Sense of Soul - Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship

Episode Date: November 25, 2022

Today we have on Sense of Soul Podcast, Marta Miller she is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lefty Production, a one-stop US apparel manufacturer with 40-time full employees, that helps companies like Walmart, Target, Free People, Splendid, Ella Moss, and Urban Outfitters grow. Recently she purchased Stitch Texas, a US-based cut & sew development studio, offering made-in-America apparel and sewn products with in-house development services.  Marta has 15+ years experience in the fashion industry and is a two-time entrepreneur. Her first business was Moody Mamas, a trendy maternity clothing line that dressed everyone from Heidi Klum and Jessica Alba to Tori Spelling and Laila Ali. The line also sold at Nordstrom, Target and all other major retail stores. They also produced the official athletic uniforms for the second seasons of NBC's Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge, Netflix's Ultimate Beastmaster, and the official bomber jackets of the Guns N' Roses: Not in This Lifetime Tour. Today she joined Shanna to share how she successfully balances motherhood and entrepreneurship without going crazy! https://www.leftyproductionco.com @leftyproductionco https://www.stitchtexas.com Visit Sense of Soul at www.mysenseofsoul.com Do you want Ad Free episodes? Join our Sense of Soul Patreon, our community of seekers and lightworkers. Also recieve 50% off of Shanna’s Soul Immersion experience as a Patreon member, monthly Sacred circles, Shanna and Mande’s personal mini series, Sense of Soul merch and more. https://www.patreon.com/senseofsoul Thank you to our Sponsors!  INTENTION WAVE: www.intentionwave.com Use code SOS15 for discount. KACHAVA:  https:// kachava.com/senseofsoul Use this link for 10% off  

Welcome to the Sense of Soul podcast. We are your hosts, Shanna and Mandy. Grab your coffee, open your mind, heart, and soul. It's time to awaken. Hey friends, if you are looking for ad-free Sense of Soul episodes, you can find them at Sense of Soul Patreon. Become a monthly member at any level. You will also have access to our monthly SOS Sacred Circles, our mini-series, merch, and much more. And it's a great way to help support our podcast so that we can continue to bring you inspiring episodes twice a week with our enlightened guests from all around the world.

Check out our Patreon. Today we have with us Marta Miller. She's the co-founder and CEO of Lefty Production, a one-stop U.S. apparel manufacturer. Marta has 15 plus years experience in the fashion industry, and I can't wait to talk to Marta all about how she can balance both being a successful entrepreneur and mother. Hi, how are you? I'm good. How are you?

Good. So nice to meet you. Nice to meet you as well. And where are you? I'm good. How are you? Good. So nice to meet you. Nice to meet you as well. And where are you at? We live in Texas now. And so we're in Austin. And then I have a company in Austin that I go to a lot. And then I have the company in Los Angeles. Okay, so you go back and forth. Yeah, yeah. Where are you originally? I'm originally from Houston. What about you? Oh, okay. Well, I'm originally from New Orleans.

So pretty much. Where do you live now? In Colorado. Oh, I'm jealous. Where in Colorado? In the suburbs of Denver. I live in Aurora. Oh, so nice.

My husband and I sit Fourth of July in Vail. And we were just like, oh, this is the way to do it. It's so beautiful. We recently, like, we were in LA for 15 years. And then we recently did the, like, move back home to Texas. And, you know, everybody in Texas leaves to Colorado in the summer and I'm like I just want to live there all summer. Right and you know coming from Louisiana we were really the only family that went this west. Anybody else in our family went to Houston. You know if they left

New Orleans then yeah went a little up North and they'd go to Houston. So besides that, we're the only family that went this far. And I'm so grateful too, because my dad was an entrepreneur himself. And I found that in common with you and I, because I was listening to you on another podcast that Simon had sent over and recommended. But my dad actually opened like the first wholesale like warehouse grocery stores, like, you know, like Sam's and all that. Like he opened Pace, he opened Buyer's Club. Like I have the blueprints, the shovel of the breaking ground. Oh my God. I know. Then my brother got into sports and he wanted to spend more time doing the things that

he loved and travel and this and that. So he went solo and became a distributor on his own. And so then he opened up his own sports equipment store and my brother still has a store, but we actually closed down my dad's store. But he, like you were talking about your dad it was you know more than just his business it was his life and we were all involved we all worked for him it was oh my god I love that but you know what I used to bitch about all the things that my dad made me do he made me go just you know learn about computers I was building his website like in the nineties because he sent me and my brother to school for that. And then I did a lot of team sales and I was like, this is so not for me. I don't want to do this like my whole life, but I still did it like on the side

for him until he passed away. But you know what? Every skill that I ever learned with my dad and growing up with him, because he was such a hard worker and so devoted to his business. I have such good business ethic because of him. I know it's I think about, you know, my sister in law doesn't work like fully raising the kids and everything. And my brother in law is constantly like, this is great. Like, cause he sees my sister-in-law like overwhelmed, just raising two kids. And he's like, you're like, this is just so crazy what you're doing.

