784. How to Make Money Doing What Comes Naturally to You

26:59And I just like never want to take that ability to create for granted, but it does throw you into a lot of transition and a lot of moments of uncertainty and almost like not knowing what's next, but definitely getting comfortable with that is part of it. So that's probably, since you're such a creative person, I would imagine that's probably why you are comfortable with that stage because anything is possible. But I think too, I think, I don't think I grew up equating like that creative state with stability or even security or abundance. So that's been something that I've been just kind of reprogramming over the years.

27:45But I have to kind of catch myself too, because, and I think a lot of people listening probably feel this. And I'm curious how you both feel, where like, it's very rare that I allow myself to be creative without the thought of, how can this make us money? Or how can this become a business? Or, you know, just kind of that thought. It's not a bad thing. I don't think it's bad. But I just, I wonder what it would feel like to allow myself to be a bit more creative without the thought of what will this become in a monetary or success standpoint. Well, because it's like you're trying to be creative, but you are giving it some boundaries.

28:25You're like saying, okay, we can be creative, but it has to fit within this boundary of making money. So maybe it kind of tightens you guys. But for when you started the pod, did you guys think it was going to make money? No. Maybe pay for our groceries. Yeah. I remember we made$150 like some month. I was like, dope. I was like, this is going to give us, yeah, I was like, this is going to be a nice little side hustle income. But then when it started to pick up, I mean, we took it pretty seriously and how we were going to set it up and structure it to make money. Cause I was like, oh, this is the ticket.

28:56Like this is the way, then there was so much momentum and yeah, I was like, this is the way that I'm going to get out of my corporate job and get out of this job and do something that I love and do something that I feel creative by creative and inspired by. But I think when people think about creativity, it's almost like they use creativity as like their, their mode for escaping their life. So it's not even like they're interested in the creative act. It's like, how can that creative act get me out of my life? Okay. Yeah. You know, so, okay, I have this creative thing that I'm, I want to monetize my gift of tarot reading, whatever the things are.

29:30And it's like, okay, so is it really that you like that? Or you just want out of your job? and most, not most people, maybe that was even me. You know, I really, we started it without any intention of anything. And then it became for me something where I was like, okay, I really want to use this to like express myself. But I think most people don't even have a concept or understanding of what it feels like to be creative, to have enough spaciousness in their mind, to allow themselves to think and dream and express and emote. And I think creativity has been stolen from many of us. I mean, the buildings that we live in are all boxes that are gray with no form or structure.

30:07The school systems we have just feed the same information to kids that we've been feeding forever. We're feeding them trash food. They're not spending time in nature. All the creativity is like coming to them through video games that doesn't allow you to be creative if you're already engaging with something that is so vivacious and alive. So it's receptive mode. So I even think that the concept of creativity has almost been killed from our culture and society and people don't even really have access to that. And even on like social. That's my sermon. I think on social it's like, you know, if I'm thinking about, I think my inclination is to create organically and that is absolutely not going to go viral or the algorithm hates it to be honest.

30:47I am less inclined to pick up on like viral trends and recreate them. But that's kind of the game. And but I think it has kind of and that it's on it's I think on me and it's a choice, but it's like that's kind of dimmed my creativity a little bit. Social media has. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Because you're you're creating, but certain things are rewarded, you know, like the algorithm is rewarding like certain things. So that's kind of the creativity. But I kind of like to see these as like, okay, these are rules of the game. So if there's these, if I'm trying to be creative online and the rules of the game are this, like, is this algorithm?

31:32Or if I'm trying to create a business, the rules of the game are making money. I think that as long as like we are aware that, okay, in this creativity, like it's like saying like, if I'm a painter, there's some rules about being a painter. You know, it's not like a, it's not a free for all, you know, there's like, maybe use a canvas and use brushes, like, and you use this kind of liquid to, you know, to paint. So I try to like still be creative, but know that I have these rules around this creativity. And that's like part of the game. That's why I love business, actually. Like, I'm like, okay, cool.

32:09Like, in order for me to being able to like live as a creative, I have to play by these rules of the business. and then I try to be creative within those rules, if that makes sense. So I don't like get mad at myself necessarily that I want to make money doing it because yeah, like it basically allows me to, I think it's like get out of that survival place. I mean, I think that's why we all, when we started to figure out that perhaps I can make money doing this thing that I really love, you try to find a way to survive. It's like, I just want to stay here. Like, I don't want to go back to my old job.

32:46I don't want to go back to being an editor or whatever. So you're trying to figure out that money aspect. But I really think that we have to see that as a game. And that's where the creativity comes from. Like that's where like that childlike creativity comes from. So that's the kind of things I try to bring to myself. Trying to think like, okay, so how would we define creativity? Like, cause it's even like, what are we even talking about? I'm going to be Jordan Peterson for a second. Like, what are we even talking about with creativity? What is it? It's like, for me, that's like, your life force essence.

33:17It's like the God part of you that's like bringing something out of nothing. You know, it's like creation, like that creativity. God was the ultimate artist. God was the ultimate creator, you know, of the universe. So that is the ultimate creative act. So it's like the aspects of us that have that God in us, the aspects of us that have that like essence is like what we experience when we experience creativity. You know, it's our life force. And I think it can create things. We can create this world. We can create businesses. We can create things. And it's also like the feminine, you know, it's like the aspect of the feminine, you know, the feminine creates and she destroys, like it's the beautiful aspect of the universe that we have.

33:57So I think as women reclaiming that ability to really tune into ourselves, to like listen enough to know what sort of things we can create from the void, what sort of things we can create from the abyss is like where we find the magic. And then we can add the structure of the masculine to create the structure and form to make money in the 3D realm. Because without the structure and form, we're not going to be monetizing it. And I think that's where a lot of women struggle in business is they can have the feminine creativity, the idea, whatever, but it's really wobbly and it's not sustainable because they haven't had enough masculine structure to really be monetizing or making it in a way.

34:34And I think when we first started almost 30, I was so in my masculine. I was a dude, like me sitting like this all the time, like, and really created structure and really created like frame for things together, you know? So we were able, you were too like a dude as well. I was a dude in a, I dressed like a dude, but I don't think I'd created the masculine structure of the business. I think you led on that. Yeah. I think I was, I think just cause the business stuff, but yeah. And it was actually very important that you weren't a dude too. How did you dress like a dude? Did I miss these photos? She was like sporty spice.

35:07I was just, I was sporty spice. I was a fitness instructor. So like I just kind of looked the part. So it was like abs were popping, cargo pants, like crop top, jean jacket. Yeah, loved crop top. Loves a crop top. Had a short ass haircut at some point. With short ass haircut. I remember. I missed, I missed, I feel like I met you guys like right after. I liked your short haircut. Yeah, it looked good at points. I just think like, you know, she's interesting. I went to generous cut. I know. I know. But it's true. Like we needed that balance. But I think, yeah, it was a foundation for Almost 30 as a business.

35:42So that was absolutely necessary. And then I think later on, you know, it's like allowing more of the flow of the masculine and feminine so that we could evolve. Yeah. You know, and so that we could actually lean back a little bit and trust. I think like the masculine kind of keeps you in the what's next, what's next, go, go, go. yeah produce more and there were some seasons where we were kind of forced to sit back and be like oh damn like yeah things are changing like how can we either do less or just be a bit more creative and efficient um but yeah I completely agree I think also creativity is like just an inner connection you know it is a connection to God yeah 100 % the God within And that to me just feels like finding my center and I think just knowing and trusting myself as a creative being.

36:39You know, I think we can just like put the power outside of ourselves so much, you know, whether it's to other people, you know, society, you know, other powers that be and just not remember that we have that just incredible, innate creative power within us to create our reality. and to create things that on a micro level, what seems to be a micro level, actually make an impact. You can create something just for the people in your home. And that creates a really profound ripple effect. I think people are so obsessed with, well, how can I bring this to the masses? And it's like the micro, what seems to me, the micro is actually really, really powerful.

