OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW with Victoria Odekomaya

How Leslie Bailey Built Maven Space, Then Shut It Down with Confidence | Epi 75

• Victoria Odekomaya | LiMStudios Network • Episode 75

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This episode dives into the honest and powerful story of Leslie Bailey, co founder and CEO of Indy Maven and former owner of Maven Space, a women focused community and co working space in Indianapolis. Leslie shares how Indy Maven grew from a simple idea and a newsletter into a real community that carried women through the isolation of the pandemic, and how listening to what women were asking for shaped everything that came next.

From launching a physical space to carrying the weight of a fifteen thousand square foot venue, Leslie opens up about the pressure of overhead, the reality of dipping into savings, and the mental health toll that came with constant responsibility. She talks about the moment she realized she needed to slow down, the hard decision to close Maven Space, and why choosing a necessary ending can still be a powerful and successful choice.

For founders, community builders, and women leaders, this conversation is a masterclass in redefining success on your own terms. We talk about the importance of support systems, why your life circumstances matter as much as your business plan, and how visibility, boundaries, and rest all work together. Leslie also shares how she is rebuilding around what lights her up now, including Indy Maven, paid speaking, and her Magnetic Maven mastermind.

Hit play, share this with a friend who is carrying a lot on her shoulders, and let this episode remind you that you have more power to choose your path than you think.

🔗 Connect with Leslie

🌐 Website: https://indymaven.com/
📧 Email: leslie@indymaven.com

ABOUT

Victoria Odekomaya is a Nigerian American entrepreneur, speaker, and content marketing strategist on a mission to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through the power of storytelling and strategic content marketing.

She’s the founder of LiMStudios, a full-service creative agency and state-of-the-art content studio in Indianapolis where strategy and storytelling come together through high-quality content production and marketing implementation. She’s also the creator of Boss Ladies Magazine and host of The Own Your Brand Show, a video podcast to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through strategic content marketing and authentic conversations about the entrepreneurial journey.

Each week, Victoria breaks down practical content marketing strategies in her solo “Own Your Brand” episodes and sits down with entrepreneurs in her Behind the Brand series to uncover the stories, struggles, and systems behind their success. Because when we get real about the wins AND the struggles, we realize we're not alone and that's when real transformation happens.

Follow her journey through LiMStudios, Boss Ladies Magazine, and The Own Your Brand Show and join the movement to amplify voices, build legacy, and make impact.

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mtr.bio/limstudios | hello@thelimstudios.com | Text 260-777-7211

Leslie Bailey:

And I had seen female forward co-working spaces in other parts of the country. And I just remember having the thought, if someone does that here for me, I'll be mad. Why? And that's like when I knew I needed to do it and couldn't not do it. The fact is that the very first thing you do is take a look at your life. And so what is your support system? What do your savings look like? What is your healthcare needs? Do you need insurance? Do you need what level do you need? Do you have kids? Do you have a spouse? Do you have a partner? Like, let's look at all components of our lives because you could have the best business idea in the world and the most solid business plan. And if there are not those supportive components in place, it doesn't matter.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So, welcome, Leslie. How are you doing today?

Leslie Bailey:

Thank you. I'm great. How are you?

Victoria Odekomaya:

I'm fine. Thank you. I'm so excited to have you here. First of all, you look amazing. Thank you. Thank you. My pajamas. So for those that don't know who you are, which I doubt in Indiana, you know, even beyond too. Can you just tell us a little bit about you and just yeah, give us your intro?

Leslie Bailey:

So I'm Leslie Bailey. I am the co-founder and CEO of a media company for women in central Indiana called Indie Maven. And um for a couple years I also owned and operated a co-working space called Maven Space.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow. And so I remember when Maven Space started, I think that's how actually how I knew about you. Before that, I didn't really know which, I don't know. I probably should have. So let's dive into before Mavian Space. Like, what were you doing?

