The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast - If You Want A Career Change Listen To This - How Megan DiVincenzo Left Her Law Practice To Chase Her New Dream

Episode Date: April 15, 2021

#348: On today's episode we are joined by Megan DiVencenzo to discuss how to change career paths and pursue your dreams. Megan joins the show to discuss how she went from lawyer to founder. We also discuss what it takes to chase your passion and pursue your dreams.  This episode is brought to you by The Sis Kiss To check out the Sis Kiss click HERE To connect with Lauryn Evarts click HERE To connect with Michael Bosstick click HERE Read More on The Skinny Confidential HERE For Detailed Show Notes visit TSCPODCAST.COM To Call the Him & Her Hotline call: 1-833-SKINNYS (754-6697) This episode is brought to you by The Sis Kiss FOR 25% OFF SIS KISS ITEMS USE CODE SKINNYSIS25 AT CHECKOUT AT WWW.THESISKISS.COM  Produced by Dear Media

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. This episode is brought to you by The Cis Kiss. This episode is brought to you by Array. My God, we are on a theme of bloat here. We've talked all about how to fix facial bloat with the Skinny Confidential Hot Mess Ice Roller, and now we are going to talk about bloat in the body. I have talked about this product so much on Instagram, I think I've annoyed them. Melissa Wood Health is the one that introduced me to this product. It's also approved by my Chinese medicine doctor. And basically it's a blend of five herbs plus a digestive enzyme. Okay. So think ginger root, peppermint, dandelion root, lemon balm, bromelain. This is so fab for swallowing. Actually my plastic surgeon after

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They are all natural. Like I said, you're going to go to Array.com and use code TSC at checkout for 10% off. along for the ride. Get ready for some major realness. Welcome to the skinny confidential, him and her. She was one of the first people that I sent one of my name necklaces to. She was pregnant and I found out through whoever or on Instagram that she was going to name the baby Collins. So I was like, hey, I went to my, you know, manufacturers and I'm like, can we make this like I drew it? Like little charms that hang from a necklace and can you make it say I don't know Collins maybe I'll send it to Brittany Loverly Gray I didn't know her and she didn't know me and I just sent it with like a card like I didn't speak for her company I didn't speak to her well the next thing I know my phone was like ding ding ding ding ding ding and like to see how powerful that one story was, it turned my life around. Hello, hello.

Welcome back to the Skinny Confidential Him and Her podcast. It's Lauren. No Michael. I am hopped up on green juice. I just took my array. I'm having a little bone broth. And I could not be more excited about the guest that we are having on the podcast today. This is someone that has not taken no for an answer. She has hustled her face off. She has been creative and strategic with her approach in social media and it's no surprise that she's on

the podcast today. She truly was an attorney and one day just had had it. She had it with being a lawyer. And she said, I am going to do what I'm meant to do. And that is start a jewelry company. I am referring to Megan DiVincenzo. She is the owner of Cleveland-based women's accessory brand, The Sis Kiss. You guys, she has quite the story. And I personally think this is incredibly inspiring for anyone who wants to go after their goals.

After working her fucking face off, she realized the side hustle wasn't just a side hustle and her passion, her drama and desire has returned with every order and every opportunity for growth with the Siskis. I wear her jewelry all the time on stories. I'm a huge fan. If you're going to start with one of her pieces, I personally would recommend the little initial necklace. I have a Z. It's a little diamond. And if you don't want to do diamond, I'm all about the boss necklace. My boss is for boss stick, but you could wear the necklace if you're a boss.

And it's so beautiful. We're actually doing a giveaway. All you have to do to win is follow at the CIS kiss on Instagram and tell us your favorite part of this episode on my latest Instagram at Lauren Bostic. The boss necklace is so cute. I cannot take it off. It's adorable.

Most importantly, it saves time. And I know this sounds weird, but I wear mine in the shower, in the jacuzzi, whatever. And the integrity is still beautiful. I am such a fan of Megan's jewelry and such a fan of how her and her team have built this product line solely based, primarily based on social media. I know you'll absolutely love meeting Megan. With that, let's welcome the founder of the SisKiss, Megan, to the Skinny Confidential, him and her show. This is the Skinny Confidential, him and her.

Okay. I am so excited for this interview. This is going to be such a hustler entrepreneurial episode. I want to know what is going through your head when you're a criminal defense attorney and you decide, fuck it, I want to do something different. What's the epiphany? Well, it was actually a pretty easy epiphany because I literally had a panic attack in court and I had never had a panic attack before. And like, it was like I almost knew what it was, but I didn't know what it was because I had never had one before. But I felt like my breath, like quickening. And then like I saw myself out of my body, like standing at the podium in front of the judge and everything was yellow and my ears were ringing. And I knew I had to speak like, like Megan, speak, speak. He's waiting for you to speak.

And I couldn't. And I somehow pulled myself together and everything was fine. And like, I didn't mess anything up, but like I knew it was time to go. Like if anything would make me feel that anxious or unhappy because for the months leading up to that, I was unhappy and feeling a lot of anxiety and a lot of stress. And that was like, and I went home and like told my husband and he's like, you're pacing in the morning. Your breath is always quickened. He's like, it's time. You need to leave. So everyone's in COVID right now. Maybe people are feeling similar to how you're feeling. Before you had the panic attack in court, how were you dealing? Did you know that you wanted to do something creative? And was it that line of law work that was giving

you the panic attacks or was it just law in general? I think the line of work and some of the clients were a lot of it. Sometimes it just became too much. Like I did it for a really long time. I did it for about a year. It's not a really long time, but it was a long time to be in criminal defense. And I think at some point it's like, I was always dealing with someone else's problems and not really focusing on any of mine. And it was like, I want to focus on more of my life and my family. And I had a son at this time, like I just had him and I was dropping him off at daycare and sobbing. And I'm like, this isn't happiness. And it's different now when I drop my kids off at school or the sitters, because I love

what I'm doing. And now I'm building a warehouse where there's a room for them. And there's a room for my employees that have children because I know that mom guilt. And I know you're feeling it now too, because I follow you. And it's a real thing. And I'm sure dads feel it too, but I can't speak on behalf. My husband's amazing. So we're a team. And if it wasn't for the team, I don't know how we would be able to do it. And I don't know how I got sidetracked onto that. But the mom guilt and coupled with being unhappy and then having the panic attack was just like okay this is this is rumble strips I called it rumble strips because my son sent me an article that Oprah wrote like you veer off so many times before you ever

like hit a wall and then it's like oh that's what those rumble strips were that's's what the panic attack was. That was why you were sweating three weeks ago. Like those are all the rumble strips to get you off the path before you hit the wall. So I wanted to jump off before I hit the wall. I don't think we've ever had a former criminal defense attorney on the show. And I wonder morally, like if you're as a morally good person, when you're defending criminals, like what's going through your mind? Because obviously you probably don't disagree with a lot of what you're defending or you probably don't agree with a lot of what you're defending, but is it like, you just kind of take it case by case or are there some, you're just like, I can't defend, like, how does that, how does that work? I viewed it as everyone not only received a defense

to make sure that the system did everything that they were supposed to do. It starts with like, did the police do what they were supposed to do when they pulled you over? So that doesn't really have anything to do with like what the crime was. Did your defendant, do they need some sort of help? Do they need treatment? Can I help assist that? So I was very always on board with like, can we get him into rehab or her into rehab or a program that would help? So it's not just open and closed to me. It was always like, well, get him into rehab or her into rehab or a program that would help? So it's not just open and closed to me. It was always like, well, what else is going on? And has anyone in the system ever tried to assist this person? So I felt like I was almost not like they're,

and I was, I, you know, you're their defender, but I'm also like assisting them through the system because the system is so, maybe you can speak on that a little bit we both are friends with ingrid who if you guys have read her book fuck my life it's all about her experience with the prison system and it sounds like it's so flawed even this is random but even just watching this show that michael and i watched called 60 days in and seeing the way that the prisoners have no ability to be rehabilitated is wild. Yep. And yeah, it's been so long since I've been in law

that I can't really speak to the system like as of today. But I tried to get them before they got into the system. Like, does that make sense? Like if I was able to like wipe their record clean because they did like a program and then they come back in six months and we can take it off their record, that's like a complete win-win. So I never really thought of it as what they did or if they didn't.

I guess in my mind, I was going to like the extreme examples, like somebody that murdered their wife or something like something crazy. I think what you're talking to more is like someone maybe has a substance problem and they did something stupid that maybe they could recover from. So I was like, I think those are two completely separate things. And I wonder like on the extreme example, and maybe you didn't encounter me, you did. Like, what do you do with those extreme examples? If you fully, you know, like maybe you disagree with

the behavior that that person performed. You have panic attacks in court. Yeah. Okay. So I just have to ask this. What is jail like? I am such a voyeur when it comes to jail. I just want to sit there and watch it. What is it like when you're walking through the jail or were you not doing that?