37:25like creating it for you, your family, your friends and seeing kind of how that reverberates. Like I'm kind of interested in, you know, because I think I need to kind of rein it in and bring it home a little bit so that I can reconnect with like what's really authentic to me to create. Yeah, I think creativity is living a life that is like of your expression, you know, knowing because we're either living somebody else's creation or you're creating your own. Like, it's like one or the other. And I think that's why even when we think about our kids watching YouTube and all these things, it's like, that's cool.

38:03You're consuming a lot, but are you creating? That's kind of the question we ask. But I think also if you think about life, like, until what age were we probably like living somebody else's creation? You know, I have a 19 year old and I can see her fighting living her parents creation versus her trying to create something herself, even though she doesn't know what that is. So to me, creation is just like the awareness that I have that gift to be able to do that. And maybe some people are okay with living other people's creations. Like I don't know, sometimes it might even be easier to live somebody else's creation.

38:37Like maybe we drive ourselves crazy by creating our own lives, but I just know that I'm like a person that needs to live like an expression of who I really am. And I think that that comes through how you create your life from the smallest to the biggest thing. And I wonder like about the business aspect. It's so interesting to hear you guys like talk about, yeah, you, you know, you started this way and then you've gotten very masculine, but you know what that made me think that perhaps like, you know, it starts off feminine because you're passionate about something, you're excited about something.

39:07And then the masculine comes to like bring the sperm to the egg, you know? Yeah, I was just getting that visual. Yeah, like is that, you know, so there's nothing, we need both the masculine is like, okay, cool. We're gonna make this into something, but the feminine cannot do it on her own. Yes, 100%. She needs like the masculine. And then that is like what births a business that is like a living, breathing organism at the end of the day that can actually produce. And it's being able to have both those energies. And I think, yeah, some of us just carry, like don't know or don't feel confident enough, I guess, to bring the masculine like into the business.

39:42And I'm sure in a partnership, it's probably hard because you guys probably felt like each of you needed to take one role rather than finding both of the energies like within yourselves at some point. I don't think we knew what was, I don't think we were conscious enough during that time. Like I don't think we knew about masculine, feminine. And also even now, like, of course I'll talk about it and I think it's real and true, but I'm not always like, you know, I'm noticing you're in the masculine channel. You know, I'm just kind of, I'm just who I am and just operating from that way. But I was getting that same visual about creation too, about the spermination of the egg or just about creating life in the womb because it is like, it's in the void, it's created.

40:18And then like the masculine brings the form that can bring it to earth and to like life. Because otherwise a lot of the feminine is the ideas, is the ideation, is the feeling, it's the things that are unseen, you know, in the darkness. And then the masculine is what makes it able to be witnessed and experienced in the 3D on earth. And I think a lot of women now have their understanding of masculine sort of warped because of capitalism, because of our society, and because of the way that we're structured. So they're kind of not wanting to be in the masculine. But like when you can get a right balance with the masculine is the best.

40:51Like it is like the best. It feels good, feels powerful. And it's also just going to make you the most money in our world, to be honest. Like if you have a healthy balance with your masculine. And to me, the idea of like making money with your gifts is like, we really do it just so that we can stick around. Like, it's like, I want to be able to do this for all of my days. And it's like, well, money is almost like proving the concept. I think that that's why we, we seek it. You know, it's like, I remember for me, I was, you know, I was a fashion beauty editor, left that job to pursue something.

41:29I don't even know what it was. I was like, I'm going to self-help blog is kind of what I thought it was at the time. And literally told my husband on our honeymoon that I was going to like leave my full-time job. And I was like, by the way, you know, you married me and I was bringing in income now that we're married. And he was like, okay, Nikki. And then, you know, I helped him run his business, which was super cool because I got to just, it was so like not personal, you know, in a way, because he was, it was a service-based tree business, like not, you know, creative, right. I didn't feel like personal about it.

42:03And I learned a lot there, but then I got super bored of that. And I was like dying to get out of that job. And I felt like I needed to prove myself out of that job. Basically. I was like, I need this thing that I'm working on that I don't even know really what it is. I need it to work so that I don't have to like work for my husband anymore. And so that I can like, I don't know, in a weird way, like, I know this is horrible, about to almost like prove my existence. Like it's like what I wanted to do on a, on a day to day. That was like the beauty of being able to make money with your, with your gifts.

42:35Did you know what your gifts were at that time though? No, I didn't. I, I, you know, I had the gift of writing already at that point. And I think I just was unaware that when you're writing, you're usually channeling. So I had no idea. And then I started coaching and basically the way the information was coming out was obviously like very intuitive. And that's where people were asking. And then I would just sit in meditation. And because I'm a little bit of a, although I have a lot of like water energy, I'm also, I do need like a good organization situation. So I just wanted the readings to be organized.

43:10And like from that desire to make it organized is actually like how I was able to like rinse and repeat this thing that I was doing. So it was almost like seeking for it to be organized is like what made the readings like really hit. Cause I wanted to be able to, I kind of, I remember one day I was at this restaurant in Miami called Houston's and it's like, um, I think they might have changed the name by now, but anyways, super popular. And it was one, it's one of those places that like, you're going to go and you're going to get your veggie burger and it's going to taste exactly the same. It tastes like, it doesn't really change.

43:41Like, you know what you're going to get. And I was like, how do you make a reading like that? Like, how do you make a reading where like every time you do the reading, you know, it's going to come out good. And that inspired me to create like the format. And that like format is actually like what made this very watery gift that was trying to come through, you know, this intuition gift is what made it like very powerful was to actually give it some structure to actually give it some boundary. And then once I figured out that I can just rinse and repeat this thing, that was like my ticket. Wow. And that was kind of how it happened.

44:17I have so many of my dear friends that are moving through pregnancy right now. I actually have three of my closest people in my life that are moving through pregnancy. And it's been so beautiful to see how intentional they've become about their body and the way they're choosing to support themselves, the way they're choosing to nourish themselves. Lindsay, as an example, she truly is like doing like eating sardines, eating like liver. And so seeing her use Ritual and just like support her body in the best way she knows how, it has shown me how powerful and how great of a brand Ritual is because I trust her so much.

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46:34Go to naturium.com slash almost 30 for 10 % off your first purchase. That's naturium.com slash almost 30. That's so cool. Cause that's always so guide led where the guides are like, okay, we got this thing. Now we're going to show you the structure. We're going to like, you know, we're here's the, here's the format that we're going to do. Here was how we're going to bring them in. So your discovery of your gifts, because I want to, the reason why I want to, I kind of want to like click on this a little bit, because there's probably people that are listening that don't really know their gifts, but want to figure out how to live a life that they have the feeling.

47:08And the feeling is the driver of wanting to be more aligned, wanting to feel more like themselves, wanting to feel like they're living a life of purpose and meaning. So does that take first figuring out your gifts? Like, what is that? I'm asking both, all of us? Like, what does that take? I think so for me, when I discovered writing, one thing that I thought was interesting was, I think a lot of our gifts are on the other side of a shadow of ours. So like growing up, I was like a very dramatic kid. I have two brothers. And actually, even my brothers will tell you, they were like, we thought you were like a crazy person, like in high school, because apparently I was having a lot of feelings.

47:44And I guess I didn't know what to do with it. And one day I decided to like sit in my room and just start to write about like, And I was writing stories and I was like too afraid to date. So like in high school, so I would like write about my friends who were dating. Like I was like, let's just, I was like gossip girl, you know, like basically like writing about them. And then I realized, and my mom even pointed it out to me. And I was like, oh, and this is like the first time I understood like, Nikki, save your drama for your art. Like try to move that drama, like that energy into your creativity.

48:14and I think that like without noticing that there is this shadow that's probably like causing problems like there is a flip there's a reason for that like I was designed a certain way there's a flip to that and it was like when I first discovered that you can take something like that and turn it into a power I realized I'm like oh most of our gifts and talents are on the other side of something that we're probably hiding and that we hate about ourselves so that was a big like game changer for me when I discovered that through writing. And then the intuition one was like a funny one because during that time I had, I was dating this guy and, um, he would tell me, he's like, you know, you think like, you know, everything, like you think, you know, everything about, you know, people or whatever.