Leslie Bailey:

Well, my background is journalism. Um, I didn't go to school for it. I was a communications major, but that sort of was my big first career as a grown-up. Um, and so that evolved into ultimately this media company that Amanda Kingsbury and I started. And Amanda had been my editor um when I was at the Indianapolis Star and so and kind of a mentor for years. Um, and that sort of then evolved um through that media company, then having a community online, digital, which then evolved to a physical space.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So before I want to talk about um Indimaving first, right? I feel like before there was the word community, because now right now it's a buzz, like it's a buzz word. Everybody's like, I felt like you probably coined the word for me. You know, it's like, so where we did you even what was going through your mind? Did you know how much was needed, like when you started that? Like, why did you feel like that was necessary?

Leslie Bailey:

Well, I would love to say that that was like we knew from the beginning, but that was actually kind of a surprise to us as well, because when we launched, so our we officially launched in October of 2019. Okay. Um before the pandemic, five months before the pandemic. And we had sort of really established, like I remember applying, my articles of organization are from April of 2019. And at that time, it was going to strictly be content, right? Like a website, really more of a lifestyle directory focused. Um, and then from there, kind of, you know, blogs, articles, that kind of thing. What happened was that we had this launch party scheduled, and women in the community in the greater, you know, the city started finding out about what we were doing. And they said, How can I join? People kept asking us, How can I join? How can I join? And I was like, Well, there isn't anything to join. Like it's a new, it's really a newsletter that you you sign up for, it's free. Put your email address in. That's how you join. Right. Um, but uh Crystal Grave, who was helping us launch at the time, um, kind of said to me, like, I think they're looking for like more than what this just this website. Like we, you know, this in-person element. And so we knew we were going to have in-person events. Um, but the idea of a membership was really how that launched. It was really the community telling us we want this to exist, and it really didn't at the time.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow.

Leslie Bailey:

And so we added on a membership right before we launched, and now I would say we're really newsletter forward and membership community, and then the content really kind of supports that. I flipped it on its head.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So it sounded like you you listened to the audience, you know, to the community, and then it became even more needed during the pandemic.

Leslie Bailey:

Right. And like, yeah, and that was something obviously none of us could have anticipated. Right. So they knew that they wanted the the community, knew they wanted something to belong to. Um, but obviously we couldn't have anticipated that there was going to be even a greater need for that. And having something that was an online platform when people who were in person were trying to figure out how to go digital and how to be virtual, we already were that with an in-person component. So it was really easy for us to basically it was like, okay, I guess we just aren't doing the in-person part, but everything else was already in play to be virtual, so we didn't have to do this big pivot, you know, that a lot of people did. Talk about perfect timing too. Yeah, that's amazing. I know there was a lot of it that obviously no one wants to like experience a pandemic ever, but let alone five months after starting a business. But if we had to have a business, that was not a bad one to be starting at the time.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I would say it was a perfect one too, really.

Leslie Bailey:

I mean, I and I feel like we were valuable. I mean, we still are, but I think during that time, especially when women were craving, you know, content that was informative and sort of sometimes whether that was educational or um entertaining or but just to not feel so alone and we were all sitting in front of our screens.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So great time to have a product that was on a screen. Right. And I remember then like it was also like your staying home the whole at first it was like, oh yeah, I get to stay home, but then you know, having that, you know, whatever issues you're having with your family by staying with them with a little more longer than we usually, you know, just having that community that you can lean into, or like there's a group of women somewhere like and actually kind of key into it somehow just to kind of get outside of this for a little bit. Yeah.

Leslie Bailey:

A group of women that you could connect with during the shared experience that was not your family. And sometimes weren't even your friends, just you know, people who were going through this thing collectively. Right. But a place that we could all sort of, you know, gather and figure it out together. Yeah. I felt was really valuable.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah. One of the things that I like the newsletter, because I get it too, is that you always do a good job of telling us of what's going on in the community. Because I feel like sometimes I'm so clueless of what's going on. So I'm like, what's happening? What should I be doing? Where should I be? So that's really good.

