is stop this and start this, and it will stop controlling, Stop thinking you have to have every answer, because you don't.
Speaker 1:You are not infinite, you can't have every answer and start surrendering. Start surrendering to just say I don't understand. There are times that I've lost contracts and I've literally said leaving the meeting. I don't understand. It feels like you jerked that out from underneath this you set the meeting up, you set the contract up. I wasn't even gonna bid for it and I bid on it and then you want to pull it away.
Speaker 2:Hours, lord of time you spent on this like why did I have to go through all that? Why did?
Speaker 1:you have to go through all of it if you were going to tell me no. And then usually what I will say is what are you trying to teach me? And I don't get it. What I feel right now is hurt, undervalued and like I was just simped through a game. What are you trying to teach me? And I don't get some great big voice up. Let me tell you what the top three lessons of that right now are. But sometimes in a month or a week or a year I'll go back and go.
Speaker 2:Oh, oh wow, I didn't see that okay, so I I wanted to go into a little bit about how you, you hear from God. You say I can identify. I'm not very quiet either, I just you know. So you sit in and then you know you're you. How do you hear? Give me, give me an example of how you you've heard God speak to you in a situation like this, and sometimes you said we had that happen not too long ago.
Speaker 1:We had a partner that we were certain it was going to be a big partnership my vp of sales and marketing and I worked on this gosh, wow, five months, maybe five, six months, um, and it would have been a very lucrative deal and I felt it slipping the last couple of meetings, I thought this isn't going well.
Speaker 1:Um, and when my vpf, sales and I I we had a meeting and I said I think it's time to let it go, she said I know, I know. I said I don't understand, because I really think this would have impacted a group of students who are underserved and undervalued, and I thought that was my company but I don't know. So I was driving home from that meeting with my bpf, sales and marketing rather deflated that one and another one and I, literally what I do is in the car.
Speaker 1:The lord and I have the best conversations in the car. We truly do. We truly do, um, because, uh, first of all, if I'm not listening to christian music, which is usually what I do so I turn on christian music and usually that right song comes on with that one. Your listeners are not listening to christian music and you want to speak to god?
Speaker 1:listen to christian music, because you will talk through words inside it was a song by danny gokey called tell your heart to beat again I haven't heard it. But I love that song. But I heard it differently. I'd always heard it in the you know something's wrong. You know you're a broken heart. It has a you know some woman or a relationship thing, and I heard the words differently of. The words are really more about release.
Speaker 1:Release and those of you who don't have to understand, just tell your heart to beat again. And I, literally in the car you drove by me most of the time I put my hand in the air and I said I'm hurt, father. I'm hurt. I feel like I've been set up.
Speaker 1:And I know there's a lesson, lord, help me understand the lesson. And I heard him say to me not now, you aren't ready for it. Wow. And I said then I relinquish, then I let it go, I surrender this contract, I surrender all that it is, I surrender all of my hope and expectations in it and I stand in service to you. Send me one, sir, we. And because you know it's so funny when you ask believers, they say all the time I say to the Lord use me how you want to use me, make me a vessel, make me, but you don't.
Speaker 1:Most leaders me mm-hmm as long as I like service and I like the vessel and I like the way you're doing it. Lord, use me today Ready, I've done this. Use me today to speak into whoever you might put in front of me until that rude barista comes up. Or, lord, let my work be a service to you until that teacher drives us crazy and she isn't going to be coached and I'm telling you, one of our, my consultants calls and complains. Or Lord, let my company be a vessel as to what you want until that partner comes along and you're like not them, I don't want them what that irritant.
Speaker 1:So we say to the Lord our prayers are often conditional mmm conditional to my control of my expectation. Am I happy that I lost that contract? Nope has the lord showed me why we lost it. Nope, there's a purpose.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I have a saying on my mirror that I read every single day that says that there is nothing that will happen today that the lord and I can't handle together. Love that, I made it myself, typed it on my little computer. Put it on my mirror Because when you become a CEO and people's livelihoods are now relying upon you, and people who are making mortgage payments, who are in your daycare, who are that are reliant upon my doing what God asked me to do?