48:58And I remember being in my head, no, but I do, I really do know these things. Like he was basically gaslighting me. Like I was saying things that I knew about him and he was like mad that I knew them. And I felt very embarrassed about this. My mom would call me out on this as well, like kind of like a little bit of like a know-it-all or something. And I felt very embarrassed about this. But with time, when people were like seeking me for that, I realized I'm like, there it is. Like again, another gift and talent that is on the other side of something that I've been trying to hide my whole life.

49:27So to me, that's like one of the biggest clues. It's, you know, there's always these little signs, right? Like I'm sure you guys have memories of when you were a kid, you did this and this, And it kind of pointed to the fact that you might be doing a podcast or you might be a spiritual teacher or whatever. But I just don't think that unless we learn to embrace those things that we're almost scared of, the things that we are embarrassed about because it's like too much, it's too big, it's too out there. We just have to funnel that into some sort of good. And that is like where the gift and the talent is.

49:59Did you feel like you looked at that shadow or kind of like healed that shadow before leaning in or? I feel that there was, it just took a couple people to tell me to like recognize the gift before I could, you know, it was like the beautiful thing. They told you it positively or they told you it judgmentally? No, I think after I got a little bit positive, like finally one day shows up, you know, one person shows up and it's like, oh my God, what you just said, that really means something to me, even though I might've been hearing it the other way. So I think it takes a few, you know, it's like that English teacher that points out that you can write or whatever.

50:36So God speaks to people. Yes, for sure. That's like how I get mine. Yeah, I think almost 30, you know, being a podcaster interviewer, my shadow. Well, it's interesting because it's there's two things. I am still in a pattern that I've been in my entire life of making it not about me and asking people questions and deflecting and constantly being in someone else's psyche and someone else's mind through the expression of this. because that's like part of my patterning is to deny vulnerability or deny, you know, be scared of myself being heard, be scared of taking up too much space, whatever, which I work on a lot.

51:23And obviously I'm way better about, but it also is the shadow of that gift is being an incredible interviewer, being super in touch and even using a lot of my psychic gifts to like pick up what people are thinking in their mind and kind of go on that train and go on that path. so it's funny because it's like it supports my shadow but it also is like how I can monetize my shadow in a way yeah and like monetize the aspects of the things that I have had in my um yeah have like as an undercurrent of who I am that um before I had this we're just running in the background in a way that didn't help me um in my relationships didn't help me in my life made me like avoid a lot of my power but do you think that's like a first step though because you know, like now you're in a place where you're like, okay, now I can expand on this gift even more.

52:11I think it's the conscious awareness. Like I'm so grateful. I'm consciously aware. So like now I can monitor this and I can be, I can be consciously choosing like, okay, it's cool for me to be in interviews like that. And then I can notice now in my normal life, I'm like, oh, that doesn't feel good to be in conversations with men or conversations with my friends and be interviewing. Like I'm no longer doing that unconsciously because almost 30 experience as an interviewer, I was doing unconsciously 24 seven. And now I can switch roles of like, okay, now I'm going to take up a lot of space. I'm going to make this all about me.

52:38I'm going to be sharing all of these things. And then when I'm in almost 30 mode, I can be more in that phase of like, I'm going to make it about them. I'm going to be talking about them. And again, I'm saying this as someone that still, I'm still talking right now. I'm still sharing my story and my experience. So I'm way better about it, but it still is something that it's almost like me allowing that part to be in her gifts in a way that's going to be good, but it's, that's still kind of like a shadow part, you know? I think Lindsay, I was thinking about kind of seeing you step into the motherhood work.

53:11The way that I would see that is almost like before it would be like, oh, what's the, what's the value in that? What's the value in like, I like to cook or the value in, you know, these, I don't know, these more feminine like gifts or whatever. But I think that's also part of it too like being able to see the value something that's very everyday to you yeah the mundane and I feel like I see that in you yeah it's a that's a theme of just like um because it does bring me a lot of joy but I also have this like just thought or shadow or judgment around it of like but does anyone really care it's not really is it valuable like you said is it interesting like even I stopped myself from like really talking about things on the pod because I'm like, it's not interesting.

53:54People are almost 30. It doesn't really matter. Like, let's save it for motherhoods. You know, it's like I kind of stopped myself, but it's my whole life now. So it's actually kind of, um, it's hard because I can't really turn that off. And it's something I'm just truly passionate. It's a weird word to say, but it's just. You're celebrating it. Yeah, I really, I am. And I think I'm hearing within these, you know, other motherhood communities, but also the one I'm building, like, there is that like hesitation to really, um, lean back into this life. You know, it's kind of like this on edge, like up front in their seat.

54:37And they're like, well, I can't get too comfortable here because what would that mean for my career? How would my partner look at me? Like, it's a very interesting, like relationship that we have individually, it's all different with the mother archetype. Yeah, that's interesting. Do you think it's accepting the new identity? Do you think it's how culture and society perceives motherhood? I think more of, I think it's both, but I think it's so much of how our current society and culture perceive motherhood. And I don't think they value it as much as it should be. I think it's the most profound, you know, role, job, purpose that I'll ever have.

55:28But I just don't think it has the validation that we all are used to seeking. So whether that's receiving money for it or likes or, you know. Yeah, that's so true. But I think if we were going to give out tips about how to monetize your gifts, I think we're touching upon something here right now. It's like you actually have to see the value in what you're doing, right? Yes. So if, and I say this truly because I have three kids, like even seeing you with your child, like you are gifted at it. Yeah, for sure. You really are, you know? And I'm sure you probably don't feel like that all the time, but I can see it.

56:06And it's like being able to see that I'm a little gifted in an area that's probably like, that might seem mundane, right? Like I didn't, you know, none of us knew that interviewing or me being kind of intuitive, like that that was a thing. It's really when you start to value it yourself, like you have to be like, you know what, I think this is valuable. And sometimes it might be because you're trying to lead a crowd. You're like, hey, bitches, we're like, all of us are valuable in this place. And that, you know, helps you see your own value. And I think that's the only, again, that's like one, we can go through some tips of like how to monetize your gifts.

56:38But I would say that's one of the big ones. You have to be able to value even when it looks very mundane. And I really feel like it grows from there. That's a good one. I think that's a really powerful point about first understanding your gifts and then valuing them and seeing how they actually can impact people or impact lives or whatever that is. And I think a lot of people assume, I think when, and I'll speak for myself and I want to say something about, um, else about motherhood, but I think for, for me, because we are in our own experience in our life, I'm looking through the eye, you know, my own eyes.

57:13So I'm having, everyone thinks this way. Everyone feels this way. Everyone communicates. And so we can't really see ourselves that clearly. And we don't know that what is easy for us is hard for other people. What is easy for us does not come natural for other people. And so when we can really understand and like sort of witness ourselves or be witnessed by people that we love or even have tools like human design or astrology to really support us in those understandings of our gifts, it's so much easier to find the value. But I think the biggest way that I've been able to see value in what I do is not making me a part of it.

57:46You know, it's like, oh, I'm just so grateful that I've been so blessed with my I just am so grateful that my soul is what it is and that I can serve in that way. And it's not about, okay, I was the one that specifically impacted them. And I did this thing like, it just becomes too big and too much to hold because I'm imperfect. I'm not going to always be interested in the same things. I'm not going to always be up for the challenge or whatever that is. And so when I can just see it as like, this was God given to me through my experiences. And it's just being experienced now by other people. And that's the worth is the beauty.

58:19But yeah, just to say about you as a mom, it is so interesting because so much of your gifts is like presence. it's like holding space it's like being non-judgmental it's like the play it's like you just can drop in with people in a way of like piercing yeah piercing presence and attunement that like is like so important as a mom thank you thank you I appreciate that yeah it's um yeah I'm reminded in this moment of just how important it is to like I feel like we can become so kind of swept up by how our gifts are perceived and like we don't actually – I don't really feel like present to my gifts in the moment, if that makes sense.