Like, how do you do it? And I'm like, I know you should have, I'm like, you should talk to, you know, my husband because you know, it is a lot, but it's just, you know, you just kind of weave it into your life. The times I've found that I've gotten the most frustrated with owning a business is when I've wanted it to be kind of compartmentalized. And I can't accomplish that, you know, and then I think about just growing up with a dad as an entrepreneur. And I'm like, that generation just worked so hard. There wasn't this like compartmentalize your life, like work,

and then weekend and then play and like, don't let a work call interrupt. And you know, it was just very much like, woven into their lives, you know, like, growing up and like, you know, like we had bat mitzvahs and like half of like our bat mitzvah was my dad's employees. And you know, like they were just part of our lives. I kind of think that once I separated that need to not have it be part of my life, I just got less frustrated and I became like, more successful, right? Because I kind of was like, Alright, well, you know and I became like more successful right because I kind of was like all right well you know I might like be at a doctor's appointment but in texting an employee you know like this is just it is what it is you know like and I think if you can just kind of explain it to

your kids and not you know like my parents didn't feel guilty you know they like my parents didn't feel guilty, you know, they weren't, they didn't feel bad about like trying to put like food on the table for us. Like that was such a, you know, my mom never had guilt. Like I remember sitting in offices, like she would, you know, take me to the doctor's office and, you know, she had a, you know, her big ledger book. She would bring it into the office. My kids grew up on that ledger book for my dad. They learned how to do those skills from a young age. I know. And I remember just, you know, sitting, you know, for a speech therapist appointment. And there my mom was just like working away, you know, and I just think that it's not good

for these kids for us to protect us from it, right? Like, they should know that like, yeah, you got that Pokemon shirt and like mom worked hard for it. You know, like, I don't think it's a bad thing to be showing them that and it is what it is. So if you have a good balance, you know, and you can make it fun. I had Barney going on in my office when I worked for my dad. All of my children came to work with me at some point or another. They grew up there, especially my oldest son, who then he ended up working for my dad until my dad passed. We all did. My dad had, I mean, it was like every one of my friends at some point or my brother's friends.

Or, I mean, I'm telling you, when you were talking about how it was like a family and everyone around you, I mean, I found so much similarities there, but I do have to say that because I am from Louisiana, my mom did not work. I mean, she did sometimes come up and work for my dad, but she was more of the traditional Southern woman who cooked and cleaned and shopped a lot, still does. And, you know, and it was something in Colorado that was different. When I moved here, that was one thing that I saw that that was very different was the dynamics that was going on in my household where my dad worked really hard. He worked his ass off and he was proud that he could provide for his family where my mom got to take care of us.

You know, I beat my twenties. I became a mother and I remember thinking, okay, well it's my turn. I get to be the mom, take care of the kids, clean the house, make the food, make sure everything's nice when my husband gets home and do all the things. Still help my dad, by the way. But I felt like that was a role that I was to play. And actually, it didn't work out because I ended up losing my shit. And I was like, this is, yeah. I know. And I think like, if that's your role and you're good at that,

then that should be your role, right? And, but I'm like, I don't like to cook. And so I'm like, I'm like, I'm actually bad at that job. Me too. My kids will tell you. I should probably keep making clothes. I'm quite the chef in a garment factory, but I'm just not the chef with food. And so, you know, I do a load of laundry and I'll fold it.

And I'm just like, I have so much ADD. I like can barely just throw it. I'm like, I'm terrible at this job. Not the job for me. I love the taking care of kids part that part. Right. I would say that part is like my favorite, like, you know, I love it. And as you know, as they evolve, like I'm like loving reading with them, you know, so I love that part, all the domestic things that I'm just not very good at. And I don't find any like,

it doesn't it doesn't bring me any joy. So like, you know, I think you need to do what brings you joy and happiness and you know, kind of stay in those lanes and then you'll be successful. We just actually brought on an au pair. And I'm just shocked at like the fact that I didn't do this earlier. I'm like, this is amazing. So I am an artist at heart. I do like fashion, but you know, I'm almost, I'm like my late forties. So I've got kids in their twenties and then my 10 year olds. So I'm like fashion to me is comfort right now. So, and you know, and I used to look to Pinterest, but now my kids are like, now you have to look to TikTok now. But, you know, being in