Speaker 1:you think differently upon my doing what God asked me to do you think differently and I don't ever want this company to be about Kathy Tooley and her wants and needs. I want them to be his service for the people that he's put on our team. It's broader and bigger than that now and I think it's so funny when I just I just coached a gal not that long ago who went through a very, very, very abusive relationship. That's difficult for me to understand because I've not experienced that, so I'm not one to. I don't have firsthand experience. I don't have firsthand experience.
Speaker 1:And what she said to me was I don't know how you believe in a God. And I said tell me what you mean by that. And she said in my darkest hours, when I was being hit or raped or beat, where was my god?
Speaker 1:and I said do you want me to answer that or you want to be right? And she said I want you to answer it. I said he was right there, catching every tear, holding on to you and knowing that you were in a storm, but on the other side of the storm there was a rainbow that he had ready for you. So he was right there. He was right there. He never left your side. If anyone feels moved away from jesus, it's you that moved. He was right there. Um, in the spring of 2014,. Well, spring of 2012, I went through the darkest hours I have ever experienced as an educator.
Speaker 1:Google my name and you will read about the post-it notes at the school where I was principal. It was the darkest. Six weeks was the height of it, but it really then went on to my leaving and going to the charter school and then getting fired from there and then started the company. So it was the darkest five years of my life. It was the darkest five years of my life. There is no question to that, and I I have this visual, but sometimes at night I don't know if anybody's ever done that I roll over and I grab a pillow and I hug it tight and I envisioned it to be Jesus's legs and I wanted to just put me under his cloak, because I'm scared and I'm hurt.
Speaker 1:And I just held on. I've never felt so alone. I'd never felt so so abandoned. I just felt abandoned. I felt like I'd done everything right and yet I was being punished. Now, 10 years later, is he had to put me through the storm so I would step out of my boat of security?
Speaker 1:I would have never stepped into this company had he not put me through that storm. So he didn't put me through anything. He didn't punish me, he didn't make me go through something. What he said is do you see where you are? That is not where I want you to be. But I need you to feel it.
Speaker 1:I need you to understand this. This isn't the world that I have designed for you, I need you to understand this. This isn't the world that I have designed for you. The post-it notes and the firing and the just starting the company financially were the reminder of I have created you stronger than all of this. I created you all. And to every entrepreneur that is listening to this he created you stronger than your low moments that is listening to this he created you stronger than your low moments.
Speaker 1:The valleys don't feel so great or so deep. When you stood on the mountain, I stood on the mountain and I have lived in the valley and you cannot appreciate the mountain unless you can look back at the valley. And I will be forever grateful to every one of those storms that the Lord put me through to put me where I am today.
Speaker 1:And whatever journey the remainder of my life has, and I don't know what it is, whether this company will fold tomorrow or whether we will become, you know, a Forbes, whatever, I don't know. But I don't care because I know who my shepherd is. Oh, it's good, so it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter whether we lose. Sometimes some of my consultants will get worried when we lost a school, they're not going to book with us and I I just look at them and say why, that's not where he wants us to be.
Speaker 1:We're not going but the other is what we will. So why? There's a reason that and I use this all the time in coaching that God designed a rearview mirror this size.
Speaker 2:That'd be exciting yeah.
Speaker 1:God didn't give us time to look backwards, because he already knew, he knew those were going to happen. He knew that I was going to get fired. He knew that I needed to be, and I needed to be. I needed to be knocked on my butt. I was so arrogant and so full of myself that he had to put me down in order, that when I stood up, I took his hands and stood up with him.
Speaker 1:I believed in Jesus before all of this, but I believed him to be a God of convenience when I needed it. And today he is my God of everything. I don't brush my teeth without him. I don. He is my god of everything. I don't brush my teeth without him. I don't go to the bathroom without him. I don't make money as the company without him. And I don't say that as I know there are some that are going to listen and say well, you could say that real easily, because now you have a successful company, Then I'm going to ask you to rewind.
Speaker 1:Because you missed it once I didn't come from money. My parents were blue collar workers with no college education. My dad didn't even graduate from high school. I have no reason to be where I am, except for Jesus Christ. I am no smarter than any principal I work with. Matter of fact. Some of them are smarter. They're smarter. They really are. They're smarter, but I'm not intimidated by them. I partner with them.