59:11Like I hear you and that is true. Yeah. But I'm not actually feeling that in every – you know, I'm not feeling that in every moment. Our gifts are so us that it's really, that's the whole thing is our gifts are so us that it's not, it's so weird to think about your truest essence of your gifts to think about then pulling it from you and then putting it in a box for sale. Obviously that's what I do. But there is a part that it's like, even when people are like, oh, I want to be a podcaster. I want to be these things. I'm like, I don't know if you'll be successful because my unique essence and the trauma that I've been through and the experiences that I've been through created this amalgamation of me being good at this thing.

59:52And so I actually can't say that following this thing or method that you're going to be the best podcaster, the best thing because your soul knows, but it is weird to be able to like verbalize the unique essence of you. And that's why I think it's really important. I completely agree. And I think that's why it's important to have these types of relationships where you have people that can reflect really clear truth to you about what they've observed about you in your true essence. And so I think that's kind of a piece for me in terms of, you know, monetizing my gifts. You've been really, really, really impactful in this way.

1:00:31And you have been as my friend and just someone who's incredibly talented in business, where like you each have seen things in me that I cannot. And I don't think it's me like just not valuing myself. It's just that I'm just, I'm me. And so I can't see that always. So I think that's a really important piece, having people who can really reflect back to you, what they're seeing, experiencing of you as like who you truly are. And I'm always just jogged in those moments of like, oh, wow. I think that's the power sometimes of like you said, like a human design reading or in astrology reading sometimes, like when a complete stranger sees you and they're like, oh, you have this gift.

1:01:09I would say the next step for like embracing it and kind of valuing it, as you guys were talking, I was thinking is it's the hours that you put in into that craft. So like you were saying, Krista, you're like, you know, I have this perfect mix of everything to like make a good interviewer. But, and you're like, you know, it's hard to see it in myself, But at some point, I think we have to stop and look at ourselves and be like, well, I just put in four years worth of interviews. I've done this amount of interviews. You know, I've been there with my child these amount of days, all that stuff. And you do have to kind of quantify how you've gotten better at it, too.

1:01:52So I think there's an aspect of I could have noticed that I was a decent writer when I was younger because it was like innate. But then at some point, you know, I think the next step is like taking that gift and honing it, you know, and really being like, I'm going to write a lot and I'm going to get somebody to edit my writing and tell me that it's good or that it's bad. And I think that's where the confidence comes from. I think that we can turn some of our gifts into confidence with time if we feel like we put in the reps and that we also had somebody kind of critiquing the reps as well. I mean, we were just shooting like a little reel before here.

1:02:26And you said to Sophie, you were like, any notes? You know, like that's a sign of somebody who's like trying to get better at, you know, at like something that is probably a little bit of a dormant, you know, gift or talent. And I think that's also why we overlook them because gifts and talents, when they're innate, they're pretty subtle, you know, and they're like kind of flabby, you know, they're not like super formed. And I feel like the, I mean, you can speak to that so much. I mean, you, you know, you, you were like a singer and a dancer, you know, you've done all this work and you know what it is to like do the reps.

1:03:01And I think that that's when you can start to get a little bit confident about it because you look back and you're like, oh, I put these hours in. And I would say that that's what the gift of doing the readings for me. I did, I've done like over, I think I'm at like 1500 readings, something crazy like that. And I remember like the first year that I discovered I could do readings, I just put my head down and I just did a bunch of readings. And I remember at the end of the year, my assistant gave me like the number and I was like, no way. Like I've done that many readings. And it was actually, that is when I started to look talented.

1:03:36Like I don't, you don't look talented at first. I think you kind of have to be curious about perhaps there's something here. And then as you hone it and you put in the hours, I think you start, you're able to embrace them a little bit more. I love that reps like as like our next little step on our journey. And I just I love that. I love reps. I love the idea of reps. Well, it's like it is part of that masculine. Yeah, that's true. But I think when you said the confidence thing, I mean, if I think about when I was auditioning for like TV and film, if I think about when we were on tour, if I think about interviews.

1:04:20the practice preparation um and the preparation could look like you know obviously um doing reps yeah but also um full body mind soul preparation yeah that's true um but the the product of that for me was always if i did that and i've experienced the contrast was complete confidence You know, and I just love, we obviously love that feeling. But there were many times where I wasn't fully prepared or was half ass preparation. And I experienced just complete like out of bodiness, like just not being in my full power. And yeah, it's just such a good feeling. It's it's it feels more like me, even though I know there's a part of me that kind of manifest that unpreparedness, but it's like, that's really me when I'm prepared.

1:05:20I think that's the value. It's like, you know that there is value here, so I'm going to respect it. And I'm going to respect it by practicing and preparing because I respect it. And I think that's the big difference between a person who's not getting paid for their talents and a person that is. You're like, I respect this gift. I think it's valuable. And I'm going to present that way. And I respect my client or the person that I'm working with or the person that's receiving this. And I respect myself enough to prepare. I think a lot of people don't want to put in the reps or they want to get to a destination too quickly or they want to rush too quickly.

1:06:01But I think the point too, when you said, you know, I asked her for notes, it's like when we can love ourselves enough to know that like any notes are okay and that we're not a bad person and there's not anything wrong with us if we get feedback or if we get people sharing information. I think that's the thing too, for a lot of people that want to monetize their gifts, you have to be prepared to receive feedback because it's you or it's your offering or your service. And when you're sharing something with the world, the world is going to respond in some sort of way, whether it's no sales, lots of sales, feedback, no feedback, positive, negative, whatever.

1:06:37And so being able to like not waver and withstand feedback or criticism or insight or mentorship is going to be a huge part because that's where you really can, you know, go past the blind spots or improve each time. How do you feel like you've been able to, because I've seen the ablution of like how you metabolize feedback and use that. Cause I feel like there was a time yeah, not available for feedback, not available, but I was like, actually I'm, I'm, I'm complete. I'm unavailable for feedback. I feel like that's okay in certain seasons or instances. But I've definitely seen like a growth in that way.

1:07:15Like how do you feel like you've been able to kind of discern when you take feedback and why it's valuable? I think for me, my motto for feedback is that I don't take, I don't request or take feedback for things that are in the gestation period. If I'm in the process of creating or birthing something, I want no feedback. I'm not sharing with anybody. I'm not asking anyone for their input because I am very strong-willed, but I can be easily influenced. I can be kind of thrown off my path as much as I'd like to think I wouldn't be. And so I want whatever I'm bringing to the world to be pure and to be, you know, truthful and to be authentic to me.

1:07:52And then as far as getting feedback, I think I had to remove myself from it where I felt like it was about me. I think when you're so self-obsessed and self-absorbed. And I'm saying this as someone that like, it's funny with codependency or being an empath because you think you're about other people, but you're actually obsessed with yourself and how people perceive you. So when you're obsessed with that and someone gives you feedback, you're like, I'm a bad person. There's something wrong with me. The codependent says, I need to change who I am based on this feedback. They want me to talk louder.

1:08:21I got to talk louder. They want me to not say totally. I got to not say totally. And then you're just kind of juking and jiving and running around based on the world telling you who you are and what you want to be. So I think now I have such an anchored sense of self that there's no parts that are chasing the approval or what people want from me because I'm here. The approval is from within. So anything that I get as feedback is running through my filter of myself. Does that feel true for me? Does that feel helpful? Does that feel, you know, I'm psychic too. So I'm like, is that them? Is that their lens that they're running through?

1:08:54Or is that like a truth to mine? Um, and then there's people that you trust. I think having people that you trust that know you and love you having the opportunity or availability to give you feedback. And I think the last thing is that with my friends, I'm very clear when I want feedback and when I don't, you know, I will say to them, Hey, I just texted this dude. I don't want feedback. I just want support. Hey, I'm doing this thing. I don't want feedback. I just want you to gas me up. Hey, I'm, I'm actually in the process of, I want feedback. Like what are three things that you could see for me?

1:09:22Like, what do you think would work about this? What do you think would not? And giving like a beautiful filter and a frame so that you can be in a space to receive feedback is also really good. So when I'm available for feedback, I'm resourced, I'm regulated, I am well slept, I have spaciousness and time, I can actually allow that information to move through me in a way that's helpful and not like, you know, not a use of their time or not a use of my time. So I'm very thoughtful about it. And I think people, it would behoove them to be mindful about it in the beginning phases about how much feedback they're trying to get.