Leslie Bailey:

That was kind of the driver. When I when we were coming up with the idea for Indy Maven, I remember sitting at home and I had a newborn baby at the time. And people were asking me, where to get my eyebrows done? Where should I go on an anniversary dinner date? Where should I do it? And I'm like, I have spit-up in my hair. Why is anyone asking me that? I don't know. But I kind of did because up until that point, as a journalist, my job, my beat, so to speak, had been to cover things to do, uh, lifestyle, and with a heavy emphasis on women. So it sort of made sense that I had built up this knowledge in my brain, a directory, if you will. Right. But I thought, well, how do I get that out of my brain and onto paper, or in this case a website, so that because I knew women were looking for this information. Right. And again, there weren't a lot of resources at the time. I think it's really exciting. There are so many more now. Um, but I think we were definitely presenting something fresh in that it was just female forward. Um and not about being a mom or not, I mean, there are other things that exist for that, and that's great, but it was just about do you identify as a woman and you live in central Indiana? There's gonna be something here for you.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes. So the name, how did you come up with the name?

Leslie Bailey:

Uh, our uh designer, the woman who was doing our graphic design and putting our pitch deck together, had put um this image of a woman that it said Maven on her t-shirt. Um, because it was actually originally called Indie Style Guide. Okay. And and forever our LLC and everything was that. Um, it was registered that way. And then we saw that on a shirt, and I was like, that's it. It's indie Maven. Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So Lindsay Hadley should get all the credit for that. Amazing. Wow. So then you started this business and it's growing. Did you ever feel the pressure of starting a business, or did you already had that entrepreneur spirit in you?

Leslie Bailey:

Well, both of my parents were entrepreneurs, so I think I had that modeled for me, so that did not feel so scary. Uh-huh. I also think it sort of felt like the wild west and that it was COVID. So, you know, it was kind of do anything, anything goes. We're all trying to figure it out. So I didn't feel like I was the only one trying to figure this new thing called entrepreneurship out. Other people were trying to do it as well. And I think, you know, too, a lot of women will say after having a baby, you know, it's this time of almost creativity or I don't know if hormones or time on your hands, up at night nursing. Like it, there was just this perfect storm for me to bring something to fruition. And so I I don't think I thought that much about it. I was more acting on intuition and impulse than I was really some great business plan or strategy. I don't even know if I had a business plan to begin with.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That may have come later. Right. So then you started um the Maving space.

Leslie Bailey:

Tell us how that came about. So we were a couple years into Indie Maven, had built this community, this audience, and we were having in-person monthly meetups again once it was kind of safe to go back outside and always looking for a different location to have them. And that became exhausting a little bit. Um but at that time I had was really heavily following Rachel Rogers, the author and podcast person. Um, and she had an attorney on her podcast that said that the highest number of trademarks were ever were filed by women that year following COVID and the pandemic. And I was thinking, oh my gosh, women are going to need a place to work and to launch all these new side gigs, these hustles, these new businesses. And I had seen uh female forward co-working spaces in other parts of the country, and I just remember having the thought, if someone does that here before me, I'll be mad.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow.

Leslie Bailey:

And that's like when I knew I needed to do it and couldn't not do it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's amazing.

Leslie Bailey:

It was like it's locked in.

Victoria Odekomaya:

The idea has to happen now. Oh, it did. Yeah, wow. So I'm getting the sense that you're kind of a person where I'm not sure if you're so much of a planner, but like you go on your intuition and you just go with it. Like with your gut when you an idea comes to place or like an opportunity, you just kind of jump into it.

Leslie Bailey:

Yes, I am an Enneagram seven, if anyone knows about that. Uh yeah, so I am always wanting the next fun thing. Um so my challenge, I think, in task is to constantly like ground myself. So kind of let myself dream and what could it be, and then reel myself back in and go, okay, but now how do we put that on paper? How do we really formalize that? And I shared with you earlier, I'm actually going through uh a program with Cornell for Women's Entrepreneurship that I found out about through your email. So thank you. I learned things from you as well. And I'm on the second course out of six, and all I keep thinking is like, I wish I had this. This this was the thing I wish I had before I started my businesses. I've been through a lot of different courses and trainings and things since then and you know, professional development. But this is the one so far that I've been like, yep, this is what I wish I would have had.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I really appreciate I really like that course. So I feel like I learned so, so much about it. But I also wanted to say that I feel like I'm kind of similar to you, where like when I have an idea, I just go for it, and then like halfway through, I'm like, maybe I should have thought of that bad a little bit more. But I think there's an advantage to that because while other people are still waiting to like figure it out, we're like gone. Yeah, you know, and then everyone's like, wait, wait, what happened? But you know, yeah, like sometimes you just can't sit on an idea, you gotta move really fast.