Speaker 2:remember what I said find people that are more successful than you and you right I'm taking those of gathering people and making us successful, so, um, that's what I would invite people to do, so hopefully that's helpful no, that that I'm like, I'm just taking notes, like I feel like it's just you're just giving me so much, so much good here. Okay, so one question that I wanted to ask you was about so you, you're trusting God with everything. We know that faith without works is dead. You obviously are putting in the work. Tell us a little bit about why you're waiting to hear from God on the next move or on things that you're doing right now. What are some of the things that you're putting into action to continue to work, but not in contradiction to, maybe, what God may want for you?
Speaker 1:The question that you ask is why do you continue? Are you waiting for God to help you know what's next If I've already proven to you that my knowing what's next sucks? So I just leave? Now, how do I put an action? I hired a VP of sales and marketing, who's incredible, and I listened to her. She knows sales in her back pocket. I got to remember where my strengths are. I didn't have to sell a school. So when she believes a webpage needs to be redesigned and it's going to cost this much, I believe her and I invest in her. We have a social media team. That I don't think social media is important. I think it's stupid, but I've learned that maybe that's important.
Speaker 1:The Lord wanted three more books written. So I went away to Florida and wrote the books he wanted written. The Lord is leading on my heart that I need to start a podcast. So I'm going forward in steps by putting Rebecca Do I want a podcast? Do I think that I need a podcast? No, I don't. But the Lord is saying and he won't let it go, and what the Lord wants, the Lord gets.
Speaker 1:There are certain things that I feel the Lord presses on me, and then it's gone. It never came back.
Speaker 1:Trust me when I tell you thy will be done will be done. And so now I'm leading forward into a podcast of what that looks like and what topics would we have? The book I finally just got, oh my gosh, I just couldn't let it. I mean, it's like it was in my every thought. So I went away to florida for a week and spent four days, literally never got dressed, and wrote all three books that he wanted written wow, and then I just felt collective whoo.
Speaker 1:I don't know what he was planning to do with them. I don't know why he wants them written. I don't um. They are um. One of them is a journal about how to really get a closer relationship with the Lord.
Speaker 1:It's a year long journal and the other two are positive affirmation quotes that I just roll off of my tongue all the time that I think will help other people. I just think they'll help other people. And so you know, the humanness of me gets to this. You know who wants to listen to you. Why are you writing a book? Why are you so special? What makes you? And so my answer to that is I don't know. Because the Lord said so, because, again, so I just that's how I lean in. When he pushes and pushes, I do as a typical child does, right, which is no, I don't want to do that. I don't want to do that. And then when he keeps pushing, I go okay. So I told my DP of sales and marketing about three months ago we've got to start a podcast. She said finally, finally, and I said I think you would do incredible on a podcast.
Speaker 2:Yes, Make sure it's a video podcast too.
Speaker 1:It's a video podcast. Okay, and video podcast okay. And she just said I said okay, I don't know anything about it. She said I'm on it, I'm on it. And she said when do you want it live? I said I don't know, the lord will take care of that part. Just, I'm giving you permission now, go forward she said I want it published first before we go live with it.
Speaker 1:I said okay, so, um, am I comfortable? I'm surrounded all the time now with photographers and and people that want the quote from me or this stuff. Do I like it? No?
Speaker 1:no because I, my brain, will tell me you're being arrogant. Look at you, thinking so special. You know, like everybody went. Oh my gosh, are you like some paparazzi following you? And then I have to stop and say but this isn't about me, and maybe the word the lord has words that he wants shared through me to change other people's lives. And once I start thinking about it that way, it becomes more comfortable. Comfortable, I didn't say I like it, but it becomes more. When I'm standing at a photo shoot, now I'll think, oh, you must have a purpose for this because we're changing this.
Speaker 1:Or when I do a podcast, I always think who is it, lord, that you're going to have listen to this to hear what you wanted to say? Not what I wanted to say, but what you wanted to say? Or when I give a speech, who is it, lord, that is going to hear what you wanted said? That will impact them differently. So let me I say the same prayer every time before I give a speech. Every single time is the same thing. Lord, please, let my words be your word. Let my intentions be your intentions. Let my love be your word. Let my intentions be your intentions. Let my love be your love. Let them hear and feel you by utilizing your servant to say what they need to hear. Yeah, sometimes I can walk.