1:09:56Because I think people try and get more feedback than I think they need. I love that idea of like kind of knowing the difference between like if you just need support or feedback. That's awesome. And I think also, you know, like, I remember as a young writer, like I was terrified with this, you know, you have an editor that's part of the job. And I was just like terrified to get that feedback. But once you get past it a little bit, you're like, oh my God, like this is a much better article. And like you said, like this person has my best interest in mind. They hired me. They're my boss. The idea is hopefully, you know, they have my best interest and you become a better writer.

1:10:32But I would say I have some rules about around feedback. I definitely like do not ask somebody who hasn't already done it or isn't as brave as I would either am or as I would like to be. I'm not, you know, even I love my husband to death, but I remember when I was first starting the readings and all that kind of stuff, his feedback was not helpful at that time. And like you said, kind of knowing that it's, like it was a little like sensitive at that time. So not letting in those people, but if there's somebody that is, has done it is, you know, you're probably not going to get advice about maybe being a mom from somebody who like doesn't want to have kids or something like that, you know?

1:11:12So I just, I think also knowing who to ask that guidance for. And I think also knowing, you know, do you really want feedback or are you just like looking for somebody to tell you that it's great? 100%. Because I've done that a bunch. I just want you to gas me up. Yeah. I just want you to say this is amazing and this is good. I actually don't want any. Because most people don't want that, want feedback. They're insecure. And I'm not saying that I'm the best at it, but it's just a different game to be like, okay, I'm going to look at this critically. I'm going to take myself out of it. I'm going to see this objectively.

1:11:50Even with your readings, it's like, you had to take that away from you. It's like, okay, here I am as a person and this being that's bringing through this thing, that's readings. How can I look at readings objectively? How can I improve readings? It's not how can I improve myself or whatever? It's like, this is a thing that could use improvement, or this is a thing that could be fine-tuned. And I think we can take the creative project or the thing that we're doing outside of ourselves and be able to look at it. It's so much easier to be able to fine-tune rather than like, I'm the problem, I need fixing, or I need adjusting.

1:12:22Yeah, because if you think about it, these gifts are really like an expression of God. So when you take yourself out of it, you're like, you know, with the readings, for example, or even when I was a young writer, I would always be like, oh, this is just God expressing itself through me. This is not me like Nikki. This is like something that is coming through me. I am just a vessel for this expression. So I really started to see like that always helps me because I by no means I'm like, you know, I do get self-absorbed and obsessed over my own things all the time. But when I start to separate and be like, no, you know, even here at this show, Like it's like we're trying to do our best to be a vessel for whatever spirits messages are for whoever is listening.

1:13:04Like may we be like an empty vessel for that. And that helps me like remove myself from it and also be okay with like tweaking it a little bit because it has nothing to do with like my personal value as a human. 100%.

1:13:23summer is always a funny time because i want to enjoy the burgers at the barbecue i don't know about you the breakfast bagel before a beach day that's my thing uh the pasta salad at a friend's house but um i also want to make choices that support how i want to feel i realize i don't do well with the all or nothing approach anymore that's just not me that's why i've been loving hero bread. I was honestly shocked by how soft and fluffy and delicious everything is that they make. There's no stiff cardboard texture, just the bread, buns, tortillas, and bagels you actually crave. I've been using their tortillas for easy lunch wraps for myself, for my son.

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1:14:43But one thing we don't want to talk about is just how many people genuinely love the experience. So if you're curious about therapy and you want to support yourself in your life, I highly suggest using BetterHelp. It just kind of breaks down the barrier of cost, of time, of availability. You can chat with your therapist on text. You can get in sessions super easily. It really makes it easy for you to take care of yourself. And I think therapy has been one of the things that has changed my life more than anything. I would say meditation, therapy, stopping drinking, have been my things. The reviews of BetterHelp are updated every day, and it's great to hear from the people that say they love it and have actually used the service, so you can look at the reviews if it's going to be helpful for you.

1:15:23And the average live therapy session actually has a 4.9 out of 5 based on 1.7 million client session reviews, and more than 6 million people have used BetterHelp globally. So if you're thinking about starting therapy, you answer a few questions, you get matched with a therapist based on your needs. And if it's not the right fit, you can switch therapists at any time. You can see the reviews, what stands out and see if better help is a right fit for you. Use better help.com slash almost 30. That's better help.com slash almost 30. That's better. H E L P.com slash almost 30. Um, do you feel like, well, I guess what is your relationship with like your own perfectionism because I feel like when we create something there's kind of there is a path of like kind of a bottomless pit of like this could always be better yeah um that's my favorite quote yeah I know but it really serves you know it serves to a point and then it's like when is it time to let go when is it time to let it be and just like breathe there this is such a powerful question because this is what stops most women yeah is that perfectionism because and and i think and i've been in that where i'm like oh it's not ready yet it's not ready i'm not gonna put it out and um i kind of got sick of that like with new mom it's like such a baby out there in the world but it and it's not perfect but i'm like oh it feels so good to not give a fuck and like just allow who's ever meant to find it find it engage with it engage with it and like also stay true to what feels so good to me.

1:17:08And I think for me and my creativity, it's so important for me to not actually care about the audience. I think we talked about this at one point, really disengage from, which sounds counterintuitive and maybe like rude to people,

1:17:27potential consumers of a new mom. But like, it's, it's important for me at this stage to trust what's coming through is actually meant to serve, to serve new moms, or those that feel like new moms. So sorry, back to the original question around perfectionism. It's like, how do we how How do we work with that? When is it important to leverage? And when is it something we need to like tend to? Such an important question. I have two thoughts about this. So number one, there are the times where we have to like release, even when we know that it's not ready or it's not perfect because we need the feedback.

1:18:10Like you, you know, we want to think that we're creating this all by ourselves, but we're not, you know, we're creating this. It's a co-creation with the people that are receiving it. It's a co-creation with God, all that. So we have to like put it out a little bit to see, you know, it outside of us, like to see how it's walking and, you know, how it's. So I think there's like an aspect of like, I'm calling it perfectionism, but I'm really just here. I'm just scared to hear what I'm going to get back. But if I'm in the mindset of like, okay, I'm going to put this out there. I'm going to beta test this, whatever.

1:18:43I'm going to put this out there and I'm going to see, you know, like how I can make it better. And if I'm really dedicated to making my gifts better, I have to be open to putting it out before it's ready. And then the second thing I really learned about perfectionism throughout my years is like everything changed for me when I met my sister-in-law who's married to my older brother. She is a plastic surgeon. And I don't know if you guys know like female doctors or female surgeons, they are like the epitome of like, you know, just type A perfectionist. I mean, It's a manifestation. Your work is perfectionism.

1:19:19So you manifest that. Imagine. So I meet this woman and I love her. And just really this person that came into my life that I was like really admired. And she admired me the same way, which was funny. She's a Scorpio. So she was like into the work that I do. But as I watched her and I saw her like maneuvering through her work and just being like so dedicated to it. I asked her that question about, I'm like, how do you get past like perfectionism? And she's like, oh, I don't think about perfectionism. She's like, I think about excellence. And it started to make me think that sometimes we judge ourselves for being perfectionists, but I think that there is nothing wrong with being like, I shoot for excellence when I can.

1:20:01It's probably not always going to happen. And she really embraced that about her. Like she was like, she's like, I don't get caught up with perfectionism. I seek for excellence. Like I try to seek out excellence and I try to be as excellent as I can in that moment. You know, we talk about you guys writing the book, right? Like it's as excellent as it can be at this moment. I'm sure four years from now, when you guys have other books under your belt, this book is not gonna look as excellent because we are constantly evolving and moving. But I think it's okay to shoot for excellence. And instead of calling it perfectionism, I think the only difference between excellence and perfectionism is that you let it go.