Leslie Bailey:

Yeah, and I mean it it's um it sometimes that means you have to go back and do things a little in the reverse order. But overall, I do think that it gives you this like cutting edge advantage because other people are just, you know, if they're back there doing almost too much research, right? Or too much overthinking it. Yeah you talk yourself out of it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right.

Leslie Bailey:

And then sort of that's I think where the fear can set in. Yes. Um and talking yourself out of it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Which is very common for women. But anyway, so you started baby in space, huge success. Like I feel like it for me, because I didn't know too much about you before that, like I feel like it just launched you to a whole new realm. Would you agree with that?

Leslie Bailey:

Well, I think it, yeah, and in a different space. I think you know, I was I would think I was known if you were an indie star reader or Indianapolis Monthly, like from the lifestyle perspective and the women's perspective. But I think it moved me more into the entrepreneurship space, into real estate. Like I was now being taken seriously in a way that I think I hadn't before, and I was getting the media attention from IBJ, and you know, it sort of opened me up to a different world that I hadn't really been a part of before, which obviously exposes you to an entirely different audience. And then having such a large physical space, which was also in an event venue. Yeah. In a great location. Oh my god. It was a great space. I knew from the second I walked in that that was the space that I wanted. Um, but having this place where we had hundreds of people in our doors a month, that was essentially just like me getting to meet new people all the time.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah. So I loved that. That's amazing. But then did you feel any kind of pressure? Because I imagine, like, I mean, I don't know if this is real for you, but like it, you know, like you got exposed to, like you just said, exposed to a whole different audience almost all of a sudden, maybe. Or like, did you feel like it was gradual or was like, you know, maybe not too not suddenly, but like overnight almost like I think the pressure came.

Leslie Bailey:

I since I already had the Indy Maven audience, I was and I was used to speaking in front of people. And I I saw for me, that part was familiar and comfortable. I think what was more new and overwhelming to me was being responsible for somebody's physical experience. Um, making sure that the moment they walked in the space that they were greeted and they had a good experience. And was the was their coffee and were they treated well, and you know, all these things. And I fortunately had a great team of people who also were totally on top of making sure that happened, and that is the only reason that I was able to do that at all. Um, but I think it was just a different level of pressure, and also the expenses that come along with a 15,000 square foot space. Um, and I got a good deal, but that was still really expensive rent that came every single month, and so it was just a level of pressure. The the exposure didn't overwhelm me, but the pressure did.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, because and the reason why I think I want to dive into this is because we don't want to discourage people from pursuing their dreams, but I think it's necessary to understand the reality that comes with it too. Yes, you know, like, yes, go about your dream, you know, go after your dream, but just know that there's gonna be some changes, some shifting that you might be a little uncomfortable, you know. And then you talked about the expenses, like that's a reality for me. I used to use my garage, for so it was like the mortgage is paid, I'm covered. But now we have a space and I'm like, wait a minute, like now I have to pay extra, you know, all of this thing. So, like, did you I know at one point you told me like you were dipping into your savings or stuff like that. Like, how like what was that like for you?

Leslie Bailey:

I scary. Uh, I also that's one of the reasons I love so far this entrepreneurship course. Um not to keep selling Cornell, but um the fact is that the very first thing you do is take a look at your life. And so, what is your support system? What does your savings look like? What is your healthcare needs? Do you need insurance? Do you need what level do you need? Do you have kids? What do you have a spouse? Do you have a partner? Like, let's look at all components of our lives because you could have the best business idea in the world and the most solid business plan. And if there are not those supportive components in place, it doesn't matter. Right. And so that is something that I felt very validating because that's what I always tell people when I'm mentoring or advising or just on panels or anytime I'm talking about entrepreneurship or running a business, I'm talking about that because I think people skip over it and just go straight to the business part. Right. And so I was fortunate in that I had a partner who was emotionally, financially, all of the ways supportive. If I didn't have that, this would have never happened. So you can't act like these things all operate in a silo. Right. They don't, they all have to come together. Right.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And so how do you balance the like we just said earlier on like pursuing your dream and being very, you know, aggressive about it, and then like, okay, let me make sure that all of this part of my life is still in play. Like balance.