No, I would go visit clients in jail, but it's different. Then you're not going to the general population to have a meeting, a sit down. So your client would be brought to you to a room. And it is different. And I've always been dressed like in pink and pink heels and and nails so I've always stood out a little bit and so yeah she looks hot she has like a fierce ponytail right now you're doing a red lip a bold brow always if I'm sitting across from you in court and I'm in my scrubs I mean you're looking good we're the prisoners popping boners left and right I will say that one time somebody in prison was jacking off when I was walking through. Oh, my God.

And I went home and I told my husband, I'm like, well, I had an interesting day at the jail today. I don't know if that was directed towards me or if I just caught him in the middle. Because you kind of walk through and some of them have like glass windows. I would come home and say to Michael, sorry, I'm going to cheat if you keep acting like this. Someone's jacking off to me. Right. It was interesting. And like to kind of circle back to the beginning, like I loved it. Like this is not like like I had my own law firm when I first graduated law school. I've always been an entrepreneur. Like I got out of law school and it was like, boom, we're going to

we're going to hang my shingle. And I loved it, like loved like I loved it until I didn't. And then once, you know, people change. And when I didn't, it was time to go. And now I look back at it and it was an amazing experience. I don't have regrets. I think it's made me who I am today. Because sometimes I'm mad that I'm like 41 and I wish this journey would have happened sooner because I feel like, God, I'm already 41. Do you ever feel like, I'm not saying either of you are old, but do you ever feel like, man. Yeah, I wish I didn't go to college. I wish I just started blogging. For sure. I even say to my son, sorry, mom, that that's not something that like, I feel like when I was growing up, that was just known. It was the criteria. Like you got to get into college. Yeah. I think it's changed in different fields, especially as like the world's

evolved and new media, like for Dear Media, for example, there's, even if you went to college, you can have a general like business degree, but there's not necessarily classes that had been taught for the medium that we're in. Right. I mean, I guess broadcasting or communication, but like I'd never look at college resumes when I'm hiring. No, no, I don't even look at resumes at all. Yeah. I can imagine that being a lawyer too helps you so much in business now, but I would love to go back to your childhood. Did you always know that you wanted to be a lawyer or did you also explore that creative side of you? Because you're creative, you're entrepreneurial, but then you became a lawyer. What was your childhood like? I was always talkative and

argumentative. And my mom always had wanted to go to law school. And I feel like that was always, she never pushed me. It was just, she would tell me. So I feel like, and I'm loud and I'm boisterous and I'm argumentative. It made sense. And like I said, law school was amazing. I loved law school. Like all that argument at work. Yeah. I'm just, I feel like I'm just a different person now, but growing up, I was always like this. And what's great about my parents and like my husband now, they are similar to where be yourself. Like, of course, they shake their head at the dumb stuff I do and the dumb shit I say. But it was always like, well, that's Megan.

Like, just do what makes you happy. I mean, I think my mom is a little bit disappointed. Like, don't you miss law? Like, just kind of like that. And I'm like, no. And I don't even need to think about it. Like, I can say no, I don't at all. Like, I can't imagine doing anything but And I'm like, no. And I don't even need to think about it. Like, I can say, no, I don't at all. Like, I can't imagine doing anything but what I'm doing now.

Isn't it interesting how much pressure our parents can dictate the direction of our life? I am very, very lucky where my parents never tried to dictate that. But the more people we interview, a lot of them wildly successful, had parents that put so much pressure on them to be someone who they weren't. And I feel like you want to please them. Yeah. Like I had great parents. Like I didn't want to disappoint them. Like even if they weren't shoving it down my throat, I felt like that was the path that was supposed to be on. College and then what are you going to do after college? And I went to law school and then it was be a lawyer. So when I

quit, it kind of came out of like, well, you're going to go back, right? Like it was kind of like that. Like, okay, she's going through something, which they were so supportive of. Like my dad came to stay with me. My mom came to stay with me. They helped me figure out which Zoloft to get on because I needed something. Like I became depressed and anxious and they were so supportive. But I think after a while they're like, so you're going to go back? And I'm like, nope. And I just kept going. And here, like, just kept going. So walk us through from the point

that you have the panic attack to you launching your business. I want to know what the ugly struggle stuff looks like between there because I'm sure it wasn't easy. Well, and I had a baby at home. How old? I bet he was like a one and a half, two.

I never used to ask ages of kids until you have one because then you have more content and you're like so what's what was he doing when he was was he crying peas at you too yeah he was like one and a half or two and it didn't look pretty because I'm like a workaholic and like I don't sit down and watch tv I not that I don't I would like to it's just that's not how my brain works. Like, I'm like, what's next? Well, who's doing this? Like, let's, we should brand this. Like, even with my friends, I'm like, where are you going to brand that? Like, you're really good at it. You should open a business. So my mind when I quit law was like, it didn't help. Like I, like I thought like I was

going to be this like moment where, but I was still pretty anxious and depressed for a while. And I think getting on the proper medicine and then I redecorated our house like 400 times and my husband's like okay you need a job oh god so I got a job in interior design Michael won't even let me move the toaster to where I want it so that's impressive I know I literally I looked at him I go do you really want to fucking start a fight with me on where the toaster's going no I gave up I told him I know how this thing starts. It starts with the toaster and it goes the whole house. That's really nice that your husband lets you decorate the house. I can't move the toaster.

We would not get along. I mean, do you have an opinion about the paint colors and stuff? Like her version of can't is me saying, hey, do you really need to do that? And then she does it anyway. Like that's her version of I can't. I have a feeling you're going to move it anyway. Yeah, of course she does. Yes, dear.

Yes, dear. Should be the name of this podcast. My husband does have opinions more recently. We're redoing the house for like the fourth time and he's over it. And finally, he put his foot down the other day. yes dear should be the name of this podcast my husband does have opinions more recently if we're redoing the house for like the fourth time and he's over it and finally he put his foot down the other day he's like this is not the tile i wanted for the master bathroom and i was like who you like who does you show up after four renovations and now we're gonna cause a problem he's had enough yeah he's like listen i'm done this is the last time we're redoing this bitch

and it's gonna be what i like all they have to do is just be quiet. I know. So you're depressed. You're anxious at this point. I feel I've talked to some entrepreneurs on here and a lot of them say the opposite of progression is depression. So you maybe felt like you weren't progressing in an area. So how did you channel all this energy to create this successful business that you have now? And you have celebrities wearing your jewelry. I'm obsessed with it. Specifically the nameplate necklace. It's so cute. I'm going to show it on Instagram stories. But how did you create this huge empire from feeling depressed and anxious? Who does not want their wine in a can? Bev is where it's at. I am throwing my friend Erica, Fashion Lush on Instagram, a bachelorette party at the end of this month, and we ordered all the

Bev. I am obsessed. You guys have seen this all over Instagram, okay? It's a female-first canned wine brand that was founded to change not only the way a product's consumed, but the way an industry and culture has operated for generations. The industry with wine I found is very, very masculine. A lot of males are in it, but Bev is breaking norms and creating something from a female perspective. I'm so happy about this because they get the whole Instagram aesthetic, which is super important. I don't want to be drinking some ugly can of rosé on stories. Okay, let's keep it cute. They have five varietals, which is why I wanted to bring it to the bachelorette party. Everyone can have something. There's rosé, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris,

there's pinot noir, and they also have this limited edition. It's like this extra fizzy, sparkling white wine. Out of all the varietals, my favorite is the rosé. I like to have it in the can with a straw. Their wines are dry, crisp, a little fizzy. They're not too sweet, which is a big, big thing for me. I don't like an overly sweet wine. They're so refreshing, delicious, zero sugar, and only three carbs and a hundred calories per serving. They also make a great gift for bachelorette parties, hosting and social distance hangouts. Bev ships straight to your door and shipping's always free. Duh. Of course, as always, we worked out an exclusive deal for

skinny confidential podcast listeners. You're going to receive 20% off your first purchase plus free shipping on all orders. I personally suggest trying their best-selling ladies night variety pack. So you guys can check out all of their delicious varietals. That is the one I'm bringing to the bachelorette. You're going to go to drinkbev.com slash skinny or use code skinny at checkout to claim this deal. That's d-r-i-n-k-b-e-v.com slash skinny. Cheers. So literally my sister and I wanted to buy wire-wrapped bracelets. Do you remember? They had the big stones on them.

Yeah, totally. And we have tiny wrists. Like, literally, we would buy one, and, like, we'd put our hand down, and they'd just drop to the floor. And I was, like, so annoyed. And she's like, well, maybe I can make this. And I'm like, because she's so crafty. My sister's, like, a perfectionist.

