Examining Human-First Business with Katie Lewis | Episode 39

[Ashlee Sang] 11:03:11
All right, so Katie, first question of the day, what's your personality type from any framework you resonate with or have done in the past?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:03:22
From the Myers Briggs or, 16 personalities, I am an E and Fj, which definitely resonates with me.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:03:34
And was not really super surprised to get that one. I think with I've got, I'm like a combo.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:03:44
I think I'm like a 1 3 8. I can't remember. That's not, I don't use usually like.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:03:51
Hang on that one too heavily. And I think those are the only 2 I've done.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:03:58
Cool. Do you know, do you know what the 8 is by chance? I'm a one, which is like the advocate.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:04:04
3 is like the achiever, which a lot of people in my life are. And let's do what interview are.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:04:12
But do you know what the 8 is?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:04:12
No, I actually cannot remember to save my life.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:04:13
Alright, well we'll leave it for people who are curious to to look it up. Awesome.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:04:21
So as we think about the trajectory of your life and your business. What path are you on?

[Ashlee Sang] 11:04:30
What's your vision for what it is that you're building?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:04:32
For me, really my vision is to create a space. Where I can impact. The businesses and the people in the world who want to make positive change.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:04:48
I work with business owners who value inclusion. And making Spaces for human beings, real human beings, recentering humanity, rehumanizing their business spaces.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:05:07
And my vision really is to create an opportunity. Where they feel like they have support, where they have the empowerment to make the kind of impact that they want to make.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:05:19
And to bring all different kinds of people into their world in a way that works for them and their community of people.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:05:30
Yeah, that human first business idea is so important and it's amazing how that's not the default.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:05:38
Because at the end of the day every single business transaction. Well, I don't honestly AI is like way above my pay grade, but in general, historically speaking, and for the very near future at the very least, every single buying decision is made by a real human, whether they are making that decision on behalf of the world's largest corporations or whether they're solopreneurs freelancers, side