Leslie Bailey:

Uh I think that I what made me start to think about it was when I sort of had a little bit of a breakdown. I think um two kind of Februaries ago, I sort of got really depressed and I just went to a really dark place and I was totally overwhelmed. And I remember I was supposed to fly out to Palm Springs to meet my husband. He was out there for business uh for our anniversary, our fifth anniversary, and was it our fifth? Whatever. Our anniversary. And I like could barely get myself out of bed to get on the plane. Like, never have I gone to an airport with like no makeup and sweatpants. I just like it took everything in me to go. And I only did it because I didn't know how I was the only reason I went was because I didn't know how I was gonna stay home by myself and like take care of our kids for the day it would take him to get home. Like I was that just low. And after that, I had this realization like, oh, this is actually doing things to my mental health. Um, and then I think by way of my physical health, and I wasn't exercising and I was drinking a lot, and I just was like not what I the person I wanted to be. And so I had to take a look at all of that and really decide that was that something I wanted to continue doing. Ultimately I did decide yes, and um, you know, was going to continue on the business. Other things changed that, and I ended up closing the business, but not because of those things. However, now that it's behind me, I think I would have probably wanted to get back up in the same place. So there's a silver lining.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, that's so good too. I love that um, you know, reflection on that. But that's a good important point to talk about because mental health for women is also so important. We never really talk about it. We're just like, I mean, for me, I feel like we're just going to the next one. We do, you know, but then we don't stop to think about okay, what is this doing for to me? And is this the should I continue to do it? Because maybe we're afraid of failure or looking like a failure in front of people. You know, and it's not about the failure when you if you're winning by making that decision for yourself.

Leslie Bailey:

Absolutely. There was a book that actually really helped there are two books that helped me with that decision. Um, one is called Quit, The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke, who's a poker player. So you want to talk about like playing your cards, right? That metaphor. Um, and then my therapist later, after I had made the decision to close Maven Space, or I was in the process, um, recommended a book called Necessary Endings, uh, which really plays into personal lives and divorce and relationships and things as well, with a really heavy emphasis on business, and that validated my decision during that time. But I had read quit long before that just because I thought it was an interesting book. But it later helped me with the framework of making that decision. So I made that decision. I would say it was a combination of a forced decision in that it was not going to be feasible to move forward with the space that I was promised by this landlord. And then also could I have gone in and looked it for another space? Yes, but I would have been throwing even more money that I no longer had because I drained from the first I was drained from the first um situation. And so that's where I got to say, nope, but there's power in saying I'm gonna be done here, and it's at a loss, and there is a huge price tag attached to that, but at least it's my decision versus continuing and then winding up in the same place, or worse.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right. I think that that's that's so powerful, like you made the decision on your own. Yeah. You know what? I'm done.

Leslie Bailey:

Which is why it does not feel like a failure to me, or why I will comp say with confidence it was not a failure. What would have probably resulted in failure is going, looking for a new location, or worse, pouring money into that location and trying to force that uh situation to work would have been an absolute disaster.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right.

Leslie Bailey:

This was on my terms. I don't like the terms, not all my terms, but the decision was on my terms.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right. I so I was talking to India Brown the other day, and she said that success is defined by us. Like we have to be the one defining what success looks like to us. Oh, yeah. You know, and I was like, oh yeah, because sometimes even I find myself trying to make decisions because of what people think of me. And so, for example, we wanted to do the launch of this place, the opening, and it was gonna be the 30th of March. And I had so many travel plans before that. And I kept thinking, oh, I have to do it on this. And my event planner was like, but why? I was like, what do you mean, but why? She's like, Can you just change the dates? And I was like, Oh, I guess I can change the dates.