She's, like, I'm the thinker. She's, my sister's like a perfectionist she's like I'm the thinker she's like the perfect doer and I don't have that ability like you could tell me to sit down and make a bracelet I would have to give you like my two kids first because it ain't gonna happen so I was like Marley you could totally make this like so she like literally like studied it like because she's such a perfectionist and she like bought the wire and then bought the beads and then made one and I was like oh and then there goes my head. Like, well, make me one and like make mom's friends ones. And like, we should sell these. And she was like, no, man, like they're just like for us. And then we, people were like, well, can you make it in our size? Like somebody who maybe

had a larger wrist. So we started making them for people who needed special sizing. And then like literally we used to write down at the end of each day, like mom's friend, Susie wants a bracelet in this size, brown beads. And then like Megan wants a new one that's a size small and blue beads. And like we would just find the blue beads or brown beads. We didn't have like any for you to pick from. And then we'd make them and they would buy them. And then I just decided to run with it, man.

Like I was like, let's do this. I remember the feeling. Break it down for someone who's sitting right now in quarantine and wants to leave their job that they don't like. Break it down. Did you have, did you get QuickBooks? Did you do paperwork? Like what did you do?

We wrote on the pizza box. Like a business plan. I love stories like this. My dad wrote it on a pizza box I came up with the name because I'm like it has to rhyme like cutesy and we came up with the name and then I I had a local boutique in our hometown buy a few of them and like literally I took champagne because that was like our first she bought like 10 bracelets at a time and I was like I can tell that you're very like even when you show up today, you're very detail oriented. You have the stickers on the present.

I'm not surprised you bought champagne. Well, it was for me. Oh, for you. I thought you meant for the store. I'm like, I'm not surprised. No, girl. I like literally popped it in their shop. You know what?

Good for you. That's even fucking better. I was like, can I drink in here? And that was our first like wholesale order. And then I joined the boutique hub. I don't know if you're familiar with them. They're online and it's a bunch of people who own boutiques and they started buying them. And literally here I am, like literally. How many years later? So this was 2013. Okay. I really want you to get in depth and very micro on how you've grown your business on

Instagram because I've watched you from the beginning from afar, really work with influencers in a powerful way, work with micro influencers in a powerful way. How have you used Instagram to build this brand? I mean, the most cliche answer is you. I mean, you were my number one. Thank you. I didn't know that. Well, geez. Literally my branding and everything I learned from you. Thank you. I remember having this as a side hustle and listening to your podcast in the gym. Because I've always used working out as my therapy. And then I used to always just blast rap music. And one day I was like, man, what the fuck is this doing for me? Learn something.

Raising cortisol, Ingrid would say. I don't know. Some of that music gives you some good hustle. No, no, no. That raises cortisol. I like Japanese zen garden. I was like, I'm doing this all fucking wrong. Like I'm eating all the tofu and the dogs are barking every time I ring the door or

somebody rings the doorbell. No. And listening to your podcast and like branding, branding, branding, branding. And like, that's always been who I am. Like I always had my name on things when I was little. Like why not paint my name on it? Like this is me. Like I want everybody to fucking know it.

But like you like pinpointed it to like how you can make it be part of your brand. I could sell the worst jewelry ever. But if it comes in the branded pretty package, that's what you're selling. Now, trust me, I'm not selling the worst jewelry ever. Quality means everything to me. That's not what I mean at all. I just mean the business is branding. It's not jewelry.

I think everything's branding, right? And if you take it to a macro level, a lot of, you know, everyone hears these success stories of venture scale business that raise a lot of money and they, you know, become a unicorn. But what they don't hear is like 95% of these things go to zero. And it's because most people don't put enough thought into brand. They go and they put thoughts into like, how am I going to sell? Who are my retailers? Who are my wholesalers? They put all of the control in other people's hands. They'll use something like, oh, I'm going to run traffic on Facebook or Instagram or Google. But as soon as that changes or gets overcrowded, that channel goes away.

And if you don't build brand, then you can't survive any of those bumps. Or if you don't build brand and you're reliant on a bunch of retailers or wholesalers, then again, you can't survive the bumps. So brand is the most important thing to think about in any business. And I feel like some people pass it over if they're starting out and they're new. Like I don't have the extra money to make gifts or GIFs. That's how old I am that I never know. I don't know what it is either. My son corrects me every fucking time.

Leo, is it GIFs or gifts? Okay. I think it's GIFs. And it does get expensive. And I can understand if you're starting out as a small business, why you're going to take things like that might not seem huge at the time and not put the extra money into it. Like, no, I have- People think that they need to spend the money and get the immediate sale to keep the cash

going. But it's also, it's a short-sighted play because if you don't build a strong brand from the beginning, all that, eventually those plays are going to fall over and you're not going to be able to keep up. A hundred percent. And I always say like, some of my girls on my team get mad like, hey, we sent this necklace to so-and-so and they've never worn it. I'm like, this is a long game. This is not a sprint. This is maybe in two years, she's going to put it on and it's going to be at the Grammys.

I do that all the time too. Sometimes a brand will send me something like in January and I won't wear it until June. As a digital creator, you do get a lot of stuff. Some stuff I try to give back to the audience. Some stuff I wear myself. But the way you wear it is not necessarily the second you get it. And it's got to fit what you're doing on the feed. Yeah. Like I almost didn't wear this red skirt because it doesn't fit my feed and it sure doesn't fit your feed. Yeah, red doesn't. Maybe we can turn it pink. So like my team like had a meeting about it. Like, well, now she's wearing a red skirt. Like, what the fuck? I got to switch the feed.

I'm sure Erica would be excited about hearing all that too. I was going to say something about the micro. Oh, I want to know. I want to know how you leveraged influencers and micro influencers and how you built this big Instagram platform and this brand through Instagram. Because I feel like a lot of it is through Instagram. So can I give like a little shout out to a blogger? Okay.

So Loverly Gray is one of the first people. I don't know if you guys follow her. She's amazing. She's a mom and she's so good at what she does. And she was one of the first people that I sent one of my name necklaces to. She was pregnant and I found out through whoever or on Instagram that she was going to name the baby Collins. So I was like, it was a sample. That was my sample necklace. Like, hey, I went to my manufacturers and I'm like, it was a sample. That was my sample necklace. Like, hey, I went to my manufacturers and I'm like, can we make this like I drew it? Like little charms that hang from a necklace. And can you make it say, I don't know, Collins, maybe I'll send it to Brittany Leverly Gray. I didn't know her and she didn't know me. And I just sent it with like a card, like congratulations on your upcoming. It was personal. Oh, it was personal.

I didn't speak to her company. I didn't speak to speak to her well the next thing i know my i was like having dinner with my husband and leo my son and my phone was like ding ding ding ding ding ding and she had come home from a trip and she immediately put it on and like took to instagram and like to see how powerful that one story was said it turned my life around and not and and she knows how forever grateful I am for her and like she wasn't paid to do that like she just really loved it and I think it showed it showed through shown through on the feed that was like holy shit I just got home from this trip and look at this necklace and like that translates to me so So like sometimes like, yes, I think you need to spend money on influencers a hundred thousand percent. But if it's not going to come across as like authentic or something that

you would really wear, then I think your audience knows that. So I think not only is it paying, but it's doing it the right way with the right people with the right products. Something that you said is really important. I see a lot of influencers and bloggers that they won't post unless they're paid. And that's a very ask, ask, ask mentality. My mentality has always been... Jab, jab, jab. Yeah, just support and give and show what you like. And guess what? So many of the things that I've shown 100 times have turned into sponsorships and partnerships. And it's a win for everyone because the audience likes it. I really like it. And I'm using it.

And the brand sees that it's organic. So I think if you're out there and you're listening, what you said, Megan, is so smart. It's just post what you like. Even if it's not paid. Even if it's not sponsored. Who the fuck cares? Just post it. If you like it, don't only post stuff you're paid for. Well, it goes back to that long and short-sighted viewpoint, right? I think I wish more people going into any venture, whether it's a creative venture or a podcast, a business or whatever,

would look at it as like, okay, this is going to be a 20-year run or a 10-year run minimum. And I think if people did that, they would make smarter decisions. But the problem is, this is a new medium when you think about influencers, but it's history repeating itself. There was the traditional celebrities before that runs its course. And I always try to point out, I was like, of all those traditional celebrities in the 80s, 90s, how many of them are still at the top? Very few. Same thing with influencers. There's going to be people that catch fire really quick, but unless they have a long view approach to this, they'll be flashes in the pans too. And so I think just like anything else, you have to have a long approach and you can't do things that are short-sighted along the way, like only do things for pay or only shout out people that are hot at the time. You got to work because you never know who's behind you on that path.