[Ashlee Sang] 11:06:05
hustlers, there are real humans making a buying decision with a real human or something that a real human has created like a website, a landing page.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:06:16
A product description, etc. And so for us so often to forget about that human first element. Is so strange to me.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:06:26
And I'm so glad that people like you. Are out in the world. Reminding us, hey, let's consider the real humans.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:06:35
In our business, around our business who are interacting with our business. And go from there.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:06:41
Yeah, and it's also something that's interesting to me. As more and more people are kind of getting on the bandwagon of You know, human first is becoming a buzzword in a lot of industries, especially in the coaching and consulting industry.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:07:02
And that's one of the things that. Is is troublesome. Because it can get you into really sticky situations.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:07:13
Not only do I envision a future where human first is the default. But where we examine what that human first model actually means.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:07:23
Because our businesses are our visions, our missions are don't exist in a vacuum.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:07:31
We exist our businesses the way that we function exist within systems that are traditionally exclusionary that are traditionally and historically oppressive.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:07:43
That are transactional in the world of capitalism and all of these other kinds of macro systems that we live and function within.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:07:53
And not only do I want human first to be the default, but I want examining what that means for each one of us to be the default.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:08:01
Because it's going to be unique to every one of us, but it takes the willingness to examine the way that we are complicit in these systems in which our businesses function first and foremost.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:08:14
And that's a scary process for us to really dig into that and to look within ourselves. And that's what I'm hoping for.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:08:22
That I want to take that human first default a step further is for us to really begin. To dismantle the problematic and harmful ways in which business and the industries and even larger as we get even.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:08:36
Farther out into that bird's eye view have really conditioned us to function as business owners.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:08:47
Yeah, that examination is so important in brand building, in messaging, in operational decisions, in seeking out partnerships.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:08:57
Elements of our business that examination that self-reflection and ideally that getting that reflected back to you and validated and having holes poked.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:09:08
In it and through it by people like you and me and anyone that we trust. And that examination and reflection is so, so important so that we can do the most good with the resources that we have.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:09:21
Right? And the vision that we have to do it. So yeah, I really love that idea of examining.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:09:28
So as you think about your life, What was the one decision or experience? Maybe outside of your control that changed the trajectory of your life.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:09:41
That one is always a question that, surprises folks that my trajectory was very drastically changed unexpectedly.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:09:55
So I'm actually a classically trained musician by trade. I am a flutist and a pianist and I spent years on the audition circuit and playing in orchestras and for shows.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:10:13
And while I was in my master's program, I actually wanted an audition with the military bands and so that was my career that was supposed to be my career for the rest of my adult life.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:10:26
And about 6 years into that, I sustained an injury during a training accident and not only did my military career end, but in large part my music career did too.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:10:40
And for me as I was coming back into the workforce and coming out of that experience trying to find my place professionally.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:10:48
It's became very apparent to me that the industries in which I had already worked and the ones that I was trying to find places in.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:10:57
Were wildly inaccessible to me as a person with a disability all of a sudden. And I really struggled to find a place professionally.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:11:08
I struggled with a great deal of ableism in the workplace and outside in the world. And I had the opportunity to work in some amazing nonprofit spaces.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:11:19
That. Gave me some really amazing experience. On the marketing side and in the digital space and I saw an opportunity to really create change, to change the the trajectory of consumers and professionals like me.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:11:39
To really give them an accessible and inclusive experience that I didn't have because I wanted to make it better for other people.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:11:48
And so I started consulting in the arts industry, actually. To really kind of dismantle those those bias systems and those unintentional exclusive practices and it's just blossomed from there so really that one experience you know not a lot of people get to say like on this one day on this 1 one event changed my whole life.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:12:17
But for me it did and it really was a pivotal moment for me and it's been the most amazing experience and adventure since.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:12:27
Yeah, and It's so wonderful and encouraging. To hear when people are able to take Really horrible situations, experiences.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:12:43
Etc, and turn them into something powerful and hope giving and something that goes beyond ourselves, right? Exactly what you've done.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:12:56
So even though, you know, you weren't able to flip a switch and it wasn't easy peasy all along the way.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:13:01
It has led you to where you are, it's giving you empathy, it's given you experience in ways that you never would have had otherwise.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:13:13
And that's such a beautiful way to help. Handle all the ups and downs that Life sends our way.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:13:17
So thank you so much for sharing that. As you think about some of your guiding values that maybe have always been inherent to you or you acquired through these experiences.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:13:30
What are some of those guiding values that you live out in your business?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:13:35
It's funny that you mentioned that word empathy because, I've You know, the first part of really the guiding force in my life has always been empathy.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:13:53
I have always considered myself a nurturer and in a lot of you know the personality test that I do that's always a prevailing trait that's talked about.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:14:02
I feel others experiences very deeply and so that empathy if I had to sum it up into one word that would absolutely be my number one value is that empathy that a ability to really take on others.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:14:19
Lived experiences. And base my actions upon that and I also value that in others the people that I collaborate with the people that I work with and as my clients and customers in my community, it's always that that foundational value.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:14:39
If I were to expand on that value base of empathy, it would really be.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:14:47
Justice? Especially working as a diversity, equity, inclusion and access professional. That is so foundational to what we do.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:15:00
In our sector and in our industry is creating an equitable world. Where everyone is supported and empowered and valued and it really, it comes from that sense of justice.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:15:16
It comes from those liberatory practices maybe liberation is a better word for than justice. Because It all that it hangs in the balance on that liberation and It's always what I'm examining.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:15:36
It's always, but I'm coming back to to ensure that my practices are truly human first is like, but I'm coming back to to ensure that my practices are truly human first.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:15:43
Is like, is this? Going to allow that sense of justice and that liberation for the people that I am serving to happen.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:15:51
And I would also say I wanted to give you 3 and feel like the magic number 3. Yeah, it's always nice and wholesome.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:15:58
It is always, feel nice and round. Yeah.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:16:04
For me, it's always empathy justice or liberation and then It's really trust and I know that that sounds like a really simple one.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:16:13
But building those relationships and that's really what it comes down to for me is being able to feel comfortable in the relationships that I build.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:16:22
And having that sense of collaboration, that sense of comfort and ease. With other human beings is also so important to me.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:16:31
I feel like that's where all of that humanity. Stems from is that ability to build those connections, those trusting connections to then through action.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:16:40
In body that justice movement that work through empathy.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:16:47
Oh, lovely. Okay, so so many thoughts. First, love that you talked about action, cause that's my next question.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:16:54
Okay.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:16:55
And but before we move on to that, I wanted to speak to this idea of, oh, you know, trust sounds.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:17:02
Really simple. But that's what's so beautiful about values is They are so simple. And they are so universal and yet they are so nuanced based on our experience, our audience, our definition.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:17:19
So my my framework for values is always established, define, and then actively apply, right? And so you did such a beautiful, unprompted job of defining what these values mean to you, specifically why they're important to you.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:17:34
Because empathy can manifest in a million different ways, right? Justice or liberation can mean and look like so many different things and obviously trust.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:17:45
Everyone sort of inherently knows what that feels like and looks like, but to work with you. Specifically, to partner with you specifically, the way you inject it into the organizations you work with is going to look different than anyone else who valleys that.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:18:00
So I wanted to reflect that back to you because I really appreciate how thoughtful you were in what these ideas mean to you and your business.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:18:10
But along those lines. I would love to know how have these values or any others that you hold sparked action in your business.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:18:20
Any specifics that you are able to share?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:18:22
Yeah, so I before I answer that question you, kind of prompted a thought process for me when you were talking about how to really define what those values are for us.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:18:26
Yeah.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:18:36
And it's something that my clients are always like, How do I put into, you know, 3 words or 5 words like, What?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:18:45
Meet me as a person is and what is important to me and that it can feel so difficult But really, defining those those words or those terms.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:18:59
In a in a way that it manifests for you and I'm really happy that you, you know, kind of outlined that process of like defining what it means for you because it's gonna be unique to you.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:19:11
And what your lived experience is and what your goals in the world are. Is so essential to really figuring out what that is and you know when I'm working with my clients I start there I don't I don't start where a lot of folks do.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:19:28
If like, give me 3 words, give me 5 words. It's like, okay, just We're dump.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:19:34
What matters to you? What is important to you in the world and in your life and from there those terms and those seemingly simplistic.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:19:44
Value terms are going to organically find their way into your consciousness through that conversation. Through that cycle. So I'm really glad that you touched on that because I feel like that term values alignment or what are your values that question like really sometimes gets people uncomfortable and nervous because it feels like you're having to put yourself in this tiny little bubble of like these these 3 to 5 words and it's hard to encompass so