Speaker 1:Script or you know, do whatever I do, because I'm like okay I don't know why we went there, but there was somebody in that audience that you wanted to hear that, so yeah, that's.
Speaker 2:that's amazing. That's amazing. Just removing yourself from the picture, because it's not about you, it's about who God is wanting you to minister to.
Speaker 1:So when I get my podcast going, I'll have you on it.
Speaker 2:Yes, I was going to say, yeah, the podcast and the book. So the podcast is coming up, the books are coming, so there are three books. So I'll be watching out for that as well as the podcast. And I encourage anyone out there to definitely be, because this woman right here, she is a bucket of gold and so much more. Oh, my goodness, I have to tell you and it's a question too, and okay, so it's really about me. So I know that you coach entrepreneur.
Speaker 1:So I'm just going to because I'm hoping that this is going to help.
Speaker 2:So I'm at a crossroads where I'm like okay, I, I I'm waiting to. I really want to do this God's way. I am, I'm committed to doing it the way I have. And, like I said earlier, I raised my hand and I said take the wheel, Lord. And, like I said earlier, I raised my hand and I said take the wheel, Lord.
Speaker 2:And I'm at the point where I'm waiting, intentionally, seeking to hear what he has to say, and I feel like my desire is to have a studio space outside of my house. I right now have my studio in my home garage and I want it to be outside of the house. I want it to. I want to do so much more Like I want to offer so much more to people again that I feel like I would be an answered prayer to them that's not everybody, but people that when we walk together, they're going to say thank you, Jesus, for giving me the opportunity for us to work together. These are like it. These are like it's a, it's a service, it's an answered prayer. That's really way so. But then I'm like I really want to get the space. I'm not quite sure if this is where god is wanting me to go to you know yet. So I'm like, should I keep?
Speaker 1:looking up to you. Okay, yes, you do. Yes, you do. You already know the answer. You already know it. He wouldn't have laid it on your heart if he didn't intend it to be, so trust him to provide for it. You do already know the answer. You're wavering because of your brain and Satan telling you how you're going to pay for it. What's that going to look like? Are you financially going to pay?
Speaker 1:He wouldn't have laid it on your heart if he didn't want it to be. Go get the space and the world will take care of how to pay for it it to be. Go get the space and the world will take care of how to pay for it. Go get it. Go get it and don't be stupid. Don't go get some 55 000 a month, you know, I mean, you don't need to be stupid.
Speaker 1:We have to be respectful of where we are, where stewardship is today, and don't look at the space that you're going at the end space. Look at this, starting today. Right, this is where I'm going to go today, because these are the resources that I believe the Lord wants me to commit to this today. Be prepared, be mobile, because I promise you in 10 years you won't be in that space. You will look back at the space you had, like I was so scared to go get that. People say that to me all the time. I feel like the Lord is leading me to do this. I look at him and go. Then why aren't you there? Because, as long as you remain in the limitations of what you tell yourself, he will stand back and believe what you want to believe he already has the place.
Speaker 1:He knows where it is, he knows where you're, he's laid it on your heart and you're too scared to go get the keys.
Speaker 2:I am am scared Go get the keys. I'm on my brain thinking of so many things and all of the like. You know, beyond getting the space, you know all the things I got to do to make the space ready and all of that. That's just stuff. That's just stuff.
Speaker 1:I want you to think about what God had to do to prepare the disciples for him to leave. Do you think he said, said, well, hope that works out, hope they're smart now, hope that? He picked the biggest losers out there and said you are who I select. Ii not the best, not the brightest, these were criminals, these were not all great people. And he said you shall preach my word, you will. And we want to question that. We don't have it.
Speaker 1:I, the keys are out and he's out there going. Here's the key and you're going where I don't know. I don't know if I should go get that. I just think you should go find a space, okay, and you'll know when you walk into it. So here the lord say this is it, and you may have to go through some duds. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know your world or your journey. What I do know is when you say I feel like this is placing, when people say to me I really feel like the Lord is pressing on my heart, insert, and then I get all the buts. I was done after you said the Lord is pressing on my heart too. Boom, that's a period on the sentence. That's a period on the sentence. Yeah, that's a period on the sentence.