That's going to be huge one day. Well, and I feel like a lot of it now are genuine friendships. Like I, you're either in my life or you're out of my life. And I don't mean to be like that. That's just how I'm built. Like you either, you're like, you're like family to me or like, you're like my acquaintance. And that's just the way I am. So it's like, when I like love someone, it's like wholeheartedly. And when I send these presents, like a lot of this is not cisco because that's not how I give presents. This isn't not like, here's your sponsor box. Like, no, I know what you like. I've followed you for a song. I respect you. I picked things that I think you would love. It has nothing to do with the Sisqus. We need more people like you.

I do have my eye on that Brunello. Well, I knew you guys had Brunello. That's very, very sweet. She brought us a Brunello and that you really, really must know us because that is our favorite varietal of wine. I do. Well, my husband's a big, big wino and he picked it for you. That is so, so sweet. What's your husband's name? Brian.

Hey, Brian. Thank you, Brian. Cheers, Brian. Brian, you got good taste, brother. I want to really, really talk a little bit more about how you used Instagram. Okay. Okay. So let's like get very, very detailed.

So let's say there's someone who's building a brand just like you. Are you going into influencers DMs and just DMing them and saying, hey, I want to send you something, looking at their feed and personalize something? Like explain it to someone who wants to start a business, what your strategy was. And I'll give you an example of what I mean. When I first started the Skinny Confidential, I would go on Twitter and I would DM or on my Twitter feed, go to like a housewife and say, I'm dying to interview you on the Skinny Confidential. I want to share blank, blank, and blank to make it personal. Who can I email? So I would do 100 of those a day.

And what ended up happening is I got 80 no's, 10 crickets, and then 10 yeses. So I leveraged the 10 yeses to get the next 10 yeses. What did you do with those little things every day, those little habits that helped build the brand? So you did the Gary Vee method? Very Gary Vee. Yeah. Everything I do is very Gary Vee. Very Gary Vee. Same-ish. I was the same like, oh, I love her. How edgy she is. I love that she says, fuck. I like people that are so real. And if I'm following you and I love your vibe, then yeah, I'm going to DM you and be like, I'd love to send you some jewels. Would you like to work together? It's a little different now because now I feel like I get a

lot of, can you email my agent? Which is fine because it's a business, but I like to create the personal relationship. Like I get that you have an agent and that you have to go through people. And, but I miss a lot of that, building relationships via like a chat. Quick break because I need to discuss birth control. I've recently had so many DMs from women all over the world asking for more resources and information and discussion

around birth control. So I learned recently that there are more than 21 million women who are not using hormonal birth control, and I'm one of them. But now the FDA recently approved a birth control option that's completely hormone-free. You guys may have seen me talk about this on Instagram already. So it's called Fexi, and it's this combination of lactic acid, 1.8%, citric acid, 1%, potassium bitotrate, 0.4%. It's this vaginal birth control gel that comes in a small applicator like a tampon and it works immediately and can be used up to an hour before sex. So basically you apply the gel before you have sex and only use it when you need it, but you have to apply it again before each

act of vaginal sex. So when you try it, remember one dose, one hour, one act. And I have to tell you guys how it works because it's insane really. Like I kind of geeked out when I learned this and you know me, I had to overshare. We're going to go there. Normally without Fexi, when a guy comes and semen enters the vagina, it causes the pH of your vagina to increase, which allows sperm to keep swimming and make their way up there to fertilize your egg. Are you listening, Michael and Taylor? So, Fexi works by maintaining the vaginal pH to a level that reduces the mobility of the sperm, reducing the chance of the sperm reaching the egg. How awesome is that? While Fexi could be

a great option for many women like me who are seeking hormone-free birth control, it isn't right for everyone. So, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have a recent history of three or more urinary tract infections per year. And obviously, as with any new birth control, be sure to check for any ingredients in Fexi you or your partner may be allergic to. The most common side effects reported by clinical trial participants are vaginal burning, itching, and yeast infection. Some male partners also reported local discomfort. And remember, Phexxi only works when used before sex, and it doesn't protect against STIs, including HIV. To learn more about Phexxi, ask your healthcare provider and visit Phexxi.com for complete product information. That is P-H-E-X-X-I dot com. And Michael, don't pop a boner. Another thing too, I think is important. If you're an influencer or a digital

creator and someone says, I want to send you something, I always go and look at their page. I'm like, okay, is this a small business? There's a girl the other day that went into my DMs and she said, I want to send you this beautiful cheese plate. I make cheese plates. And so I went on her page. She's just starting out. She has a thousand followers. I'm not going to say email my manager. You're not going to go to the agent for the cheese plate. No, it's just like, I like the cheese plate. I'll use the cheese plate. I want to put the cheese plate up. Just send me a cheese plate and it's natural. I think as creators, you have to suss out what makes sense. If a huge brand comes to Walmart and they're like, we want to send you stuff.

Sure. Bring the manager in. Of course. Can you talk a little bit about small business and how important it is to support small business? Well, everything. I mean, like if Brittany wouldn't put that necklace on, where would we be? Like literally, I have no idea. And I'm just so grateful.

I say it all the time and I'm sure she gets tired of hearing it because I talk about her on every podcast because people want to know, well, what happened? Well, that's what happened, literally. And you got to shoot your shot. Like my friend Alexa, who's here and I talk about it all the time. Like it might be, you got to shoot your shot. So like maybe you're right. If I send out a hundred presents or promo packages, 80 of them don't get opened or not

seen, 20 might. And those 20 can make the hugest impact that is such a good mentality yeah and that's what you have like i said with my girls sometimes i get really frustrated i'm like you're gonna miss every package you don't send so send them send them and even we started a new diamond line recently and of course it's a little bit more expensive to send those packages but you gotta you know what's hard about jewelry that I think about this a lot? It's small. Yep.

So there's been many times where I've worn your jewelry, but you can't see it on my Instagram feed. So I'll show it on stories, but you can't see it on Instagram. How do you battle that? If someone has a product that's small, what are the tips and tricks to fix that? My poly mailer bag is so branded my stickers are so so edgy and like we have a middle finger and and so guess what and then our organza bag matches and there's a free hair tie with every purchase then we have cards that say like are you

a baddie are you a classy are you you know we ask questions on the inserts so guess what people don't get the jewelry and say like look look what she just sent me. They lay out the packaging. So then it's like the brand. So it's not about the small piece of jewelry. It's about the ciscis. Like when, you know, when I'm flying away in my private jet that says the ciscis on it, it's not going to be. What color is it going to be?

Because red doesn't fit the feed. It's black matte. Okay. Or we could go pink. And if you want to come on, we can like talk about it. What's the tone of pink? Can I move the toaster in the jet? I like a, I like a. You're going to do it anyway. I am going to fucking do it anyway. So it's not the piece of jewelry. I think they're Instagramming the brand and I love it. Like I am like, if I knew how to do the graphics, I would be 24 seven, like cranking them out.

I'm going to say something and you can agree or disagree and please disagree if you do. I think Instagram stories are more powerful than Instagram. And blogs. Ah. 100%. Can you talk on that? Who's reading them? I don't have no fucking time to watch the Housewives.

Let alone read a blog. Now, if you're wearing something and you're like, it's linked in my blog, I'm going to go to the blog, find the link and click on it. I'm not saying I'm not reading your blog. I'm not. I hope you're not taking offense to that. I don't take offense to that. And I know you guys are big readers.

And like, I love to read. I just literally, if I have five minutes, it's not going to be, I'm not going to be reading. I'm going to be creating my next sticker. That's just that. You know what really pisses me off? Sorry. I just got like really angry. I don't read blogs.

What? I don't read blogs either. Okay. I just read books. Yeah, I know you do. And books are fucking amazing. I think I've read most of the ones you've recommended. Thank you. But the thing is now that I'm so like, I get so annoyed when people are like, you need a break. You need to take a vacation. You need to meditate. You can't look at your phone in the first hour that you wake up. Oh shit. I say that. Well, okay. Well, I'm putting it all together. My point is this.

The second I opened my eyes and I start talking to my vendors because they've created something for me overnight that was in my head the night before, gives me the most joy. And it starts my day so creative. I cannot imagine, like I tried meditating and not looking at my phone because I'm obviously always like this energetic. It makes me happy. And when I go on vacation and I'm checking my Instagram and talking to my team, that makes me so happy. And all the things that we're getting done and checking off our list and seeing new pictures and seeing new influencers and new filters, that's the shit that keeps me going. I don't need a vacation from my life. Yeah. Well, I think that the distinction there is that you're happy doing all those things.