1:20:39You say like, this is the best I could do in this moment. And I'm proud of myself for this moment. And I, and I let it go. And I was, and yeah, I might be picky and I might be like a diva about it sometimes, or I might be like looking for like, so if we just put my, like my hair fly, whatever, like she was like putting my hair down. I didn't really notice it, but you know, she's trying to make me look as excellent as possible. Right. In this moment. And I, I don't think we, I think sometimes we have to like not judge ourselves for that, especially like the Virgos of the world, you know, like you're shooting for excellence, which is different than perfectionism.

1:21:13Yeah. Perfectionism feels like it has that energy of control. And judgment. And judgment. And yeah, the excellence feels like fuel, forward movement. It feels, yeah, just, I guess, more like inspiring, but not have a chokehold on you, if that makes sense. Exactly. And hopefully the idea is that you could actually let it go. I don't think of how perfectionism manifests in my life. How do you feel like it manifests in your life? I don't know. I think I see it a lot in my, like my personal. So like within like my

1:21:59just like family home life, like there's, there's aspects of that, that I really desire to be quote unquote, perfect, um, to bring me more comfort and ease and joy. And, um, but I think like one of the, you know, hallmarks of a family is the imperfection and just kind of being able to kind of move through, love each other and support each other through it. So Sean's really good at kind of catching me in those moments and just kind of asking really, important questions around like why it's important to me you know that's something is a very certain way and I have such a like tight grip on it so it shows up for me there in a way that I'm kind of like hmm like we could kind of we could be a little bit more malleable there I don't think it shows up for me in my creativity as much anymore you know it's kind of it's been liberating um and maybe because we've had kind of this yeah just um success with almost 30 where I kind of feel this like permission to um with what I'm creating next like that that's just freaking experiment yeah and have it be less about perfection because I think to compare anything to almost 30 right now would be like too much for me.

1:23:31But what do you feel like? How does it show up for you? I think I think I've got some shadow there. I think I've got some some stuff in my shadow that I can't really see in this moment with perfectionism. I think because of where I am in my life, I feel like I'm being good. So the perfectionism part of me is pleased. So I don't think I'll know until I fall off the cliff what do you mean being good um like you feel she's like proud of herself yes like my the perfectionist is like we're doing good yeah yeah we're we're on our you know what i mean so i think it's it's so when i'm out of that then the other part the perfectionist is like we are not okay yeah so i think in this moment i feel fine with it but um mine's probably the striver you know career has to be you know whatever um looks have to be perfect but then i have like that rebel part of me too.

1:24:25So I don't know. It's hard for me to really pick that apart right now. I'm not saying that I don't have the tendencies. I think my whole thing is everything could be better, but it's - Probably now because you can manage it all. You know what I mean? Like you're, the family perfectionism is like super funny. My kids called me out because I was obsessed with them wearing matching pajamas. Like - That's hilarious. Literally my kid is like, Oliver's 11. He's going through that awkward stage of, you know, middle school. And I was like still trying to buy him like gap size, like XL XL, like just because I wanted to see him in like a matching pajama.

1:25:00I would like forbade him to wear like a t-shirt and like whatever shorts. He's like, mom. And I'm like, oh my God, it's the aesthetic. And then I would try to put the boys in the same pajama every night. It was like, it was insane. You're like, you're my dolls. Put on your outfits. My little dolls. And it was like, nobody was going to see it. It was just like this. And then they just started to rebel and my and I they just like now purposely will wear like one pair of pants that doesn't match like the top that's hilarious yeah like they're like because like I because it's I think when things are so um so messy you know family is so messy there's so many of them you have this house it's a small thing yes that like you're like maybe I can keep that's why moms like sit and watch those like videos of um organizing the pantry and shit and I would say the other thing.

1:25:49Wow, that's a good one. Yes, that's hilarious. And the other thing I would say that's difficult about, if you think about family as a work of art, it's like this thing that you're creating as a mom and you really feel like you're the, you know, the painter of this, like canvas or whatever. It's one of those creations that like, you don't know if it turned out well till the very, very end. It's like, when is that time? Is it when my kid's 19? Is it when my kid goes to college or not go to college? Is it when my kid gets married that I've been like, you did a good job. So there's something about it that is like a living, breathing work of art where, you know, Sophie and I could be working on a reel and we put it out.

1:26:27It's complete. We can judge if it was like good or bad, if it needs work. But there's something about family that's like a, it's like a garden. You're tending to it. So it's like, you never really get this moment that tells you if you're doing a good job or not. So I think the perfectionism really comes through because you have all this pressure on yourself and it feels like it's the small things that wear. I'm such a savage. My kids are not wearing matching pajamas. Like I'm a bad mom, you know, because I'm trying to get a hold for, is this work of art going to come out good or not? You know, and I think that that's the hard thing about why like smaller projects are a little bit easier and things that you can manage.

1:27:07Think about making a book, right? Did you guys like, Like, don't you guys feel like, you know, putting out a podcast episode, at least what you're recording it, maybe three months. You have three months of wondering if it's going to work or not. But the book is like something you've been working on. And yeah, sure, you get feedback from editors and things like that. I mean, that's about pressure. But like, you know what I mean? It's one of those like work of arts that it's so much easier to get like freaked out about it because you put all this effort into it. And it's like you don't know if it's going to be good or not until the end.

1:27:39Yeah. Yeah. So that's why I personally that's why I love like digital creation, too, because I love or even business because you, you know, you learn to see that the feedback kind of helps you tell you, you know, if it's doing good or not or whatever. So I enjoy those type of creations other than these like long. And you can build in the moment too. You know, you're kind of like, okay, we're going to adjust or fine tune. Yeah, the book has been, the book is very scary to me, you know, like very public, very, a lot of people counting on us. A big up level, a big ask, a big opportunity, a big moment, you know, like where it just feels different than anything I've ever done.

1:28:26you know, it's just, I'm so excited that you helped me reframe that last night. You're like, these people like need the book. And I was thinking about that. I'm like, if I had this book, honestly, and I'm saying this truthfully from my heart, when I was almost 30, like my life would be so different, you know, like the feeling that you have of being so alone, of being so lost and anyone that's lost or alone, you know, could benefit from it. But it is like the culmination of what we, we know and do as the show. And so it helped me to kind of release the grip on it, you know? And sometimes I think with anything that I do speaking or retreats and stuff, I just have to say like, okay, time to have fun.

1:29:03Yes. Just time to have fun. You know, I'll like get ready. Like you made it as excellent as possible. Yes. And yeah. And now we just want to have fun. And then you can go on stage and you can have fun. It's like, then that part of me, that's like, got to be perfect. Got to do this right. Got to say the right thing. You know, I think actually my perfectionist comes online when I speak a lot on stages because it's like, got to be profound, got to say it clearly, got to do all these things. So when I can let that chill and be like, actually, just have fun. It's like, that's all we're going to do is usually the best thing.

1:29:32So hopefully with the book too, I can also step into like fun, you know, with the process. That's what I've been thinking about, like just approaching next year because the first half of next year is press tour for the book, going into book launch book tour. And I think, I mean, the amount that you can get totally weighed down by the logistics, the expectations, all the things we have to do. And it, I just like, I was like, Oh, fuck, what do we have to do before the holidays for the book? I'm like, yeah, I just had that like anxious thought. And there's so much of that around the book. And I've really been thinking about how I want to feel like next summer, you know, December 2025, kind of after, you know, the book will, we'll still be talking about it and out there.

1:30:18But I think just the initial kind of excitement of the launch and the tour, how do I want to feel? And I want to feel peaceful and proud. I want to feel like, Like, damn, that was so fun. Yeah. Damn, I'm going to remember that for the rest of my life. My family's going to remember that for the rest of my life. Me and Krista are going to be talking about this forever. And so that kind of helps me in these moments, these like micro moments where we're like, you have to do this or like, how are we going to get this done? Or, you know, how are we going to plan this to kind of release the charge around it?

1:30:54No, and it's a good tip because it's like you're setting yourself up for success. You know, it's like you can really – like you have everything that it takes to be successful, but we can really sabotage it by thinking about it differently or not visualizing like that good moment. So it's like I think that's also you being like a good momager, you know, and saying like we got this talent. She's put it all out there. She's worked hard for this. Like let's not, you know, at the end – not say screw it up, but like, you know, at the end her not to get to enjoy it. So we're going to set her up for success by like, it's like the athlete that's like, okay, I've already trained, I've already practiced.