Speaker 2:Just go get it, go find the space and I thank you so much for saying that, because I believe that god is going to order my steps, that as I look at all these spaces for sure I'm gonna, like you just said. I'm the right one when I get it I'm gonna know that it's the one and even if it's not, yet time, like if I feel like, okay, maybe if it because I'm truly giving know that it's the one.
Speaker 2:And even if it's not yet time, like if I feel like, okay, maybe if it because I'm truly giving it up to him, it would other my step at the right time, in the right space, the right everything. Everything is going to align. Don't put any limitations on that.
Speaker 1:Stop it. Okay, you're calling me to be in a space, let's go, let's go, let's go. Where do you need to be? Put the right? Stop saying anything of if I don't find it or if it's not right Because if you're already putting the limitations on it, lord, you have ordered me to be in a space. Send me where I shall be. Period no more limitations, no more but, but, but, but but it if or it could or don't. Start saying things like I'm okay if it takes a year or two or ten. Stop it, lord, you have ordered a space, let's go. We got work to do. Come on. Time's a wasted, lord. Time's a wasted. Time is money, so let's go. I tell people all the time tell me yes or tell me no, but tell me now I've got to go.
Speaker 1:time is a limited resource and so that space and all that he wants to do with it. You're wasting his time by not getting it.
Speaker 2:Forgive me, lord, for doing that.
Speaker 1:Yes, I say that all the time, quite often, forgive my unbelief, forgive my insecurity, forgive my humanness and do through me what you want done. I am not qualified to be doing what I'm doing, but he is, he is and therefore I will do. I will do so.
Speaker 2:Go find your space thank you, thank you for that. I needed to hear that. I needed to hear that again and again, and again. So I appreciate that so, so much. And, man, I am so fired up right now. I'm excited.
Speaker 1:Send me an email when you get it so I can come by and see your space. Yes, I will definitely love it. We would love to come stand in that space and pray with you. I would love that. I would love that. So please invite me. I would love to come pray in that space so that the Lord just does, yeah, amazing things, and maybe, maybe, we'll share a space with my podcast.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, I, I produce podcasts too. I got to plug myself.
Speaker 1:I need you to kind of get going. I need, I need a day to stay. So you already hold me up, let's go, let's go. We got things to do. Let's go, and I promise you I'm not alone. I promise you I'm not alone. The words called you to do this so you can help others like me that aren't there yet. Get there.
Speaker 2:So think of it differently right, make sense, yes, sense, yes, absolutely. Thank you, thank you, you're very very welcome. The one thing that I also wanted to make clear to anyone listening to this is that, yes, we have the faith, we take the limit of God, but that does not stop you from taking the steps. You still have to do the work.
Speaker 1:I say this to people all the time that people will say to me oh look, kathy, I prayed to God to run a business. Look, god is not like flash dance. You know you're probably too old, but flash dance. She threw her head back and they threw this big bucket of water on her and then she stood up and she was a dancer. You got to actually get up off your butt and do something.
Speaker 2:Do something you got to do something.
Speaker 1:I learned from a business coach, myron Golden, who taught me I'd rather do it junky than not do it at all.
Speaker 2:That's good, do it, junky.
Speaker 1:I'm going to get Myron Golden, dr Myron Golden that Do it junky rather than not do it at all, and we sit back waiting for everything to be perfect. God is the only one who's perfect, so what makes you think you're ever going to get a ride? Anyway, I think of my first website and think, oh, thank God, it's still not out there now. Oh thank Jesus, it was bad, it was really bad. But it was fun, and it was what I had.
Speaker 1:That's why we stopped looking for a perfect space. It doesn't have to be perfect. Only here's perfect, just go find a space.
Speaker 2:It doesn't have to be perfect. Only, he's perfect. Just go find a space. You just set me free again. Yeah, it doesn't have to be perfect.
Speaker 1:He will make it perfect for its purpose now. Maybe it's the same space in 10 years, maybe it's not. Don't get married to it Because if it's not he'll move you. All you have to do is start now. Start now, start today. Today I started with one school, one one, and gosh well, we charged them and I didn't even have. I didn't have an agreement, I didn't have anything. I remember one of my schools saying have you sent me an invoice? I was like I went back to my computer. How do I create an?