Leslie Bailey:

We don't necessarily always know our own um like capacity to be in charge. Like, we have more power than we probably give ourselves credit for.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I maybe it's a corporate thing, like you know, you come into something, it's a date, you know. But I was like, I I guess I can change the date.

Leslie Bailey:

So Yeah, I actually just had to I postponed um I'm launching a mastermind. Right. And it's now in October. I ended up having to postpone that because of this Cornell course. I saw this course and I was like, I want to take this, and I thought, oh no, there's no way I can do both. And I kind of got stressed out about it for a while, and then I realized, like, I've only been promoting this mastermind like two weeks. I could just change the date. And I did. Yeah, and it's great, and people are buying it, and I'm excited, and it's gonna be wonderful.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And it had nothing to do, it didn't matter. Yeah. And it's just taking back that power, which is something I really like about you. It's like you're redefining yourself. So for me, I don't think that maybe in space is a failure at all. I feel like you're just pivoting and changing. And this, like I said before we started, like I look up to you, I love everything that you're doing. So I'm like, okay, what's she doing now? Like, you know. So I love that you're taking that ownership and just making that decision and helping those of us looking up to you to say it's okay, you know, to change your mind and you know, do something different. So tell us a little bit about the mastermind.

Leslie Bailey:

Uh so the mastermind is called Magnetic Maven. And what I it's a result of, I would always do these power hours or consulting with our members and non-members. Um, that was always a service I just kind of did on stage. I did one with you, too. Yes, we did. And because I was, you know, you'd get these like, can I pick your brain? And then it was like, yeah, for 15 minutes, sure. That's I'll happily do that. But when we're getting into an hour and a half, like I want to get paid for that. Right. And so you should, yeah. Yeah. So I started launching the we called uh Office Hours, now power hours. And as after doing, you know, 20 of them, let's say, I started to think, what's the theme here? And the theme was almost always like, I need more people to know about me. Um, it really is marketing, is what they're looking for with a common with an element of PR. And it comes down to visibility.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah.

Leslie Bailey:

And then when I was finding, I would ask people, and mostly women, you know, how do people find out about you? And they say, Well, it's all word of mouth. I don't need to do advertising. Or when I was having advertising conversations for Indy Maven, we do advertising in the newsletter, sponsored events, um, and people would say, Well, I don't need to do that because I have word of mouth. And I'm like, but how do you think the people find out to say the word of mouth to make that recommendation? You have to have visibility. I'm not saying you have to do advertising. I do think it's a good idea. Right. But that's one component. Yes. And so I took all of that and what I know, having been now on both sides as someone who is being interviewed or has recognition from really big reputable brands like Forbes, but also having been on the other side of knowing what does the media want, what does that look like? Basically, how do you get eyeballs? How do you get attention? Right. So ultimately, you get customers and money because that's why we run businesses. Yes. Which is another thing. Absolutely. Not for hobbies. Right.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Hobbies are hobbies, business is business. Right. And if you don't have the clients, you don't have a business. So this mastermind is so important because you're teaching us how to actually get those eyeballs that turns into clients. And then we keep our businesses running.

Leslie Bailey:

Exactly. That's the goal here, right?

Victoria Odekomaya:

No expensive hobbies. Absolutely. Yeah. So um when is it starting? October. October, okay. So and you have opening for how many? I have four left. It's small, it's a small group. Okay.

Leslie Bailey:

Um, so I want to start small. I might keep it small. I I think that having been in larger groups, I think you lose the intimacy. Right. Uh, it's six weeks, once a week. It's virtual, they're recorded. Um, I'm also allowing for like work time, and I think that's a really important component of it. So it's not just the show up and oh yeah, I'll get to that homework or that assignment or whatever later, like live actual work. So you get out of the class or out of the call feeling like you actually accomplished something. Yep. So basically, what are all the things that I have liked or not liked about years of professional development myself and then applying it to this?

Victoria Odekomaya:

So it sounds like everyone listening to this should sign up for the masterclass because there's gonna be a waiting list. And you know, so you better jump on real quickly before, you know. Uh, but all right, so what's what's next for you? I mean, beyond the masterclass, like how are you spending your time now?