your industry, it must be hard because I mean, styles are changing quicker than the seasons. Totally, totally. You know, and it's also weird, because fashion used to be very calendar driven, you know, like, it was, you were always on a calendar, because you were always getting in front of the stores. And the whole fashion industry has just turned upside down with influencers with TikTok with, you know, what's trending with the amount of travel people do, like bathing suit season used to be like a four month business. Now I have bathing suits on my machines all year. And it's just the whole fashion industry has really just, it makes me feel old thinking about it. Because I just been like, wow, I've been in this industry pre face, like, pre not Facebook, but pre Instagram, for

sure. And, you know, just, you know, how we shop is so you know, in the last 10 years is totally different than how we shopped, you know, for years and years. I mean, my grandparents owned stores and in Texas, and you know, it's like, I don't even go I don't even go to the store that often, you know, and so shopping behavior is different, how we're influenced by fashion is different. It's just the changes are so fast. It's like hard to keep up with. But yeah, when I got in the fashion industry, you know, it was just such a different place than it is today. You know, it was so brand driven. It was, you know, you had to like the Kitson buyer was like the most important person, you know, and like, I don't even think Kitson's around anymore. But like, you know, all of that kind of drive of like, you know, paparazzi and whatever

they would shoot on, you know, whatever celebrity they had was what was blowing up, whereas it's just so different now. Now it's like you're following an influencer and she's a mom from Colorado. And, you know, that's where you're getting your fashion from, you know, so having to make sure that we're not just only having an option for cute clothes from like zero to six you know everybody being able to you know fit into cute clothes I mean because for a while, even when you're pregnant, I'm so glad that maternity clothes finally turned cute with my last one. They were, but like prior to that, I remember back in, you know, when I had my older kids in the late nineties, I mean, oh my God, I was like lucky to go to Mervyn's and find anything decent. Yeah. I mean, they turned pregnancy almost like a sickness, you know? Yeah, true.

It was so well, my first brand was a maternity clothing brand. I saw that. And yeah, that was like, really, kind of like our motto was like, why should this be like this frumpy experience? And that was, I started that brand in the early, like 2007, we started. And even then, there weren't many options. You know, it was, that was just the kind of beginning of changing that maternity industry was when it was kind of really transitioning.

Now it's like amazing what the options are. And it's so cute and everything but there was such a clinical element surrounded by being pregnant no celebration of it not something that made you feel like happy so yeah we totally you know had empathy for that industry because it was I love it was a rough one it was a rough one it is because you what? What you wear and how you feel in it really shapes your day almost, you know? Totally. Yeah, it strips your whole day off. I came into the fashion industry just really wanting that like influence, right?

Whatever, like to be a designer and, you know, now my job is so far removed from being able to make pretty things and all of that, you know, sometimes I'm making a knee brace for a physical therapist. We work a lot with designers, but we also work a lot with prototyping and product development and solving a problem like I'm making a fat cut for, you know, people that bring their dogs everywhere, that's going to have like a bowl, you know, roll out of it. So, you know, fashion is definitely still 70% of the business. But what we really do is kind of let people be the designer. And we kind of do all of the technical manufacturing things that kind of take the joy out of the industry. So one thing I learned is designers

want to be designers and all of their time should go to sales and designing because that's where their passion is right and like then they're going to be super successful because they can go be an influencer and they can be creative exactly and like convince millions of moms to buy their you know maternity onesie whatever whatever it is right they they can really lean into not only the design element but the kind of reason why they're designing it and then that leads to sales but we're seeing just so many micro entrepreneurs now so I think the world is just changing right you either work at a huge company, you're either at like, you know, Amazon or Facebook, you know, you're either at a big

corporation, or you're an entrepreneur, and you kind of have like your own small thing, right? And I think the industry is changing a lot to a lot of smaller brands that are really focused on like one thing. Yeah, the last like two years going through menopause, cooling blankets, the cooling pillows, the material, you know, I'm actually looking for function in products. So not just totally become very purposeful and choosing things more consciously. We had another guest on Alyssa Couture who she created a line and it's natural, natural products and stuff like that. Yeah. I love shopping like that.