1:31:30Like, let me now visualize it turning out that way. And I think that is also, I always say that there's like a momager with the inner talent. And it's almost like the momager in you knows that the talent has like done the job, like has done the work. So now that it's time for the performance, let's like set her up for success so that she doesn't, you know, this is like the party. You should be able to enjoy that part. And it could go bad if your mind is in the wrong place, you know? I love that. Enjoy the party part of it. So if someone feels like they're monetizing their gifts, but it's not really making a lot of money, or they're still at their corporate job where they're getting paid, like what advice would you give?

1:32:15I think I'm like kind of putting myself there. I wonder, I think if you're doing all the things. So if you're like, okay, I've done the things, I'm putting up the reels, all that. I feel like when the action is not giving you the result that it should be, then you know that there's something off with your energy. There's something off with your subconscious or something off with like the actual, like you, the machine that is putting it out. So I would take a break from all the task and the doing, and I would really start to like hype myself up and be like, okay, do some of the visualization, maybe look at my subconscious, like, what are my limiting thoughts about this?

1:32:56What, you know, do I feel like I deserve this? I'm worthy of this. What am I afraid of? You know, sometimes some of us are afraid of success for like the craziest things. Like my husband won't love me anymore if I make more money than him, things like that. My husband, we talked about this. My husband won't need me anymore. So I always look like, I always say like, you know, almost doing some of the strategy stuff is like easier because somebody can hand that to you. Somebody can be like, okay, Nikki, You're going to do, you know, you're going to put up these reels. You're going to do this. This is how you're going to grow your audience.

1:33:22Or this is how you're going to do sales. And if I'm doing all those things and it is working for Lindsay better than it's working for me, I'm not going to think that like Lindsay is better than me. I'm going to think like Lindsay has a better internal system than I do right now. And I'll sometimes because I'm intuitive and all of you guys are, I'll actually sit and I'll kind of feel into the energy of the person that maybe is like killing it at the game that I want to be killing it at. And I'll be like, how is she thinking about herself? When she does do an action, how is she holding herself? How is she showing up?

1:33:57And what is different than me? So that's something I always look at because I feel like this question is somebody who's already trying, but it hasn't really like tipped over yet. And to me, it's something in the internal system that is off. Beliefs. The beliefs or else there's not enough structure, not enough form. I also think, you know, I don't know. I'm curious how you guys feel about this. I think nowadays there's sometimes an aspect of it where I've seen a lot of people be successful by being audience first and then providing the service or product. What's an example? So like someone growing an audience, like a online creator, you know, Jojo Siwa, hilarious example.

1:34:42That's hilarious. She creates the audience and then sells the Bose or like Camila Cabello. What does she sell? The Bose. She sells Bose. Oh, right. That's a bad one. Camila Cabello. I like that. She's grew the audience with fashion, started her own fashion line. Melissa Woodhealth grew the audience and then created the platform. And it's almost like doing things, you know, it's interesting because there is like two ways of like you being fully internally led. And I think maybe this is what it is. You are fully internally led when you create the audience. And then the audience sort of is what you respond to.

1:35:15but I'm curious what you guys feel. I thought about that when I first started too. And I feel like that was my first approach when I first started. I was like, you know, cause I come from a media background. So I was like, okay, I'm just going to do like a bunch of content for this one audience. Let's say, I think you have to be aware of that sometimes you just get lucky. But I think if you're just like, okay, if I have this one audience, this is what they're struggling with or whatever, this is, I'm going to make a bunch of content. I'm going to give them a lot of free stuff at the beginning.

1:35:42The only problem about that is that you're not making money. Like you're investing, you're doing like some sweat equity probably for like two, three years or so. I mean, I heard Joe Rogan say that he was doing his podcast for like five years before he started to like really monetize it. Or I could be wrong with that number, three or five years or something like that. So I think that that's definitely like a smart way to do it because once you have an audience, you can sell anything and it gets like a little bit easier. But if not, then yeah, you have to kind of lean into filling some sort of gap in the market with your product or your service.

1:36:19Like you have to, you won't be able to be super fully passion driven. I feel like you have to find a middle ground where you're like, I have this passion. Now where's that middle place where they'll like pay me for it, like where people will actually like put money. So you might have to find something in the middle. And then once you get out of that survival place that you're like making money, then you can probably expand into something that is like fully, fully passion. So I think it just depends. Are you more comfortable like staying at your job and like investing in growing that audience without getting money?

1:36:52Or are you like, no, I want to make money now. I like, I thought I was going to write self-help books. Like that's really what I was like, you know, getting into the work for. And then the readings came my way. And it was actually the thing. It wasn't like my first choice by any means. I'm grateful for it. But it's not like I dreamt of, you know, being a person that was doing a bunch of readings. But it was a thing that got my foot through the door. Yeah. And then it was a happy medium between like getting paid for, you know, my gifts or whatever. So I think you have to I think I kind of feel like there's two models.

1:37:25Yeah, I agree. I completely agree. I do think there's two models and it depends maybe on the person or whatever, but. Yeah. And your situation, you know, like maybe there's some, you're, you're, you live at your parents' house and you know, you have the time to invest those two years, let's say to like grow the audience. And I think too, in doing that where like you are growing the audience, not necessarily making money, there is a magic to not putting pressure on the thing yet. You know, so I think for some people that's really helpful for others. That's like totally boring. I think other people might thrive under, um, maybe the pressure or adversity to kind of create the thing, find the most efficient way and reach the people they're meant to reach.

1:38:09I think, um, we've had many people on the podcast who have had like these very specific ideas and just got to creating them, you know, with very little resistance. And I think some people kind of need to like step in as it before they create it. Does that make sense? So to have the audience validate it and then they're ready to step in to actually bring it to form. Yeah. For a lot of people, it's like I've said this, if the why is big enough, the how doesn't even matter. You know, you figure out like the how reveals itself or it just happens. And so when people have a big enough why of my child suffered with this, and then I had to think of this prescription, you know, we were struggling with this.

1:38:54So I created this, like those are oftentimes the best businesses too, when it's someone is so why led, like even we had an interview previously, this woman that was really sick and had to create a company of food that supported her and her sickness. Now it helps other people. But I think that's such a powerful thing. So, okay. Well, last question for all of us, what is our prediction for 2025? Like, what do we feel like we're going to see in the collective?

1:39:19I think my predictions, I'll go first to give you guys a second. Some concepts that I think that are going to be very popular are, um, inner teen. I think inner teen is coming online as a collective. I think we've done a lot of inner child healing, but I think we're at the place for inner teen healing. So I think we're gonna have a lot of inner teen moments, a lot of inner teen, which is actually really important for where we are as a collective to have better boundaries, to rebel against the system, to kind of relook at how we work with authority. So the inner teen energy is going to be really, really potent.

1:39:53This is a weird thing, but I've always been curious about it. And I don't know if it's going to come online, but I think at some point we do so much parent work, like work with peeling the relationship to our parents, but I think we overlook our siblings. I think our siblings have a bigger impact on us than we think. Say your sibling was an addict or say they were, you know, the bad one or say they were the golden child. Like that actually impacts you a lot more than we think. And I think we're going to look at the relationship with our parents. And then I think I've seen such a beautiful awakening to consciousness.

1:40:22I feel like so excited because a lot of the things that I've seen since 2020 are now coming to light or becoming obvious. And so I just feel really excited and enthusiastic that I feel validated in the path that I took because now I see so many people now awakening to so many things that we've been talking about for years. So I just feel like there's such a beautiful awakening happening for people where they're also taking the brakes off of burning themselves out, feeling that they need to be validated for their achievements, but who they are. And I'm excited. I think it's going to be a really, really good year.