Leslie Bailey:

Uh so right now I spend the majority of my time putting out the Indie Maven newsletter with Stephanie, our director of operations. It's just the two of us now. Um, we have someone doing social, but it's I've kind of taken back ownership of that product, which was the thing I loved from the beginning. And when I talk to people who want to start a business, I kind of use this metaphor of like, so if you like making candles, that's good. Yeah. And definitely make candles. But at some point, when you scale, the further you get away from that thing, and then you never touch a candle. You're never touching wax, you're never touching the wick, you are hands off. You are now in spreadsheets, you are doing marketing, you're wearing all the other hats. And so to be able to sort of get back to the tangible thing for me has been very cathartic. It's certainly reawakened my love of writing. So I'm outlining um some ideas for a couple books. I don't know which one will hit, but I kind of just dabbling in all of them. And I'll probably launch more seriously into that next year. Okay. Um, my goal is to finish this course, do the mastermind, keep growing in the Maven back into what I know that it can be and and should be now that it has my attention. Yeah. Um, I'm looking at doing more paid speaking and actually pursuing that. I've done a lot of speaking, but only when asked. I've never sort of put myself out there because the reality is as a result of Maven space and that falling through, I've got a close to $200,000 loan to pay off. So just thinking through like, what am I actually good at that produces revenue, that helps other people, like finding that sweet spot. And so sort of have those couple irons and the fire. And it'll be a combination of what lights me up, what people find valuable, and what I get paid for, right?

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's the intersection of every every good. I was gonna say that, yeah. Like what you you still have to have that much passion for it, but then also pay the bills and help people too.

Leslie Bailey:

Yeah, and I think just be more present for this community that we've grown and get back into being a resource, you know. I was always around. Yeah. Uh, but it's hard when your attention is scattered in a lot of different directions. So I guess just in general, I feel I'm being more present. I've just slowed down in life a ton. I'm not overcommitted. Oh, and I'm taking a watercolor class that starts on Monday. Oh, fun. Because we should have hobbies. Yeah, absolutely. Yes. Women should, I'm on this big kick that women should have hobbies that are purely for enjoyment. Yeah. Uh, creativity is a big part of it. Whether you have feel like you are creative or not. Yeah. But a creative outlet hobby that doesn't involve the responsibilities that one may have. Oh my God.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah. Because it's there's such a weight I feel like we feel like we have to carry and just let it go. Just let it down.

Leslie Bailey:

Yes, I will not be at my kids' soccer, to be clear. My husband will take them. Yeah. And I will be at watercolor classes. That's right. I'll catch a game on Saturday. I'm still showing up. I'm still present.

Victoria Odekomaya:

But I need something. Absolutely. I love it. See, I'm just loving everything that you're choosing to do. Because one, it's you're choosing to do it and you're doing it intentionally. And you're also showing us by example, too. Because you're a leader, you're a community leader, you know. So I really appreciate this new phase. I call it a new phase, you know. But like that's amazing. I feel like you just I love that presence part because I feel like we can be so tied into doing, doing the do that we forget and we lose touch, and you're like, you know what? I'm gonna live my life and I'm gonna leave it on my own terms, making the decisions that I need to make, and then but also supporting others too, as I you know, I think yeah.

Leslie Bailey:

And it does come at a cost. I'm not as out at as many things as I was in the past, and that's just the season I'm in right now. Right. I'm trying to show up for others in different ways, but it may not be my physical presence because I just don't have that capacity right now. That's that's what I can do. But you know, I recognize there's there's like again, privilege in that, and it's the way that my life is set up, and it is because of my partner, and it is it's because of a million things. Right. Um but we all I still think we all have more control than we allow ourselves to.

Victoria Odekomaya:

I think that's one of the biggest things I'm taking away from this. But as a community leader, as we wrap up, there's so many women out there that are one afraid of taking the step because they're with, you know, whatever the fear is, but also those that have taken the step are also afraid of, oh my god, what if I fail? Or, you know, so many things that could be happening, what word of encouragement can you give them? You know?