Right. I love buying like from that one lady that like has an idea for a weighted sleep sack, you know, and I love supporting her and hearing her story. You know, my kids didn't sleep well. So I love the weighted sleep sack. But a lot of times, like, we're kind of moving into, like product driven categories, as opposed to like huge big fashion houses, a little bit, we're like kind of making that shift, I think. And those people really are often, you know, maybe a team of less than five, you know, doing everything like our dads, and, you know, they really need the bandwidth. So we're lefty and Stitch Texas come in as we kind of

handle all of that back in for them on product development, making and all of that, so that they can enjoy the business that they're in, right, and not get too overwhelmed by it. So, you know, that's kind of where we're at right now. But so gone are the days where I'm sketching and dreaming up different things. Maybe I'll circle back to that, you know, in retirement or something. But, you know, right now, I'm kind of focused on just kind of giving lots of designers this experience for them, so that they have it a lot easier. And, you know, that was kind of a need I found in the market. And how cool is it that you do see these people who have ideas and go on TikTok? My daughter had come across one of those flat laid bags that you open.

It's like, it's called the splay tray. Have you seen it? Oh, cool. No. It is so amazing for makeup, for kids stuff. And she shows you, yeah, look it up in her tiktok she shows like how she designed it and made it and my daughter bought a few and I was like oh my gosh how smart is this can lay it flat so then you have all your makeup you can see everything and when you're done you just bring it up and it's a cute little travel bag, but you can buy different sizes. So kids can put like, say all of their crayons or cars. I love it. Yes.

It's awesome. And so cute too. I think that because people are more conscious, like you were saying, they're looking for products that are still pleasing to the eye, yet very functional right now. It's fun to support that person. I mean, we hear,

yes, you want to, you want to root for them. You know, I think that big businesses are, you know, like what's happening with like the Zaras of the world and the gaps of the world. Like it is like toxic for our environment. Bad fashion like is so bad. And I think that, you know, really supporting smaller local brands, you know, the, we have entrepreneurs that are 13, you know, and they, you know, they might play lacrosse and they like are like, why, you know, where do I put, you know, whatever it is. I feel like is I feel like I feel like light bulbs go off in people's heads all the time yeah my co-host Mandy always has

ideas she's like they should do this they should she's been doing this since we've been friends since we're teenagers she's always done that gosh and then like know, a year later, it's so if somebody else has done it, or, you know, and it's just but we're living in a time where you can have that light bulb go off in your head. And you can build that thing, right and get it made and talk to your audience yourself and get it out there. And, you know, so it's kind of like a really, in my opinion, exciting time for like entrepreneurs or people with ideas. I think that right now, like, you know, we're seeing, like I think Meta today laid off 11,000 people. And I'm like, I bet half of those 11,000 people are going to go get a job and the other half are going to start something. One of the ads that we have when we released this, he's only 26 years old. His company is Intention Wave.

You pick out a piece of jewelry and then you leave a message. So you upload an audio. It could be from somebody else or it could be yours. And then they take the sound wave and they put it on the jewelry. That's so cool. And so, and then you have a QR code that you can go and listen to what it says. And it's always available for you to listen to it. Hey listeners, have you checked out intentionwave.com?

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Go to intentionwave.com. That's I-N-T-E-N-T-I-O-N-W-A-V-E.com to order your special and unique gift that will last forever. You know, it's just like these ideas. And I think that like you were saying during COVID and just more recently, because people are more inside, they're sitting around going, I wish I would wish I had this or this would be easy to do or, you know, sitting around thinking about ideas. People aren't limiting themselves anymore like they used to. I think so. I think, you know, this work from home model and tapping inward a little bit, like, why am I dependent on getting a job, like, maybe I'm creative, and I can do this amazing thing. And I

can, you know, make my own livelihood. So I think that, you know, we're gonna just see more and more and more of this, in my opinion, because people want to enjoy their lives in a different way, right? And really find that meaning. I think COVID really pushed people to kind of question, you know, the way they've been living their lives and kind of really push them to realize like, like, sure, it's not like every day is just given to us. You're saying that made me think of my dad, because I'll be honest with you. He worked, but he didn't have the balance of taking care of himself. So he worked himself to death. He died young. He died at 64. And really, I'm much

like him. I'm very driven. I am a workforce. I sometimes probably am on the unhealthy side, how much I work sometimes. And so it was important that I got self-care, that I took care of myself, that I learned some tools to be successful in controlling anxiety, breathing. I don't think my dad knew how to breathe I don't think he actually probably took a deep breath in his life and in you know what some people say well if he didn't have that he probably would have died without it like that was his livelihood but he died at 64 from heart issues because he never you know know, he never had. Yeah. So I mean, yeah, you do. Yeah, you have to. Yeah, it's just important. You know, our move from LA to Texas, like was so important for me as a person and for my husband, like for just us as a family,