1:40:58Nikki? I love this question. This is like what I do on the podcast every week, which is fun. Always reading the energy. I haven't done my 2025 predictions yet, but I was definitely, I saw yellow, solar plexus. I agree, like kind of removing ourselves, getting our power back from certain systems, very much like not being part of things that maybe that we used to be part of, that we thought we needed to be part of. So a little bit of like being individuals, but hanging out with other individuals, if that makes sense. Yeah, that's a good one. But also, I feel like some like wackiness almost, like I get some sort of, we're like in a weird innovation place where we're kind of back to where we were with like, you know, social media and apps when all that stuff started, that we're going to see some like creations, a lot of them that are not going to work, but a lot of like throwing things at the wall.

1:41:48So it's going to be a funny creative time, I think, like with technology. I think it'll be like a, like a funny, like, let's try this type of thing. So that's going to be like very like unhinged and kind of funny and weird is what I get for 2025. And also a lot of, I think healing the, like we were working on like healing the feminine for a lot, but I see a lot of male, the feminine and the masculine coming together. Like almost like, okay, after a few years of kind of having to step away from each other, having to blame each other, whatever, it almost looks like there's like an equal power coming in.

1:42:25So I do predict like a good year of relationships. Love that. Yeah, we had a relationship reckoning these past couple years. Yes. But I think when we have the individuation and coming into sovereignty, then we can be in healthy new relationship templates. So that's like the goal. I think coming out of codependency too. I think now people are really realizing how codependent they are with other things. I think we're also going to be talking about inner critic too a lot. I think we're going to be seeing like a lot of people publicly and maybe like more on the social media realm, like allowing themselves to change their mind.

1:43:03and doing it in a way that like feels really inspiring and feels um yeah just like it it creates a lot of compassion and empathy in the collective rather than like oh damn she changed her mind like told you so it's more like oh wow like we need that's actually really cool and that's really human and that we need more of that so I think that's going to be happening like in the mainstream media a little bit, maybe more so in the next few years. But I think that I do think, obviously, with everything happening in Hollywood and the music industry and all the, you know, headlines, I think there's going to be just kind of like less of an idolization.

1:43:45I think that's already started. But I really think we're going to see that this year where, yeah, it's going to be less about idolizing their lives, what they've created, like the just ideals and actually turning back to what we're creating in our own homes as like, damn, this is actually really where like the rock star life is, is like, you know, tending to our families, you know, whether the family we're creating or like our immediate family or our chosen family. And yeah, less about just like having our heads and faces and other people's lives. Because I do think there's something for me, and maybe this is my personal experience of like, being so on our phones, like, is our bodies are going to start to react in a way that is actually like very obvious.

1:44:39So whether it's like pains, whether it's like eye issues, whether it's like, just like very weird symptoms and I just feel like um there are going to be certain people that actually notice that and tend to that and wake up to that and certain people that won't but um all that to say I just feel like there will be less of a obsession with being here with always being in the know in the mix through the phone and more like within our communities within our families within like the local impact that we can make. Yeah. Full channel. Local community, baby. All right, guys, we love you so much. And if you are a creative that is looking to monetize your dreams, we are sending you all the love and courage on your path and your journey, wishing you all the best.

1:45:37Nikki, can you tell everyone where to find you? What they can expect from you this year? guys I love you thanks for having this combo with me I can't believe like it's how long it's been so many years since we I know when did we first meet Miami no before Austin we were both I was speaking and you guys were good fest good fest yeah was it yeah I was wearing a cheetah cheetah skirt I actually have that picture it's all good you were what was I wearing it's all good you were wearing pink somebody was wearing white booties somebody was wearing white booties patent white booties cheetah skirt hot pink sweater tucked in.

1:46:11Oh, wow. I was wearing like tie-dye. And I was going to solid, I was doing high impact Pilates 70 times a week. So my shoulders were like a linebacker. I was fully locked in love. I connected to Lindsay more because I sat next to her and we were talking about dating. Oh, because you had your book. And you were like almost intimidating for me. Like I was just like, this person has a very strong energy. I've heard that many times. That's why I have to like touch everybody and be like, oh. And you're like the sweetest, most loving person. Yeah, but that's kind of what I got. I don't like when people say that to me.

1:46:50You what? I like to be a little intimidated. You should be, yeah. And then, but yes, this is just a blessing to be here with you guys. And I remember sitting next to Lindsay and being like, you make money from a podcast? What? And you guys had like just left your jobs or something. And you're probably like, you know. We were rolling at that time. started from the bottom I think too whenever I don't know you're at events like I can't at events I can't I'm I'm doing better now but it's really hard for me to not be I'm like on yeah I get stressed oh yeah I'm like not fun to be around that we were we sat next to each other at a dinner and that's kind of oh yeah how we connected that was fun TBT good fest yeah but yeah I love you guys and I so a lot of like my success because of you guys it's so important for us over the years so it's been a blessing thing.

1:47:38My last reading was when I was in London. I was talking to London, man. It's all good. It's all good. You know, it's not the right relationship when you get a reading about them. It's all good. That's pretty accurate. I would say I agree with that. Yeah. But okay, guys, I have a podcast where I do reads twice a week, one for just the general and one for business. So if you are starting your business, I think you'd really love that. It's called Soul Led Living. and you can find me on Instagram at Nikki Novo or NikkiNovo.com and we'll be collaborating on some reels so you can just check us out from there.

1:48:15We love you. All right, we love you guys. We'll see you on the next one. Bye. Bye.

1:48:22So your girl's at the farmer's market on Saturdays every once in a while with my friends. I'm shopping at the local spots. When I was in Europe, I was shopping at these local markets and one of the things I was noticing is I was so exceptionally, eternally grateful that I could just buy with a tap of my phone from these local vendors in these local markets. I got this crystal necklace that I needed and I got to just do a little tap tap on Square and make it super easy for myself. So Square is the support for today's episode. It's the business platform that helps sellers become neighborhood favorites.

1:48:54I always just notice that everything flows when people use Square. The checkout with Square is seamless. The staff isn't stressed and they're actually able to connect with you because they're not fumbling with different systems. And I just love that it brings payments, point of sales, online orders, inventory, staffing, and more together in one place. So these local business owners can spend less time managing technology and more time doing what they love. And whether you're just getting started with growing your business, Square truly grows with you. It helps you run your business more smoothly, bringing payments, operations, and insights in together in one place.

1:49:28So you're ready for whatever's next. And right now, listeners can get up to$200 off Square hardware when you sign it for square.com slash go slash almost 30. That's S-Q-U-A-R-E.com slash go slash almost 30 to get started with Square and build a setup that works the way you do. So Upwork, I talk about Upwork with my clients all the freaking time. I was on the phone with one of my clients last night and I said, girl, you are no longer going to edit your podcast yourself. You are going to outsource with Upwork. This was her budget. She wanted to stay under a certain amount. So we had to find someone, that would be a perfect fit for her.

1:50:02Upwork is really the one-stop platform where you can find, hire, and pay expert freelancers across everything from marketing and business operations to web development, design data, and so much more. So you can basically browse their profiles, look through their work, and even get help scoping for a role. I was needing to hire someone for Kajabi within our business to help us do Kajabi. And so I saw this little profile, said, oh, she seems like a great fit. We got on a call. She was incredible with Kajabi. She was so incredible. Whether you're a smaller business or if you're growing really quickly, their business plus gives you an access to the top 1 % talent on Upwork with AI powered shortlisting that can match you with the right freelancer in under six hours.

1:50:42So this saves a lot of time. This is actually what I've been doing because it does take time to find people. It does take time to vet people and it's kind of a thing, but I want you guys to be outsourcing more so you can enjoy your life. you can do what you need to do and you can grow your business and still have time for freedom. And Upwork is that place to have that. At Upwork.com right now, you can post your job for free, what you're looking for, who you need to support you. That's Upwork.com to connect with top talent ready to grow your business. That's U-P-W-O-R-K.com. Thank you so much, Nikki.

1:51:14Again, it's NikkiNovo.com. You can find her on Instagram as well. And we also have another episode or two with her. So you can search Nikki Almost Third if you want more. And yeah. We appreciate you you all. Thank you so much for ordering our book, almost30.com book. And if you have it, have read it, please let us know. We'd love to hear from you. And please subscribe to the show. We have new episodes every single week, so we don't want you to miss any of it. All right. We love you. See you on the next one. Bye.