Speaker 1:invoice wow, are you going to have a sign agreement? Yeah, I'll have accounting. Get that to you. I'm with accounting. How do I create an invoice? Do it junkie, but do it Just. Do it, just prove. Just people get perfection analysis. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Paralysis.
Speaker 1:Paralysis, which is, if I don't do it, oh my gosh, if I don't send that out there, perfect, then I am ruining my brand. You don't have a brand. You don't have a brand, you have nothing. So something is better than nothing. That's right 100% of something is better than you're 0% of perfect. Absolutely yeah then start in your home, start with a few kids and then, before you know what, you'll outgrow your space and because if you're living in your gifts you can't stop, the blessings you can't stop the blessings.
Speaker 2:You cannot stop the blessing you can't stop them.
Speaker 1:So your perfection, paralysis, is the only thing that can, because you're out there putting it on your heart saying yes, yes, do that, yes, and you're going. I don't have an invoice and I don't have an agreement, and he's going, but, but, but, yes, and you're going. But wait a minute, maybe in a month or two I'll start. That. I mean logic told me in November for God's sake, there's nothing I can do, it'll spring. I decided nope, I'm going to write my book. I got nothing but time on my hand now, so let's get this book written. I want to always have written. And I wrote it and got a publisher to pick me up. And the rest is history because I didn't wait, that's right, I didn't wait.
Speaker 1:That's why I said don't wait, he's already put it on your heart. When people say the Lord has really directed me to do this, and I think are you stupid? Like do you need another? Like would you have heard from the almighty You've? Already heard Just go, just go, he doesn't make mistakes. He does not make mistakes. Ever he doesn't make mistakes. That's good, he does not make mistakes.
Speaker 2:You know one thing that I just came to my mind, that I've been processing, and I actually said it out to my son. I was like because he needed to hear that too. I said do not let the stress of being the best gets the best of you, because you know, we're always wanting to be the best and we're trying to perfect it, like you're saying. And then we're so stressed out that we're not even getting anything out there. Oh well, thank you. And then we're so stressed out that we're not even getting anything out there. Ooh, but who thank you? And I had to. You know, I had to, like get myself. I could be a perfectionist too, but now I'm like you know what I want? To just be excellent, but I need to get things done and keep moving, keep moving, keep moving.
Speaker 1:So that's it, and I don't care if you keep moving, because here's the other thing I say to you. People have this fear that, okay, if I take a step down this road and that's not the road the Lord wanted me to take, do you really think that the Lord's up there going? Okay, ready, you want to go down road A? And when you started down road B, the Lord went well, told you road A, don't listen to me. Bad child, bad shot, done, I'm done with you. Oh, nope, he's over there going. I knew she'd take a. Okay, all right, all right, all right.
Speaker 1:So I need to get down a and start ordering her off back to b her off back, to be back to being where I wanted her to be. Oh no, now she took c. Oh well, okay, all right, a little more work and back. He never gives up on us. He never abandons us. It says that in the bible hundreds and hundreds of times I will never forsake you I will never leave you abandon that is so true.
Speaker 1:There's nothing you could do, no road you could choose that he's gonna go. Dummy, didn't listen to me, dummy, he didn't. He doesn't have it in him. He just doesn't have it in him. Loves us, he loves us, he loves us, he loves us, and I don't know how many times. Matter of fact, there's no other phrase said more frequently in the bible than do not be afraid yes, do not be afraid, and we know that's what the devil is always using.
Speaker 2:That's his number one too for you always yes, follow me and I will give you rest.
Speaker 1:Yes, so I, I, I don't get your space and then, like I said, let's, let's work on maybe we may be chatting again to work on the podcast. I mean, put you in connections with, like, sales and marketing, so you never know when the Lord takes things.
Speaker 2:So why thank you?
Speaker 1:You're welcome. I got to get on to another call. Yes.
Speaker 2:I was going to say I've taken a lot of your time. I am so thankful. I am going to put a lot of links to your website, to your social media and everything at the end of this podcast. I forgot we were having a podcast. This is how good it is, but thank you so much for just calling me. Thank you, thank. Thank you so much for just calling me. Thank you, thank you so much, and I just cannot wait to chat with you again, until next time. Yeah, have a great rest of your day.