LA so hard, like everything you do is so hard, you know, like, it's just like, you know, you're always driving, you're always traveling, you're always on one side of the town, but you need to be on the other side of town. And it's just it's a hard, it's a hard place to live. I'm happy I live there. Because I think it's like a place like a New York that you have like a tempo that like you get used to that makes you kind of able to function at a different like level. Right. So I'm happy I had that. I'm happy I had that experience, but I really was always at my factory, I was always working, I was, I mean, I didn't even drive to work, because I have such like, I'm such a distracted person, my husband wasn't comfortable with me driving, because I would get text messages and whatever. So I would work every morning morning so that I could like walk into the door

and like have not a frazzled energy. So I've always been really conscious of like what my energy is and how others could perceive it and just wanting like, I personally like need my energy to be good. And so I was always conscious of it. But I think I led by, I felt like I had to manage everything in order for things to go right. Like, what's going on with this thing? What's going on with this? You know, I just kind of wanted to know everything happening. Was it that you were scared, like if you trusted other people to fully take that, that it may not get done right or. Totally.

And, you know, I kind of wanted to micromanage the way things were happening. Yeah. And then COVID happened. We left thinking we were going to go to Texas for like two weeks because like we wanted a swimming pool. You know, I was like, that sounds great. Like, let's go get a swimming pool. Like we're going to have two hyper boys that are going to need more space. For a two week vacation, you know, we didn't go back to LA for over a year because travel restrictions, you know, all of COVID, right?

2020 was such a crazy thing for so many people. And, you know, I just didn't want to get on a plane. Like, that just didn't sound like a good idea to me. But then I was like, wow, things are running better than ever. If I let people lead and I believe in them and rely on them and they're happier because nobody breathing down their neck. And so it was really COVID that forced me to lead properly. You know, I'm definitely I hate a full inbox. I'm definitely have a hard time falling asleep at night knowing that, you know, I have 60 emails or whatever it is. But I think I also just kind of am getting to a place just like tomorrow's another day, it'll be there. It'll be there. And

when I'm ready for it to be there, and I'm ready to deal and I'm ready to address it, like, it'll be there. But maybe this like, sweet moment with my kid. Well, he wants to like snuggle with me and this moment where he needs me to give him information and he can't google it on his own like that moment is not gonna be there so I think it's also just knowing which moments in life are gonna be there like work will always be there they're only little ones that's it and it goes so fast I even like my friend the other day was like, you're a little bit like water. Like, she's like, I don't know what penetrates you. Like, and I'm just like, I just think that, you know, things flow. And, you know, it always works out.

You know, my husband has a joke that I'm too ADD to remember to be sad or anxious. Like, of course, I'm a human. So I'll have anxious moments in life. Like, you know, I'll be like, oh, my God, I'm so nervous about this. And then he's so sweet. He'll like be like, how do you feel today? And I'm like, fine. Why? Like, you know, he's like, because last night you were anxious about something.

Yeah, I know. It's totally over. And I'm like, oh, yeah, I forgot that I was anxious about that thing. You know? Oh my God. I have such a similar personality as well. And you know, it's funny is that rush rush. I used to say it was like, I was living in this fast zone and it's so funny because just this past weekend, which I'm not really in that anymore. In fact, I tried to do less. I try to keep my schedule where I don't look at it and freak out.

And I'm very purposeful about all these things that came with age, too. Yeah. But, you know, I was driving to, I don't know where. Oh, we were just going to dinner. So usually, you know, if it's like whole family, we might be going to a game or school or that we had a whole family, we're going out to dinner. And my partner said, Why are you driving so fast? And I was like, I am. And I was like, I think it's just like you had said, this is my tempo. This is normal to me. I don't feel like I'm going fast, but I am going fast.

And, you know, I wasn't going dangerously fast, but that's just how I roll. Totally. You know, like, you know, it's not, it's not always the best way to be. I, you know, I definitely struggle. I, I also like work so sometimes it relaxes me to kind of like comb through my inbox so at 9 p.m I was like why are you doing that but being an entrepreneur is like definitely a unique life it's a unique life story no matter how you do it because you kind of have to be good at a lot of little things.

And there's always going to be something weighing on you that you need to get to. You know, it's just a different life story to have, you know. To put hats on. Yeah. Exactly. And you have to shift your energy, too, because, I mean, you could be dealing with managing something and then you turn over here and you need to be empathetic to somebody about some issue, you know, it's just, you have to be able to be that chameleon and flow. So I, I love that. Yes.