[Katie (she/her)] 11:20:17
much a complexity and nuance of the human being and a business. In that way, but I love the way that you put that process because it's so important.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:20:29
Now to your actual question. How do I embody those things in my business? And in my space.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:20:41
I think it's different for everyone. To me for me in the way that I strive to embody my values and inject them into my business.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:20:54
Is through a constant process of examination. If I'm, you know, let's say really trying to embody trust in, let's say my client onboarding process.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:21:08
I'm constantly asking myself questions of, okay. If I were to, you know, through that empathy, right, trying to put myself in the place.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:21:19
Of what it would mean to me. Or what it might mean to my clients knowing who they are. What would I want or what would I need in order to feel safe through this process because I feel like safety is part of that trust.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:21:36
So it's constantly asking those questions. Okay. Analyzing in tension. Awareness and then action.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:21:48
So I go through a three-step process no matter what I'm doing in my business and with my clients.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:21:51
Pretty much everything I do. I'm constantly gaining awareness of the way that these things impact my business, by the people in my business, in my spaces.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:22:02
And the way I want them to manifest. Then I'm gauging that intention, okay, this is what I want to embody, let's say it's trust, okay, the intention here, let's say in that onboarding process is to create a seamless way for them to move from point A to point B.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:22:21
They have all the information that they need to get started with me. It's not confusing. It's not.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:22:28
You know, causing any harm. I'm always gauging the intention and the action.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:22:36
And the impact of the things that I do. How am I writing this? How am I? What is the flow of that?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:22:44
What are those impacts? And because intention is not always gonna have the same impact that you want it to have.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:22:51
And then taking that action based on what I discover. So it's I'm constantly doing that process in order to really embody those practices in my business.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:23:01
If I were to say that it boils down to one thing would be that introspection, that examination.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:23:07
But it's just really gauging those things really being mindful of the actions that you take.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:23:15
What is your intention with that action? And what are those possible impacts and what can you adjust to make those impacts what you want them to be.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:23:25
I love that you mentioned intention. Intentionality is one of my core values. But I was just recently at the yellow conference.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:23:36
One of the speakers. Said something along the lines of intention does not equal impact. So I love that you examine both the intention and the impact.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:23:50
And because you know we can have all the best intentions and it still falls flat. Or, I mean, how often have we hurt someone or been hurt by someone and the intent was never malicious, right?