I am. A lot of people are waking up and doing those things and they're miserable, but they continue to do it. So it's like, this is why we all say like to each his own, everyone's got a table of works for them. But if you're somebody that's doing all these things and you're miserable, whether it's in your line of work or because you're seeing something on your phone that you don't like, or like that's this hot new word triggered because you watched something or read something

like you got to change it up. That's on you. It's not on anybody else. No, but I think the most important thing you said and this is what i hope that everyone gets to in life is that you don't need a vacation from your work right and that to me that to me like is like a theme of this podcast it's you're creating your own future you're creating your own life you don't need to take a vacation there's so many people that can't wait for the weekend and it's like I don't even know what day it is like I don't I don't care if it's the weekend or it's this and listen I listen I am not like judging if that's

what you like to do that's what you like to do but if you are an entrepreneur to be able to create your own future and not have to take a vacation from it it's very powerful but you know what else we're really lucky we can take a vacation and work on vacation and take our family with us. We can take our work anywhere we are. Like, how can you not be any happier if you love what you do and you're doing it on a beach for one week a year or two weeks a year? Like, that's even more blessed to me. Like, I'm going to take the vacation, but I don't need to like put my phone down for five days in a row. Like, because they'll be like, oh, so sorry to bother you. I know you're away. And I'm like, no, no. What, what is it? Like, show me, like, show me what you designed. Flawed American dream where people think

like they have to be miserable for part of their life so that they can be happy later in life. But the thing is like, if you can't be happy now, you're not going to be happy later. And I think that's what happened with me. That's when I was like, why are you doing this? Like, I feel like you went to law school, you become a lawyer, you're supposed to be a lawyer. Like, no, no, I'm not. I'm not going to be a lawyer anymore. And the second this makes me feel like that, I'm not going to do this either. But I don't see that happening. And I don't, and I'm not like a quitter. Trust me. Like we weren't allowed to quit anything growing up. Like you wanted to play piano, you're going to fucking play the piano. You asked to get swim

lessons, you're going to finish the swim lessons. And I'm the same way with my kids. But when something makes you physically sick or I don't think it's the mentality anymore, like, well, I have to retire in 10 more years, so I got to stick it out. But why do we have to be doing what we're supposed to be doing? Who's the person that's telling us we're supposed to be doing that? That's my entire life. I feel like I've questioned that status quo. Who's telling me what I'm supposed to be doing that. That's my entire life. I feel like I've questioned that status quote. Who's telling you what I'm supposed to be doing? You have to sit down. Yeah, where the toaster goes. Don't tell me where the fucking toaster goes. It's going to go in the bathroom if you're not careful. I love this. You're going to get a toaster for me. In the bathtub with you. For Christmas.

In the bathtub with you. Plugged in or unplugged? This is getting dark. This is getting dark. No, I fully agree with you. Listen, I love doing this show right now, but you better believe if there's ever a day where I don't like it, I'm just going to quit. And I know there's an audience and people that like it, but I promise if one day I'm like, hey, I don't like doing this anymore, I'll quit.

And you're going to have days. Yeah. Well, you have days that get rough. I don't want anyone to think that I don't have days. I'm like, shit, this is so annoying. Like, of course, but it's what i want to do yeah you i think people think they got to hang on to like life is short and for me i don't necessarily i'm not so spiritual i don't i think like this is the one shot that i got like after i think not a lot

for me so my whole thing is like better be happy while you're here because if not what's the point what is the difference and i need to know this between the power of influencer and the power of celebrity with marketing because you've had gg hadid wear your jewelry what's the differences let's be honest just like you're smiling you're doing a face influencers are much more influential like what specifically though an instagram story a swipe up a tag a what stories and swipe ups when you're talking like you and i like you're talking to your audience like you and i are speaking right now like that hits me like that's how I buy shit like oh yeah Lauren like is literally talking about this because she just like wasn't paid and she like

literally threw it on last night and she's like guys I woke up and this shit was so amazing you have to buy it like that's what gets me and when you write a blog post I don't think anyone's reading it and then and then on a on Instagram page, I'm just looking at the picture. What about celebrities? Celebrities, that's not their job. Right. I've never heard that before. Yeah. I think for celebrities, it's worth it because it gives you brand recognition. It gives you a brand like that. Like who the fuck is she? Well, Gigi had her necklace on. Oh, Gigi had her necklace on. But does that mean I'm selling necklaces? No. It's the influencers sell the necklaces.

Gigi gives the brand credit and gives it that oomph, that like, oh, that's a real thing. You're just honored that she liked it enough to wear it. It's a great repost. It's a great. Yes, it is a great. And I just yelled in your mic. It is a great repost, but it's not, that's not their job. An influencer does their job

wow i i think they're absolutely amazing you're so creative you're killing it but let's talk about the business side okay you're obviously we're a lawyer so that's pretty nice you don't need someone to read your contract no i absolutely do you do i don't read any criminal law it's because it's a waste of your time. No. Just a different field of law. It'd be like a dentist doing your gynecology appointment. I mean, it's going to save me time.

The dentist can get up there while I'm getting my teeth cleaned. Like, let's get it all done. I'm going to go talk to your fucking dentist. Yeah. What's going on over there? My dentist is like kind of hot. Uh-oh. You know what she's doing when she's got all these dental appointments.

Yeah, I was like, I got to go look at the calendar. My dentist is a girl of hot. Uh-oh. I know what she's doing when she's got all these dental appointments. Yeah, I was like, I gotta go look at the calendar. My dentist is a girl, but she is hot. Yeah, so tell us about the business side. How much are you hands-on? Like, is it something that you're in QuickBooks? Do you have accountants? Do you do what I do and like to save time and hire out and delegate? What do you do?

I'm a super good delegator. Like, I don't need all the control. I am a big picture person. And like, I can see the big forest. Don't don't need all the control. I am a big picture person and like I can see the big forest. Don't get me stuck in the trees. So somebody sends me a UPS bill and I can't log in in the first attempt. It's going to one of my, it's going to my login. Yeah. No, I have no idea what my passwords are. No clue. My, thankfully my team is fantastic. I could not do any of this without the team. So yes, I give, and I don't mean delegate because I'm too big for that. I'm just saying I can't get stuck in the trees because I am focused and the forest is big and I don't have time for my login.

And my girls are phenomenal. I hired people who aren't anything at all like me because I'm good at what I'm good at. They're really good at what they're good at. Let them do what they're good at. So business side, I don't do a lot of. That's something really smart to point out, hiring people that are different than you that have different skill sets. I think a lot of people, especially when they're new to business, they want people that are like them, that think like them, that like have the same kind of vibe. And that's the last thing I would want is someone that's exactly like me because I'm already me and I'm already doing what I can do. Yeah. And so I need somebody to help me do the things that I can't do. We just had a whole creative meeting at your meeting. I'm like, I am the least creative

person on this call. I know we should be doing this thing for the brand, but I can't do it. You're creative. You're just not creative in like an artistic way. Well, you're creative in an artistic way. But I do think for people that are thinking about starting businesses, they fall into that trap because you recognize someone that's like you and you're like, oh, that would be fun to work with them. But you really want to kind of go the opposite direction. Complete opposite. Like I have somebody really good at like the law stuff. I have somebody really good at all the wordy stuff. Like don't give me words. That's why I went into criminal law. There's no words. I mean, you read a case and then you stand up and you talk to the judge.

You talk to the prosecutor, you talk to your client. There was no words. Like I can't, I'm really bad at those small details, but I can sell something and use my words. And then my other team's really good at shipping. If I try to help them with shipping at Christmas and they were like, please don't touch that. No, I let them do what they're really good at because they're really good at it. If someone wants to start a business right now, let's say they want to do jewelry just like you. They look up to you. They look up to what you've built. What would you say are some important things to have in the infrastructure? Like, would you say hire a graphic designer right now?