I, you have to be a chameleon. That is a literally like spot on thing. Yeah. And you're dealing with so many different personalities, a lot of businesses in the corporate world, you know, in schools, you know, even with teachers, nurses, and you see them doing these team building, like workshops and stuff for their employees, which I think is so cool, because I as a coach, felt that that was like one of the most important thing is how everybody worked together. I know that's why I go to LA and I love it because this last trip,

you know, we just all got together. We went to like our favorite restaurant and, you know, it's just like a few doors down from our office. And we just like sat in a big room and, you know, just kind of went around the table and are like, you know, why are you still here? You know, like, which is such a weird thought, but it was so interesting to hear why people are still at their job. Right. And, you know, it was it was such an interesting conversation. everybody went around and said it and you know the reason like the number one reason you know we probably you know had about 30 people at the dinner and then or maybe like maybe like 25 the most common reason was for our business was people like love making stuff and that satisfaction of like seeing a problem on paper

and like solving it and seeing it in a garment form. And then the second most prevalent reason was community, you know, as simple as that. Yeah. And just see enjoying their friends, you know, enjoying seeing that thing, you know, enjoying seeing that same you know enjoying seeing that same person and I think that you get that a lot in the small business environment that you don't really get in corporate America you know having a dad with a small business or whatever you know personal you there's a personal element to it that I think we can't forget as a society as how important that is right my father knew all of his people that would come and they would come to him he knew thousands when he passed there was thousands of people he affected so many because but I mean he was like

the local store for all sports here in Colorado, like schools, but he knew them. And even if he didn't know their name, he had a nickname for you, but he knew them personally and he knew their families. He watched their kids grow up and it was word of mouth that made my dad so successful. And you know what, for Sons of Soul as well, we've never hired advertisers, anybody, you know, we've never done that. It's been word of mouth. And I think when your heart is in what you're doing, when you're passionate about it, like the universe just aligns for you. And that success is like divine.

Totally, totally. And it's kind of immeasurable, right? And it's something that can't be taught really, you know, like I, like these like team building exercises and all of that. It's like, there's also just something about letting people just do their thing. You know, a lot of the girls in my office, they call it like a hot girls walk. And like, they just take a lap around the neighborhood, you know, for a 15 minute stroll. And, you know, that makes their day. And it's like, whatever it is, I think, really kind of leading from a place where, and it's not that I'm not selling anything when I say this, I'm literally genuinely like, there's an energy towards being happy and fulfilled.

That resonates, right? It resonates with clients, you know, so I think people's individual, just like sense of them feeling like they're enjoying their day. Connecting to whatever frequency. Yeah. That makes, yeah. That makes everything work. Right. I had to get on a podcast and talk about like math with somebody. I would probably stutter and sound ridiculous. I mean, I would be word finding. I, I mean, I just, it would be so difficult, but, you know, get me on and start talking about like my passion behind, you know, connecting with our ancestors. I mean, you can hear it. I mean, I can fully feel the multidimensional pieces of Shanna involved in it. And I think that that's what people need to search for. So when kids are actually looking for, what am I going to be when I grow up? It's like, what do you love to do? What are you passionate about? And I think

a lot of times it's not necessarily one of the options that you can choose for a major. A hundred percent. And maybe it's multiple things you know what I mean like I remember really kind of struggling through trying to figure it out and because I didn't really have words for it right I didn't really have the words to say I wanted to be an entrepreneur at age 18 I didn't really have the words to say if I was responsible for payroll, I'd be screwed, right? Like that sounds like insurmountable to me. So I think the way our system is built, it's like, you have to be really detail oriented. You have to, but there's really no words for, you can be good at a lot of little things or you could be, you know, really have like, you know, amazing, like social capacity.

Right. Like my husband's like, do you like literally know, like every single thing going, like, I'll be like, how's your foot? You know, like, and I, and he's like, do you write it down? And I'm like, no, their foot hurt. I just remembered that, you know, like, and I, and he's like, do you write it down? And I'm like, no, they're foot hurt. I just remembered that, you know, he's like, I just like, if there's like, you know, 50 people, how do you remember that? You know, like how that person's foot hurt. That's where I shine. I used to be sharp, sharp with good memory like that after four kids and now late forties, I'm like, uh, I can't believe I can't remember this. Well, you know, what's interesting now is I choose what I want to store in my brain too.