[Ashlee Sang] 11:24:02
So that yeah, that awareness element, especially in the accessibility and DI space is so important. We don't know what we don't know oftentimes and it's on us to seek out what we what we need to know what others need from us yeah, it's really all about that proactivity.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:24:22
And, and that examination really does seem to be a theme. I think the listeners will already know but I'm pretty sure that is going to be part of the title of this episode because it's a really strong theme that is coming through this conversation.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:24:27
Thank you.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:24:37
So along those lines, I'd love to know. What's the biggest lesson? You've learned as an entrepreneur.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:24:46
Oh my goodness, that is such a loading question. I love the question and also it's, it's so loaded.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:24:57
I've really I've really learned so much throughout my entire journey as an entrepreneur. You know, I didn't ever plan to be an entrepreneur.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:25:07
And so when I first started I was essentially I was really kind of flailing. I'll be honest, you know, I didn't know what to do.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:25:15
I just knew that I cared. I wanted to do this thing in the world. And I had no idea how running a business worked.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:25:24
I had no idea how any of the back end worked and how it was going to fit in to me, you know, changing the world, you know, as an EFJ, we're very purpose driven human beings and I was like, okay, I want to change the world in this way and people are just gonna flock.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:25:42
They're gonna know that I want to make this impact. And of course we all know it doesn't work that way.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:25:49
And I'm also a perfectionist and so I have learned that taking imperfect action is More important.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:26:01
Then always getting it right and that's something that I've learned through out my professional life. In a variety of industries always working somehow within the DEIA space.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:26:17
That you're not always gonna get it right. There's always something more to learn.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:26:22
And that carries so much into my entrepreneurial journey. That I got so many things, you know, I want to say wrong, but quote unquote wrong because I'm not really sure that the wrongness exists when it comes to, you know, trying.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:26:40
And doing the thing in the world that we know matters. But that's what it took for me to get here.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:26:50
It was really hard for me to let go of that lack of perfection of just absolutely falling on my face so many times, you know, not knowing how this worked or not knowing how that worked or how to show up.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:27:05
For my community in a way that made sense for them. And so I learned to just take imperfect action.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:27:15
It's really difficult even now, because I will probably always be a perfectionist. I say I'm a recovering perfectionist.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:27:24
Because that impulse for us to get it right for us, especially as values driven business owners.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:27:32
We don't want to do harm. We don't want to to put things out in the world that may be difficult or harmful to other human beings because we care so much.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:27:42
We're so, so caring driven, we're compassionate towards other people. I think that's essential to being a values business, values driven business.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:27:53
And so a lot of us are perfectionist. We want to get it right. We want to do only good in the world.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:27:59
But messing up an email or not having, you know, the tech figured out on a lead magnet or not posting as much as someone else does because you're honoring your capacity is not wrong.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:28:13
It's just the way that you've chosen to do it. And so I think the biggest lesson that I've had to learn is that the way I do it isn't wrong.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:28:23
It's just different than other people and that's okay. And being able to kind of take ownership of that differentness and not labeling it as something inherently good or bad.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:28:36
Yeah, and taking ownership of our action and our choices also gives people permission to do the same. How many times have we needed someone else to say it's okay for you to do what you want to do and how you want to do it when our gut told us all along that this is the right way for us.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:28:57
I love that idea of There is no wrong when at least you're trying. And that's so counter to so much of our culture and our upbringing.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:29:06
I feel like especially as women. And but that perfectionism is something that so many of us have to overcome.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:29:16
And I actually think it's one of the most common lessons. That we learn as entrepreneurs because When everything is on you and when you're creating something from nothing Of course there's no perfect right rather than you know you show up for your JOB you check the boxes someone else is determining what is right or wrong what is correct what is perfect and so it's a lot easier to live up to those standards when there's so much