Hire someone to help you with branding? Like, what are the important key components? Photography. Okay. Love that. And not just like pictures on white. Like, don't even make it about the jewelry also user generated content is where we're headed which means people are sick of this editorial high-end five million dollar photo shoot lights and everything filtered stuff people want more the jewelry at home having coffee like on an iPhone. Yeah and so pictures and like creating a story with the pictures so not just like a professional photo and then like the graphic designs come on brand it like graphic design is where it's at and then I think if you're starting

a small business and it's jewelry then your shipping needs to be on point because that's the first thing they see so not only is that branding but to be on point because that's the first thing they see. So not only is that branding, but to figure out speed, because what we run into is our custom necklaces take a long time. And it's not because we can't get it made tomorrow. It's because there's so many orders in front of you. We're actual humans that are shipping these necklaces out. People don't understand, like, I don't know why it takes four to five weeks or six weeks. Well, as soon as they all come in, we have to find which one goes with which order. And then we physically stuff them all and we ship

them all. And at some point, obviously, I'd like to have more shippers. But at this point, this is what we're dealing with. And timing is something that I think if you're going to open a small business, you don't think about those things. But it's those experiences that bring the customers back. And then customer service. I was answering all my emails at first. Can you imagine? I was like, no, fuck you. Fuck you. And they were like, okay, okay, I'll take over the emails. And then I hired girls that do just emails and they're so good. And so I think customer service, like even days that I want to be like, really? Like really, really lady? It's if you turn that attitude around and give them what they want to hear it makes the world i know you like me like to be pretty hands-on with your dms yes how important

do you think that is in building a business because i would say that's that's the top three well especially for you i don't think people are coming to me for advice and they're not asking me for links unless it's like we couldn't find this bracelet on your page. Do you have the link? So it's completely different from my brand, I think, than an influencer. I think an influencer puts blah, blah? So I don't know how you keep up with that, to be honest. And I don't know if I could. But if it was important enough and somebody that you were working with or you would like to work with or you respected, then I think you take the time to make those DMs. But I don't know how you would answer what everybody wants to know what you drank at the restaurant last night. I try to answer as many as I can. I obviously don't get to everyone. But if I see a question being asked over and over and over,

I always address it. But I do think the first five years, at least as an influencer, you should answer all your DMs. And people are like, look at me like with their eyes popped out. I mean, that was my strategy. I answered every single DM.

Your strategy worked. Well, we'll see. We don't know if it worked yet. We'll see at the end of all this. Give her a little bit more time. Another decade. We'll circle back around. Micro-influencers.

I'm not talking about big influencers. Micro-influencers. So important. Okay, a little bit on that would be amazing because I was just having a huge conversation about micro-influencers the other day. They are amazing. Like, they're really good at their...

They're hungry. They're really good at their job. They take amazing photos and they might take a hundred of them instead of two. They are amazing. They're really good at their... They're hungry. They're really good at their job. They take amazing photos and they might take a hundred of them instead of two. They are grateful. I mean, I'm not saying the big girls aren't because they are too. This is not a micro versus macro, but I feel like you have to pay attention to both. There's an importance to both sides and that micro influencer will be a macro influencer if they're hustling. Yep. So if you find a micro that's hustling, you're a win-win because you get them while they're

in micro and then they're going to become someone big because you notice their hustle. So I think they're equally as important. What was your, I'm interested to know what your conversation was. Just that people overlook how important micro-influencers are and they try to go to these people with 4 million followers that don't translate because they've recommended too many things whereas like someone with 2 000 followers who has a very big niche like say they're just talking about walmart and you you have something that's in the walmart price range and they put it on their story it's the translation and conversion is insane i also think for brands

like we encounter brands like say they're an up-and-coming brand they just starting on, they're like, really, they have to watch their budget. And not even, not just with this show, but say they, they want to work with a bigger influence or a bigger show. And they want to take like this limited budget they have and throw it at this huge platform that they might not be able to afford yet. And then when you work on any online platform, it doesn't always just translate to immediate sales. It's a slow build. So smaller brands go, okay, I'm going to go and work with the top most expensive creator here. And then they don't see the sales when they burn their whole budget. I think it's better to start slower, see what works with things you can afford. And then as you grow as a business,

then you can start doing things with the bigger creators. But I think a lot of brands don't get the power of working with smaller platforms in the beginning. And it's trial and error. It really is. And like you have to trial and error everything. Obviously influencers are where it's at. Like everybody's like, well, where else do you market? I'm like, well, I mean, there are other little things that we do, but that's where it's at. And I think that, and this is like a conversation that we would have at dinner, but let's just have it on here. I think that and this is like a conversation that we would have at dinner but let's just have it on here I think that you would like with the your jewelry so beautiful I do think that you advertising on certain podcasts would really crush it yes well and I like the bitch

bible or something I think she would crush for you yes no I well and I'm also privy to the fact of that's where it's going and the clubhouse. And I have my eyes on all this up and coming things because I'm always trying to get on there. Like maybe I'm not like completely active, but at least I have an idea of what's going on. You're on the pulse. Yeah. I mean, I try to be like one step ahead, although anymore it's so hard. Whenever there's emerging platforms though, for brands, like I always find, it's so funny, like businesses, this is is through the history of time. People are like, well, I'm not going to try that until it really proves until it's

happened in podcasts. The brands that were smart and got in three, four, five years ago, they got it so cheap and now they're so established. And I never got the mentality of like, I'm going to wait until it takes off before I test because by the time it takes off, you're going to spend four or five X. Well, even like Gary Vee with like, I know he bought into like almost everything, not everything worked, but the ones that worked, worked. Yep. So what's wrong with that? And the ones that he bought into that didn't work were cheap. Right. Because at the time they were brand new. Yeah. And he doesn't, it doesn't hurt you like podcasting now it's obviously getting crazy, but I mean, there's people that are way more OG than us, but yeah, we were early.

But I even think about the growth since we've been in this space and for the brands that got in early with us, like they got a great deal. The brands that are coming now, it's still a deal because obviously the space is on fire, but it's much more expensive.

I'm not going to lie. Yes, it is. But again, trial and error. Maybe one podcast is going to be amazing for advertising on. And maybe it's not. But you're right. The Bitch Bible, hey, shout out. Well, I'll tell you.

I'll give you some things that I think would really work with podcast advertising. I can see your stuff. It's so cute. I wanted you to tell the audience, a lot of millennials listening, what you think makes a person successful. What are the ingredients? Hustle. OK. Hustle. Hustle. Drive. Hust the ingredients hustle okay hustle hustle drive like hustle hustle hustle like like no days off and I don't mean that in the sense of like you

cannot take a day off like you just hustle your ass off man like and I like the hustle like when it gets too easy or like easy street I'm like what's going on like what's wrong you seem like you're a very hustler like what time are you waking up in the morning like 5 30 okay and what time are you going to bed uh like 10 30 and you're like working all day well i'm like checking my messages scrolling no i mean yes i am designing in my head or i'm talking to somebody about putting it down on paper or i am looking at somebody else's style to see what's new but I love it so I would do that anyway with your process are you the one that's designing each piece of jewelry yes so that's your focus is the creative design yes and now I don't design every piece if somebody if one of my vendors or manufacturers

comes at me with something amazing I buy it like. Like it's not all from scratch, but that's my favorite part. Like designing, seeing it like drawn on my chicken scratch at night and then waking up to seeing like a sample is, it's my wet dream. It's just, that's what makes me really happy. And I'll like, I don't even know it's 530 in the morning and I'm sending it out to the, to the, to the team. I mean, I'm sure they freaking hate me. I mean, I don't think they hate me. But I always say to them, when I'm messaging you, that doesn't mean I need a response. I'm the kind of person that's like, I got to get it out right now. Because there's going to be 4,000 other thoughts in a minute. But that don't mean you need to talk to me on a Sunday.

I just need to tell you like, look how cute this is. And I think they know that now. Like they know like, oh, okay, Megan's texting me. I need to text back. No, it's just like, oh my God, did you see me. I need to text back. No, it's just like, oh my God, did you see how cute this is? It came to fruition. Like I'm just so excited all the time.

So I think that shines through in a business. So if you happiness and hustle, what else can you do? Maybe share some tools that you use in your business. Is it like Slack? Do you like email? Are you working over text?

What is the most effective strategies for you? I am like, I don't even know how to open Excel. Okay. Neither do I. My team does all the Excel sheets. Excel is the opposite of my wet dream. An Excel sheet, it's making me sweat. I'm perspiring right now.

When someone tells me to open an Excel sheet, I'm like, Excel who? Yeah. Is that a celebrity? I am the same exact. Like they almost have to open it and screenshot what they need me to look at because right now right I'm like what are you talking about I can't open this I'm like what line I don't know how to get to the line so yeah no we just got on gchat because I was texting and my brand manager was like oh my god I cannot anymore Lauren does this thing where we all

we're like we're all on zoom with the team there's like four or five of us I don't ever do video and she comes she comes five ten minutes later we've all been talking we all see each other she comes she comes in with no camera she goes all right so who do we got here you're like we've been here yeah we've been here we can all see each other i don't come 10 minutes late it's more like three minutes late and i don't think that we need to be on video all the time why do we have to be on video no we don't but it's but i i'm just i think it's funny she's so bad at technology diva light like his whole room is like a diva light with a blur in the background you know like blur the like we did this um interview with priyanka chopra and she had this like camera that was so clear and lauren and i just looked like these old grainy figures in your masturbation so i got this dslr

camera it's just like so we actually come through clear because i was just done listen i live in zoom now like it's which is my cross to bear I guess a lot of people's and it's gonna probably be around one of the points of this interview to me is you can create your own future yes so what would you tell someone who's stuck and unhappy in life right now well I also can't like take all the credit like what if I had a husband that was like no like you got you would have still done it like there's a personality I probably wouldn't have married someone who would have been like you would have stayed home with the kids yeah but I have to say like that's part of the ingredient like somebody who's supposed to be like cooking a meal I don't cook or like going to the grocery store I don't go to the grocery store and like doing mommy play groupss, that's not, how would I be where I am? Like, I was thankful that

he was like, go girl, go like live your dream. Like he is my biggest fan. If you don't have that support, I'm not saying it's your husband. Maybe it's your significant other, your boyfriend, your sister, as your, your parents, like that's so needed. And I think a lot of people maybe don't have that or don't know that they have it, but you're right. I probably would have done it anyway. You would have done it anyway. You would have done it anyway. It's just a personality type. So if someone feels like they're stuck and they're unhappy in their career,

would you tell them to just go for it? Would you tell them to launch fast? Would you tell them to get a side hustle? You will never have everything worked out. I am how many years in and I still don't have everything worked out. You just fucking launch it. We still don't have everything worked out.