Like the other day, my 10 year old, she was like, do you want me to show you how to do this mouth problem? And I was like, no, I don't have any desire to know the back end how you did that like if that's not something I want to store in my memory right now I trust that you know how to think we're good like I'm impressed a hundred percent you know how to do it but like I don't want to store that so I mean I consciously do that all the time so or like what I'm watching I pick and choose like what space is available to what isn't that interesting? So crazy, you know, I've kind of started doing that with just the energy of the people in my life. I was like the most social human on the planet. Like I just am a social human,

you know, and I just would always give to, you know, just anybody in my path or like any friend of a friend or, you know, and now I think as like with age, I'm just like, you know, I'll always start at that place. But then I'll just kind of be like, the energy doesn't align with mine. And so I don't need to like, I don't need to go that extra few miles. Yeah, focus on like, you know, all the like, friendships I do have that are so rich that I want to put time and energy and yes, I think it's also about protecting your own energy. Like, you know, I think that as life happens, and I think a lot of being, you know, an entrepreneur, like, unfortunately, there's a lot of like, negative things that happen to, you know, maybe like, one of my employees

got in a car accident, and somebody's like, you know, I'm dealing with the insurance company, there's always some other paperworky. Yeah, or to call anybody like a phone company or exactly and you're just like I am gonna just protect my energy from this you know and like know that like I gotta do it but it's not penetrating my happy bubble you know yeah you have to I mean it's your responsibility the energy that you bring to your home, to your relationships, right, wherever to your business, it's all your own responsibility. And I just I've worked on that. That's been my freedom. I would say that has been freedom in my life that I'm able to choose, you know, what's going to affect my mood or what is not going to. Yeah, yeah. And I mean, I think as a mom,

you learn that a lot with your kids, you know, cause you know, somebody's crying, somebody's upset. And my husband like the other day was making my son do a math problem and he called me and he was like, didn't want to do it. I knew you would be an ally with dad like you're so you're so useless and I'm like oh I'm just gonna release this comment you know like I'm just like I'm not breathing into that comment well Marta I needed you this morning because it was like we had to leave in 10 minutes and I she was up in her room and I had saw her up like 30 minutes before I go in there and I'm like, what are you doing? I have nothing to wear. I hate all my

clothes. I have nothing for winter. And I was like, oh my God, you have a closet full of clothes. In fact, we just spent all weekend color coordinating your closet. And she's just like, but I don't want to wear long sweatshirt with jeans, long sweatshirt only looks good with shorts. And I'm like, Oh my God, dude, she's so stylish. So I was like that as a kid, you know what I would literally have her do, which is what I had to do growing up is I had a closed journal, which it sounds crazy. Okay. No, I would, I would get in front of the mirror. And on a day that like, you know, I was okay with, you know, making a huge mess, right? I would get in front of the mirror, and I would like, figure out the outfit, like what shoes went with this and like what knee high socks went with it. And like, I would literally curate my outfit and I would take a picture and like

literally write it down. And I had like 15 of them. Right. And I knew I liked all of them and I knew how to do it. And then go choose. Yep. My go-to, but like,

but I want, I was pretty into fashion too. So I like, you know, would pair the Stone Temple pilot shirt with like the Yeah, you know, bell bottom jeans and you know, the cute little cardigan like I really cared about that stuff. So it wasn't just my go tos but it was like creative go tos if you will. Yes yes and then but I always had a little journal and I literally would like calendar it and know so that like on Monday night I knew what I was like picking Tuesday morning so that's what she said last night on the way to school she's like I'm really sorry mommy and she's like I know it just was too tired last night to pick out my clothes because usually it's all there the socks the shoes everything she's so good about it I would have like 15 of my favorite looks and I remember

like bar and bat mitzvah year like I was so obsessed with never repeating an outfit. And like, of course, like she said, I just could not do it. And like, friend and I would like barter on like who wore it to what event. Cause like our parents weren't going to buy us. Like we went to so many, you know? And so we would all like trade and. You know, so it was a whole, it was a whole closed bargaining act you know what and that's my second like biggest advice like your parents besides the they're only little ones but don't

sweat the small stuff of course this took me my fourth kid to be so relaxed about things but I'm like in the end I mean it's all just it's just material stuff it's her happiness you know that's all it is it's about her happiness. It's her happiness. You know, that's all it is. It's about her happiness, not about the clothes. I haven't been to school in a long time and I know things are so different, you know, especially with all the FOMO you got. Oh, good Lord. Oh my gosh.