[Ashlee Sang] 11:29:41
more defined, but it's so much to your to use your word liberating. To be able to create those.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:29:48
For ourselves.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:29:49
Yeah, and especially as someone who, you know, is an inclusion and accessibility. I have so many people, almost every one of my clients has always come to me and been like, They care so much.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:30:07
I just don't want to do it wrong. I don't want to do inclusion wrong.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:30:11
I don't want to do accessibility wrong. And that is such. A difficult thing to dismantle is this want and this need to do it right.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:30:21
And I think there's a difference between. I think there's also this prevailing fear, especially in the in the industry that I work in.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:30:30
That if we do it wrong There's this fear of feedback. Because in this work, you're always going to get feedback.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:30:40
Yeah.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:30:42
There's always unlearning and learning to do. And opening yourself up to today. See, and I don't say criticism because It's feedback.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:30:45
Hmm.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:30:54
Criticism is scary. Feedback is constructive. Feedback is empowering. And so I work with my clients to shift that narrative within themselves that criticism and feedback are the same thing and that someone Calling them in.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:30:57
Hmm.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:31:09
To to learn or to unlearn their practices. We talked about that conditioning within the systems that we don't live within vacuums, we all have that work to do.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:31:20
And you're not gonna get it right. There is no perfect way to do this work, to be a values driven business, to be inclusive, to be accessible.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:31:32
Taking that first step, that's why I frame everything that I do in my business as a journey.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:31:37
It's a path. I'm also like very outdoors hike obsessed so like it just kind of fit.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:31:44
Which was nice, but it isn't a destination. It's nonlinear. And so that that frame shift for us.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:31:54
Of hey entrepreneurship is a journey inclusion accessibility being values driven is a journey. It allows us to take that imperfect action.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:32:05
And to feel okay with it. And I think that reframing is so essential to everything that we're talking about.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:32:13
That feedback is okay. We're all in this together. We're all trying to get to the same place of a better world and a better place and a better industry where everyone can thrive.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:32:26
And it's gonna take feedback for us to get there. We're going to be helping each other.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:32:32
We're going to be constantly. Doing that reevaluation. That's how we get there.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:32:36
It doesn't mean we've done something bad. It doesn't mean that we have messed up.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:32:42
And you know, as long as we take ownership of it, as long as we take ownership. And realize, oh, we can course correct.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:32:46
Okay.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:32:51
We can embody this or we can change that. To bring in more of what we're hoping to.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:33:01
That's how we get there.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:33:02
Yeah. And. The idea of

[Ashlee Sang] 11:33:09
Feedback being a tool. Is so important, especially if you know your people. Right? If you know your existing audience who you are aiming to serve who you are uniquely positioned to be the best fit for and and or who you want to expand to, right?

[Ashlee Sang] 11:33:24
So the naysayers who are nacing for the sake of it, maybe you do ignore them.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:33:29
Maybe it is straight up criticism and it's not for you, right? That's not your person that you are aiming to serve.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:33:35
But when it is someone who is an ideal client, an ideal partner, someone who is genuinely pointing out, hey, this could be better.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:33:43
That's such a gift, right? Even if it, you know, adds something to your to-do list or makes you question your decisions or whatever else.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:33:50
I talked so often about values aligned business really taking a stand for something in order to stand out.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:34:00
And that's an important nuance because you will stand out, right? When you are not just vanilla, when you are not just neutral, when you are not run of the mill for the sake of it to keep your head down, then yeah, you will be opening those doors to potential.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:34:20
People who don't understand what you're doing or why you're doing it. But the flip side of that is the people who do get it, the people who do see your vision are so much more loyal and long-lasting and such a better fit along the way.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:34:37
And so it's it's each business owner's decision, right? But I think most people listening to this conversation are ready to put that stake in the ground and say this is what I care about and I want to Be around and serve and build up people who also think this way.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:34:56
And it's nice because the internet is a large, large place and there are plenty of other people that people can find if you are not the perfect fit for them.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:34:59
Yeah.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:35:04
So.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:35:05
Absolutely, I agree completely. You said that so well. That's how you find your people. Is, is doing that imperfect action, taking those steps, and opening yourself up to that feedback and that empowerment and that collaboration that partnership that we're talking about with your community.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:35:24
It's a collaborative effort. Collaborative effort. And it's scary. I'm not, you know, if not, I'm not gonna say that it's not, but.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:35:26
Hmm.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:35:30
Yeah.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:35:32
It's so empowering when you get to the point where you find your people. Because they're gonna be the ones that help you find your path and really take that next step to that.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:35:45
Growth and it's gonna be so amazing.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:35:47
Yeah, yeah, definitely. So what advice do you have for women to take confident meaningful action in their businesses and or in their lives?