Leslie Bailey:

Well, I remember hearing this like statistic about, you know, we you when you go start a business, everybody wants to tell you like the 50% of businesses fail in the first five years, and you hear all these things. And I remember also reading about all these really accomplished women who all talking about the things that they failed at. And I had the ego and audacity to be like, not me. I'm gonna be the one person who gets out of this unscathed, and everything I do is gonna be a success. Like I'm not having it. Of course, that's not the case. And and again, I still don't look at I don't think it's a failure. However, it still was something that I set out to do that I was not able to complete. I am so at peace with that. So I think just it's almost a little um again, yeah, like the audacity. Who do we think we are to think that we're gonna do it so perfectly? Like somehow, and I don't honestly know what the key or solution, if I could bottle that up and sell it, I would um to give to women. But the one thing I do know is that you do not know until you try. Like there's just no way, and and that's where you can look at every pro forma and spreadsheet and business plan, and you can follow your intuition, and it still might not work. Right.

Victoria Odekomaya:

But how are you gonna know? Right. And I think the failure is in not trying. Because honestly, Leslie, I feel like you doing all of this, and again, it's not a failure because I feel like there's so many stories of success that you've afforded other people, you know, people that's and like even me saying, look, I can do this because you did it. You know what I mean? I feel like, and then I don't know how many of the stories you hear on a daily or people writing to you, but like I think that even as you're shifting, you're still leading and sharing valuable lessons for us, to us, you know. So I don't even see it as a failure. So when you say that not trying, like, I mean, you know, not trying is the failure because you have to try, because we never know.

Leslie Bailey:

And not, and I think conversations like this, because if I learned all these lessons and kept them to myself, who does that serve?

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's why the mastermind is really good. It's gonna be, yeah.

Leslie Bailey:

I think so. I think the more that we can share our knowledge and say there's a better, like I'm saying with this course. I wish I would have known that. I want to be the person that's telling you now, right? So that you can avoid these mistakes, you know. Because if you're like so many, especially women, especially of women of color, entrepreneurs did not go get MBAs. We're all figuring.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Let me tell you, let me actually had an MBA. Well, there you go. You do, but he doesn't even know. Right? Because it's all theory, right? If you don't have a business while you're having an MBA or while you're doing it, it it's like you learn about it, but you have to be It's not a guaranteed success, is it? It's not, yeah, it's not like I felt like I did an MBA and then now I'm doing a real MBA because I'm practicing. I'm like, wait a minute, like so theory and practical are so totally different.

Leslie Bailey:

Yes, and to be able to sit with another person who says, This is not theory, this is not on a presentation. I went through this, yeah, and then to be able to ask specific questions. Oh my god, how can they apply to your situation? I think it is the most valuable thing. Yeah. So I will talk about this for as long as anyone will listen.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, I bet. No, and it's really good. I'm so so thankful that you are studying the mastermind. I know there's so many great things that in, you know, you you seem like someone that's always open to sharing. You know, I know I got a call from you, and I'm like, oh thank god. You know, because and it was, and so I have to tell you, you gave me the idea of going after um for the Boss Ladies magazine, like instead of you know going from person to person to try and work with different organizations, and that kind of led to the whole Nabo working with, you know, working with the people. I saw that you're doing that. So I am so grateful because you planted that seed, and then things just started happening after that. So thank you.

Leslie Bailey:

Oh, you're so welcome. I'm so glad that worked out. There's such a great organization, and I think too, to be able to be in front of that group and say, this is what I do, this is what I offer, here's how I can help you, how can you help me? Yeah, it's what that is all about.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So yeah, so I am totally looking forward to the success of your mastermind and everything else you're gonna do.

Leslie Bailey:

Thank you. Same to you.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, thank you. So if you are really thinking about like on the fence, make sure this is your warning. Make sure you sign up because you're gonna be on the waiting list. I already know that. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming. So such a wonderful conversation.

Leslie Bailey:

I love chatting with you. You have you such a good interviewer, so many great questions, and I think you really inspired me to think about a lot. So thank you. Thank you. All right.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Until next time, keep it locked here. Bye.

Contributor

Victoria Odekomaya

Host