Oh my gosh. My heart just goes out to them. Like, you know, just what they're wearing and, you know, their social media and it's like, it's such a crazy world. So do you have a girl or a boy? You're nine year old. I have two boys. And I, we, we have our girl on the way. So I'm about, but my younger boy really cares about what he wears. My older, I can still curate it for him like he could care less which is yeah you know lovely he's like he's like as long you know I only want Nikes or Adidas and you know as long as it's like within that category like he doesn't need to do anything but

my younger one like really like cares about his fashion so I still have one like little fashionista and I'll have, we'll see, we'll see if I have another one. I have found that life is just way smoother if you allow them to lead you. Yeah, I know. I, I think about that a lot. Like my, you know, my son's like, come to lunch with me. And, you know, I you know I was like okay I I didn't know I could but like I'm I guess I'm going to lunch you know do it all about it eventually yeah eventually I won't be invited to this lunch so I take the opportunities but I just look around and I'm like I remember growing up there was like the boys that were like, kind of going to be the more popular boys. And then, you know, and I'm just like, looking at my son, and I'm like, he's so comfortable on his skin. Like, he just wants

to be himself. And I'm like, wow, he's already there, you know, and that's the thing. And I think a lot of times, you know, the moms want the kids to be, you know, and that's the thing. And I think a lot of times, you know, the moms want the kids to be, you know, friends with certain kids, because they're friends with those moms. And, you know, it just feels right. Yeah. And like, you know, those kids, but I'm like, I just want, you know, him to be with like, nice, sweet boys that aren't, you know, going to have a good friendship. Right. Yeah. I don't really, I'm like, I don't really care. You know, like this is like your ship to drive, you know? And Marta, you're probably a lot like me in the fact that we watched our fathers be successful in doing that. Cause when you are a business leader

or a leader in anything you have to be that way you have to be friends with everyone you can't just be in a click or you're only gonna have click business yeah I mean you have to you know wear a lot of hats right that's like just kind of part of it but you know I think that I think the way I think our world celebrates so many different things than it did in the 80s and 90s you know I think it way I think our world celebrates so many different things than it did in the 80s and 90s. You know, I think, I think we just are living in such a more evolved time. There's so much more acceptance, there's so much more interest. And you know, I think the proof is in the pudding, right? When you let people do their own thing, be themselves, like really thrive,

really flourish, like they become better versions of themselves. I think it's just a matter of like, the world has changed, and we've seen it. And I think that we have more, like acceptance around those things. Yeah, I think that's so much hope for the future, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, they're gonna need it, right? Because they're gonna be growing up in a tough world dictated by like social media and stuff, you know, yeah, give them that confidence and, you know, kind of back off a little bit. Well, Marta, thank you so much for coming on. I loved our conversation. This was so fun. Yeah, it's so lovely. I appreciate you.

Thank you for having me and now it's time for break that shit down you know I would say I think especially as women like kind of tap into your you know daughter that can't pick out her outfit and like, take it and explode with that, you know, and see like, what amazing skills come of it, right? Like, I knew I was creative, but I never knew how it would manifest or what it would be. And I feel so lucky that I was allowed and afforded and supported in order to like go on a creative journey. And I think that it's been a really like rich gift that I got. And, you know, I think that young moms and, you know, moms of teenage daughters and everything like should really just listen to those little people, right? Because that can sometimes be really powerful. And we see it a lot with our

clients, we see, you know, this amazing girl from Nashville that she loves dressing her kids for the beach and ends up going and making like a sun protective swimwear line for kids, you know, and is super successful doing that thing. So I think that we're living in a time where like careers and all of that is so different. They don't need to go to medical school to be successful, you know, and a lot of times just kind of really like leaning into like, what is that interest? Like what is going to make that person special? You know?

Yeah. Letting people express themselves, whether it's the passion to choose their career or their clothes. Yeah, totally. Tell everybody where they can find you your social media or your website. We have two companies. One is at lefty production co. And that is our Instagram handle. But you can also go to www.leftyproductionco.com. And then our Austin based company that is newer for me, but I bought it from amazing people with the same vision as myself. That is at Stitch Texas co or Stitch

Texas.com. And we do free consultations and free calls. And, you know, even if you just want to call us and pick our brains for 15 minutes, because you think you have this idea, like, I think it's worth calling because, you know, even if you don't do the idea now, maybe you'll do it in two years when the time is right. You know, my team is constantly like, we need to charge for these calls, we spend a lot of time and I refuse to I'm like, I refuse, I refuse. I just I can't do it. So the only time we charge for a call is if you want to get to the front of the line. I just refuse to charge people because I just feel like it's a industry that's very secretive. And I want to help help people like walk through it a little bit because you know I wish somebody did that for me so that's kind of where we're at uh well you are an amazing

mother and a great example of how you balance that so are you so wonderful thank you so much and I congratulations on your your little one to come. I appreciate you coming on. Thank you for having me. Thanks for being with us today. We hope you will come back next week. If you like what you hear, don't forget to rate, like, and subscribe. Thank you. We rise to lift you up. Thanks for listening.