You're going to figure it out as you go. If you wait around to do something, there's always going to be something else. It's like people that are like, it's not the right time to have a baby. There ain't never a right time to have a baby. Like you're always going to be busy. You're always going to have something planned. You're always going to launch the brand and figure it out as you go. Because it'll never be the perfect time because there is no perfect time. Yeah. I can't tell you how many people over the years doing this show that we've met that unfortunately have said, hey, I'm going to do this. And you still like a year goes by, two years goes by, they're saying the same thing. And it's like, at some point you kind of just

zone out and you're just like, all right. But do you think, Michael, that like those people are so detail-oriented that maybe they're not supposed to be entrepreneurs? Like, I'm not saying you can't be detail-oriented and an entrepreneur. I'm not saying that at all. But I'm saying, I think you need, if you're going to be an entrepreneur, you have to be okay with seeing the big picture and just going for the big picture rather than minute details every second. Of course you have to pay attention to that stuff. Yeah. I think people who say they're perfectionists are just copping out. I actually don't believe that. I think that's just an excuse of why they're not doing something. Right. I want things to just an excuse of why they're not doing something. Right.

Right? Like, I want to be, like, if I, I want things to be as perfect as possible, but I'm not going to let perfect hold me back from something. Right. And so people say,

well, I haven't done it because it's not perfect yet. I'm a perfectionist. Like, no, you haven't done it yet because you're scared. Right. That's just the truth. And, but my point is,

maybe they're never going to be, then they're not, that's okay. Because that's, being an entrepreneur then wouldn't make them happy. It's okay, you just can't keep complaining about it and talking about it. Well are some people that i think that that they

get off on that that that's who they are their shtick is to complain and it's part of the identity sure i just can't listen to those people personally no you did complain that you were tired in the way on the way here and i was like suck it up she smacked me in the mouth and then i was like oh you're trying to get up get out of? No, not out of like. We could drink your wine. No, no, no, not before the podcast. He was just complaining today that he was tired and I don't want to hear it. I don't want it in my ether. I don't care.

Listen, we have a, you know what it's like. We have this baby. Lauren sleeps through, the house could be on fire and she would sleep. If a pin drops in the house, I'm awake. So I heard the baby stirring. Can I tell you? No, I taught the baby only to say papa. So whenever she needs something, all you hear throughout the house is. Screaming. Papa, I'm awake. So I heard the baby stirring. No, I taught the baby only to say papa. So whenever she needs something,

all you hear throughout the house is papa papa papa. This is so strategic because in the morning, when instead of saying mama or crying, she says papa papa papa. I mean, it does warm my heart. It's like, I'm like, gonna go running. His grinchy heart gets warm. He runs to the baby. I get to still sleep. It's actually like, why are you tired? I'm like, well, when you hear papa. He runs to the baby. I get to still sleep. It's actually like one of my best collaborations. When you hear Papa at all hours of the night. Was it paid? I mean, you know, I'm not, it was a sponsored post.

It was a swipe up, hashtag ad. I don't need to be hard on those people that I'm just, I think like when I say things like that, I'm trying to get people out of their being, out of them being stuck. And it's like, if you're going to do it and you're going out of them being stuck and it's like if you're going to do it you're going to talk about like do it because the worst that could happen is you try and you end up exactly where you are that's true and there's even things that i want to do that i'm like well i don't know if that'll work but like i'm always working on something i think we need a jewelry piece for our ponytails that we're wearing like that yes like a little piece of

jewelry right up here. See, by tomorrow morning, I'll have a drawing for you. Okay. Well, I think we need a jewelry ponytail holder. Yeah. Okay. Something. I saw this. It was a cheap one at Forever 21 that was like a gold plated, but I think you need to do something. Oh, and it kind of like goes around. Something better. Yeah. Okay. I got you. I would rock that. Okay. I want to talk about my favorite piece in your line, and then I want to ask you a couple other people that I admire who wear your jewelry's favorite. So my favorite, if you guys are shopping her line is, and I want to make sure I say the right verbiage, but it's a necklace that says boss and it's sterling silver, right? And it's very, very simple and delicate. It's a necklace.

And I wear it all the time. I wear mine that says Zaza too. I had one made for my friend. And the reason I like it is because it's light. It's delicate. It's pretty. You can wear it in the shower. You can do whatever. But it's also such a great gift.

Right. It's so personal. So we got, I worked with you to make one of my best friends Faith. One that said Aspen because she has a baby Aspen. And she went wild. What is that piece called so they can check that piece out? It's called, it's all in a name necklace. Amazing. Yes. And you know what? And it's a good price point for a gift because, you know, like if you ever bought a gift for like $40 and you're like, what else should I get? Yeah. How much is it? It's $72. $72. And then you can find a coupon code, I'm sure. Okay. And you

also do it in diamonds. That's like the big dog. We do. We do a 14 carat and real diamond line, which is new. We just launched this line. And I finally had to launch it. Is it ready? No. But it's there. It's beautiful.

The diamonds are beautiful. Thank you. But honestly, if you want to get a great $72 gift, this is it. And it's custom because I want you to know I thought of you when I bought you a present. And I think that's the perfect thing. Like for Michael's birthday, March 28th, I want to do like a penis chain. I'm just kidding. That you're wearing?

That says Lauren around it. Like perfect. Like just like that you can wear. I don't know if I'm going to be wearing that. It's your birthday. Happy birthday. What sign? What is that sign?

Aries. Aries. He's an Aries. What is ingrid's favorite piece because ingrid is obsessed with your jewelry she was just on this podcast talking about hormones one of my favorite friends what's her favorite piece all the evil eyes and we just made her a ton of like pave crystals and rose gold okay with the emerald green like emerald green paves like she has a bracelet right and she has, yeah, she's getting quite outfitted. Yeah, I love her.

You know why? Because she's real. She also is amazing at being authentic and selling in a way that translates, I think. I absolutely agree. She's not going to say it if she doesn't mean it. Yeah. Ingrid doesn't give a fuck. No.

I love that. That's literally why we're- That's why we're friends. I say that in the best way, in the most heartfelt way. I love it. I hope people say that about me too like without being like like oh she's too much like no

this is just like I'm even nervous now like why just like I don't ever mean to offend anybody like really

I come from a good place it's just sometimes I think I just I'm a big personality and you never know anymore what could offend somebody and I'm never feeling like when I say like no vacations,

like that's not what I mean. It just means like what makes me happy might not make you happy. And this is what makes me tick. And this is my formula. And my formula happens to work. And I happen to be super happy from it. So if that's not your shtick, good.

Go do what makes you happy. If you want to vacation around the world and not pick up your phone for three weeks, fucking do it. I mean, if you're want to vacation around the world and not pick up your phone for three weeks, fucking do it. I mean, if you're able to afford it, I'm not. So I think just being happy. And like, I do get a little worried though that I'm very much like, quit your job.

Like maybe people can't quit their job. Maybe they're single parents. Why do we live in this culture where they say, go to college, do this, do this. And I can't be the other side and be polarizing. Yes, you can. Why can't I be the complete other end of that and say what I think? Which is, for me, I think college was a waste of time.

Listen, I learned... I could have been creating content. I learned how to get around college. But I think the disclaimer on all of this at the end is for me. Like, I think college is a waste of time for me, right? Like this, I wouldn't do this for like- That's true. I always try to, one thing I know that my perspective on life is not necessarily someone

else's. And I'm sure like speaking to your point, that if you were to just turn on this show and have no familiarity with Lauren or me, like we can be abrasive. We could be, especially me, right? If you turn on the thing and you hear me saying like, hey suck or you're not starting so what the hell is this guy saying yeah but i think people like if you give it a little bit of time with anyone and you put it in context and you see someone's intention is not to to hurt but to help yeah like that comes with time right but at the same time i can't change who i am and be inauthentic because then then

you turn it in and you're like hey i don't don't trust this person. No, that's true. It's just hard. And yeah, you're right. It's whatever works for you. But like when Lauren asked, like, what's your advice for someone starting a business? Like, well, it depends. Who are they? Yeah. What's their, what are they like?