[Ashlee Sang] 11:35:56
In general?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:35:57
Oh, that's such a great question.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:36:01
I think the biggest piece of advice that I could give anyone that's starting this journey or is trying to figure out what their next step is.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:36:15
Is to really discover what is the most important thing to you. What are your prevailing? Priorities.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:36:26
You can call them values, whatever it may be. And just take that first step. Decide what action you're going to take.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:36:37
Go through that process that we talked about today. Become aware of what that impact may be. What your intention is with that action.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:36:48
And then do the thing, you don't have to do it all at once if it's a big project that you're working on or if it's a really big, you know, like you said, steak in the ground that you're talking about. Start small.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:37:05
It's okay to start small. But going through that process I think will make it easier for you to take that action.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:37:15
Really just finding what those values are for you. What it is that you stand for, what it is that you want to do in the world.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:37:27
Gauging what your intention is. What that impact may be. And then taking that action, putting it out in the world.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:37:35
And seeing what happens and then taking your next piece of action based on the results of that first piece of action.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:37:43
Always assessing, always examining, sitting with it yourself. I think it's the most important thing that you can do.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:37:53
In order to really get where you want to go. It's scary. But I think what makes it less scary to take action.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:37:58
Hmm.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:38:03
Is to give yourself permission. To decide you want to do something different. Decide okay that didn't work.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:38:15
What am I gonna do next going through that process again, that awareness, intention, and then action process again?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:38:22
Giving yourself permission to try new things. Try it, see how it works, and then take your next piece of action based on that.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:38:25
Hmm.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:38:31
Yes, so What is very similar along those lines? What's a message that matters to you? Maybe not advice, but a message that you think more people should hear or know about.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:38:46
Oh, I feel like there's so many. Okay, sewing so many things up into like these little 10 bits is always so difficult for me.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:38:49
Yeah.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:39:01
I think the mass message that it's okay to be different?

[Ashlee Sang] 11:39:04
Hmm.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:39:06
And even a step past that because I feel like that's a message that we're starting to see manifest in a lot of online spaces now which is awesome.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:39:20
But I think even a step past it's okay to be different is It's okay.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:39:27
To be different. And to decide. What that's going to be for you. You don't have to be different in the same way that other people are different.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:39:41
Because I feel like so often there are strings attached. To that message, but it's okay to be you it's okay to be different as long as you still do XYZ.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:39:52
Hmm.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:39:52
And it's okay to be your quirky. You know, I'll add unique self.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:40:01
And embracing that can be really complex. But the strings don't have to be attached.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:40:07
Hmm.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:40:08
I would say. That that message resonates so clearly and so well and I encourage anyone who encounters that message.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:40:17
To cut those strings. Cut those strings of of stipulations of caveats. You don't have to do anything.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:40:27
Like anyone else, literally, anything. And you don't have to fit inside of a box while being different.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:40:37
It defeats the purpose.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:40:38
Yeah. Oh. Alright, that is a perfect place to end the episode. How can people connect with you if they want to learn more or chat more?

[Katie (she/her)] 11:40:49
Oh, great question. I'm pretty active on Instagram. So my handle is access, reimagined.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:40:57
You can find me there. I'm always open to DMs. Having conversations on that platform is a really great way.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:41:09
To connect with me you could also connect on my website. Access reimagine.com or if you prefer email hello at access reimagined is also a great way to cut to get in touch with me.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:41:26
I love having conversations. If you want to reach out in any capacity, I'm in all those 3 places.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:41:33
And I would love to connect any capacity. I'm in all those 3 places and I would love to connect with you.

[Katie (she/her)] 11:41:38
In any way that makes sense for you.

[Ashlee Sang] 11:41:41
Lovely. Thank you so so much, Katie, and everyone have a great day.