No, but I do think there's a lot of people that are listening to you now that your formula will work for them. Yes. And like, those are the people you're speaking to. And maybe they just need the push. Because what if they don't have a Brian at home? That's like, babe, do it. So maybe that's us or it's you saying you're speaking to. And maybe they just need the push. You're not trying to get everybody. Yes. Because what if they don't have a Brian at home that's like, babe, do it. So maybe that's us or it's you saying you can do it and it's never going to be perfect.

Just go. And really, even if you fail, if it made you happy, you're going to learn something from it and you're going to put it towards whatever you're doing next. And same thing as when with the law, I loved it until I didn't. And I took everything that I loved from it and I've learned from it. And here I am. And that's your journey. And whatever your journey is, that's okay.

That's right. I just wish it would have been like 10 years prior. No, that's okay. I know that wasn't it. You probably learned valuable skills. I did. You probably learned so many skills. I look back when I was a bartender and I learned how to finesse all different kinds of energy.

For sure. I learned how to listen because I was sitting across from the bar with very intimate setting. And I learned how to multitask. There's so many things that you probably learned. I learned more bartending than at college, a hundred percent. Makes sense. I'm sure there's things that being a criminal defense attorney that you learned that you wouldn't have those tools in your toolbox. And you probably wouldn't appreciate what you do now as much if you didn't do the thing before, because now you have something to compare it against. No, because it's easy to complain, right like everybody has a bad day or like their job

gets them down like i get to look back and be like but it's not you know like i can i have a scale of like what was unhappy to me like this little bump in the road sucks but i'm not an unhappy person and anymore and like i have that to compare it to and maybe if you started this and you didn't have that and then it got tough you'd be like i'm gonna quit this this is tough i'm gonna like yeah but you don't yeah yeah i i hope like i'm grateful for all the times i've eaten shit in life because now like i can compare it against that but at the time i thought you think it's the worst thing ever but now you're like oh okay it's not that a hundred percent can you before you give us your book podcast or resource tell us what another big influencer is loving from your line that i'm loving yes no that another big influencer you can tell us what you're loving too but i also

you mentioned what i like what ingrid likes oh i'm sorry what product yeah give us one that you like and another influencer like a product not an influencer either tell us anything that's yeah tell us something that people are loving people are loving yeah i'm listening i really am oh my god it's just the personalized stuff goes crazy it's like the hoops are cute too your hoops like remind me of like a very very high-end hoop but they're affordable yes we there's some in your box and they're new they're new so you'll you have to give me your i love feedback i can't wait to see them our hoops are popular and then green green's been huge i love green it's so rich isn't green good luck green is like amazing we just bought those green bracelets is green the color that's good luck this year that's so funny that you say

that i'm so you know what looks so pretty too is green and gold together well wait till you see ingrid's new necklace i can't wait i can't either okay we should fly in person and see her stack let's go for us i know like i just want to i told her i just want to sit on your couch with my feet up and her and her pine nut salad i know i your couch with my feet up and have you bring me a drink and then eat. I know. I know she doesn't get drunk and like hungover

which is annoying. I know. She told me she's never been hungover in her life. But I think we could make it happen. She's an amazing chef. I know.

I watch her stories. You were eating. Maybe go spend some more time over there and come back. That's not nice. I made you a very good salad and sandwich

the other day. So screw you okay a book podcast or resource that you would leave our audience with that's brought you a lot of value all right Gary Vee all right I'm sorry he's just hands down the best he's totally like your energy I could totally see why you like him and like I think he's brilliant I think everything like anyway you I mean you're my inspiration from day one I thought I was gonna puke for the first three months leading up to this why oh yeah it's been a big thing what why just you've always you're like a branding machine yeah but you've taught me everything natural on the mic oh I can talk

but I can't learn to brand from you I I'll take that, but there's a lot more to it. I'm sure. There's a lot more to it. I can see. Anyone who knows me knows I'm sitting here and like completely. Oh my God. You're so sweet.

Anybody who knows, like if you know that I'm where I want to be. Oh my God. To me, this is my goal. Like, so I don't know where I'm going to go from here. You're going to get on the Gary Vee show.

That's where the fuck you're going to go. It doesn't matter. Cause here. It's like he wants to buy the jets, but he's never going to go from here. You're going to get on the Gary Vee show. That's where the fuck you're going to go. It doesn't matter because here I am. It's like he wants to buy the Jets, but he's never going to buy the Jets. He will. He will. He will. And you'll get on his show.

But you know what I'm saying? Like, then he's like, then what? I like the fact that he's not going to buy it. Why don't you make him a penis chain? Oh, I don't know if he's going to. When is he going to like, that'd be really hard to show off on stories. Unless he's sliding into someone's DMs. Just show the outskirts of it.

Michael has these pajamas that shows every detail of it the other day. Oh, I didn't realize this until it was pointed out. These pajamas that you have show the whole,

it's like a clay mold or something. It's like a ceramic cafe situation. Can I just wear some comfortable pajamas for Christ's sake? Well, I mean, Jesus.

That was not on stories either. We can show that on stories. You really don't show your whole life. She tried to put that on stories and I was like, this is maybe not the thing to do. It was like, Jesus. That was not on stories either. We can show that on stories. You really don't show your whole life. She tried to put that on stories. And I was like, this is maybe not the thing to do. It was like, whoa, things are bigger in Texas. God damn it.

Hey, we're learning. We're learning while we're here. I'm just more relaxed out here, I think. Are you? I know we're going to do a giveaway. It's a good and a bad thing. Can we talk about the giveaway or should I post it after? We can talk about it.

Okay. What are we giving away? Why don't we give away your favorite necklace and make it... They can either customize it or we can make it a boss. Okay. So that could be up to you. Yeah. You can write boss.

Mine says boss for boss stick, but it could also mean boss like you're a boss. No, for sure. Yeah. So let's do a customized necklace. All they have to do is follow you at the CISKISS on Instagram. Yes. Tell us your favorite part of this episode on my latest Instagram at Lauren Bostic, handle change. And we'll drop into your inbox and one of you will win my absolute favorite necklace.

So easy to win, I feel like, right? For sure. Okay. And then also if they want to use your code. Code. Which we'll put in the show notes love it then we also will get a free gift that you picked can we do the skinny kiss yeah let's do the skinny kiss the skinny kiss that's the code what do they get off they yeah we're gonna put it in the show notes yeah we'll put it in the show notes we're gonna put it in

the show notes launch fast and adjust i'm pretty sure it's 25% but my team already made it so I will double check and we'll put the for sure this is no secret at this point we do the intro and outro after this anyway so we'll put it in

I listen and how can everyone find you follow you on Instagram drop in your DM box your website all the things yep just the cis theciskiss.com

which is S-I-S-K-I-S-S because sometimes that gets janky and then we're at theciskiss on Instagram you can find us at TSK Atelier that's's our new diamond line. And that is a sub-brand of us. So you can find us all together. And then www.thesiskiss.com. I am a huge fan of supporting small businesses. I've had a very warm place in my heart from you since you started. I love your jewelry. I'm such a fan. Thank you for taking the time

to fly all the way from Cleveland. I will be drinking my Brunello tonight wearing my new pink ring. What is this ring you gave me? I'm obsessed. It's our new line. It's so cute. Lucite pink.

And colors will be our trends for the summer months. Really, really into this, you guys. It's like a Lucite ring. It's pink. Fits the feed. It fits the feed. And I like how it's like big around the finger

yep you can also wear it with another ring too i was just playing layer yeah i was layering it with a gold ring thank you so much for coming on thank you come back i will thank you and great we got to do it with ingrid that that would be a lot of a good thing you don't censor yeah it'd be like beep totally the whole episode the three of us oh my god like morris code at the cis kiss follow her love you guys bye wait don't go the cis kiss is doing such a fun giveaway this is a good one you guys you win a boss necklace it is so cute i have one i'll show you on stories um and it's this beautiful thin chain with the word boss across it. Very simple. You can wear it all the time. It goes in the shower.

It goes in the jacuzzi. And it's such a cute gift. All you have to do is follow at the CISKISS on Instagram and tell us your favorite part of this episode on my Instagram at Lauren Bostick. Please rate and review the show. We appreciate it. And we want to continue to grow the community.

I have to tell you that they made a code for you guys. It is SkinnySis25. That is SkinnySis25. For 25% off all orders, use SkinnySis25. That's SkinnySis25. With that, I will see you guys next time. This episode was brought to you by The Sis Kiss.