You Can’t Grow Alone
Download MP3Hello and welcome to the Service Based Business Society podcast. I am your host, Tiffany Ann Botcher. On our weekly episodes, we will dig into everything you need to know about scaling your service based business without losing sleep. With my experience in creating over 7 figures per month and a passion for marketing, finance, and automation, this show will provide tangible tips and techniques for scaling your business. Let's get started.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Welcome Welcome back for another episode. We're here with Steph. Steph returns to us from season 3 episode 14, and she was also in season 3 episode 22. She wasn't really with us, but I did spend a little bit of time talking about her. So you haven't heard those episodes, you can go back and listen, but we're gonna jump right in, and we're gonna talk about communities, how they are more than just a Facebook group, and the actual mindset shift and growth opportunities that are involved.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:So welcome to the show, Steph. Oh, thank you. So I'll be honest, I was searching through our past episodes. I really thought you had been on the podcast more than one time. And then I realized, well, it was one time plus then there was a whole episode where I I kinda had it about you.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:So we save you moon you were you're moonlighting in that episode. But what has been happening since you were last year?
Stef Fournier:When was I last year? Was that, like, a year and a half ago?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:February. Last February.
Stef Fournier:Last February? Yeah. Wow. Oh, I feel like this has been a crazy, crazy year. Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:It's been, like it was the year that my business was gonna take off. And I say was because it still really had a really good formation. It, like I've really found what I wanted to speak about. I really found what I wanted to do. I made some shifts, but a lot of personal stuff happened.
Stef Fournier:And then it also taught me more about what was important to me on the business side of things, and it really shifted my mindset around what I wanted to focus on, who I want to focus it on with, what served me, what didn't. So I'll be honest, it was, like, not the year I expected in my business at all. But I'm happy with how it's turned out with we're getting pretty close to the end of the year.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:It's always interesting when it it doesn't necessarily it's like the journey versus the destination. But I will say that I think out of all the business owners I know, you were one that actually was probably closer to knowing those kinds of things previously. So for you to say, you know, now I know what's important, like more important to me and stuff because I think that already you had, you know, had specific hours and boundaries and knew which clients you loved and which ones you didn't. So interesting that I would have thought you were one of the best at that. And then you have a year and you and and you say, well, that came, and I think, oh, wow.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:I have a long way to go.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you've known me long enough to know that I dedicate a lot of my life to self improvement. And I know that sounds really cliche, but I really I have done a lot of the self improvement that's not fun. And I did a lot of training around it.
Stef Fournier:I just I've always always searched for how does my brain work, how do other people's brains work. And with a marketing background, it just it actually just fits into business.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And it's a bit of a rock.
Stef Fournier:Right? It it's totally remarkable.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Endless.
Stef Fournier:Endless.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Yeah. It's it's interesting though, you know, you talked about it being a year that was. You know, I I've talked on the podcast before. I I made some choices last year in business and it it ultimately derailed one of my businesses for a year. It it it took a year to recover and and we kind of finally came around the other side and there was actually you get those kind of moments that pop up on Facebook and whatnot, the store, you know, last year this time.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:I always find those ones crazy because you're like, woah, that was a year ago. And, it's, you know, some changes, some choices can ultimately have a a really long effect. Some positive and and some obviously not so much.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. I would totally agree. Like, even just coming into this podcast studio, I was reminded of an event I didn't like, like, 4 years ago. And it just it didn't trigger me because, you know, I've done a lot of work, but it was just like something in the back of my mind that I was just like, oh, that impacted my business. Right?
Stef Fournier:And, like, I really feel like a lot of times we're not honoring those things, and we just kinda shove them to the back of our brains, or we don't work through them, or we don't even like, sometimes people work through them, and I say that with, like, air quotes, because then they think that it's completely gone. But it it becomes who part of who you are. Right? And that's even, like, it evolves into your business, it evolves into your life, all these things that come and go. But unless we can actually take a step back and look and be like, okay.
Stef Fournier:That sucks or that was great. How do we move forward with that? Right? And I think as business owners, a lot of times we're just shoving stuff in the closet. 100%.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:There is a closet full of skeletons. I often talk about that from a bookkeeping perspective to our bookkeeping clients where, you know, it's like you at least should know what skeletons are in the closet. I mean everyone's got a couple but, like, at least know what's what's behind the door.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. I mean, that's why you're my bookkeeper because I don't like those skeletons.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:We try to avoid them. We try to avoid them for sure. So you you've had this year and and it's grown and I mean obviously we spend some time together and and whatnot and so I have seen you know your community grow and it's interesting because obviously in 2024, we see the community of Taylor Swift and the Swifties, which I think is probably one of the most inspiring communities. I mean, whether you like Taylor Swift or not, her ability to captivate an audience and really just like these people it's everything, it's everything Taylor Swift. I was seeing on social media recently that they they now have like these funny videos of where things went wrong and they call it the the errors to her and it's but it's done in like a cute, like, oh, my gosh.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Look at that. How great she handled it. It's like something went wrong. But it's, like, the community believes in her so much that that is, like, it's it's it's positive. And it's I'm, like, it's it's so inspiring.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. Yeah. It's I mean, community is, like, everything nowadays, and I think, that's it's so funny that you bring up Swifties because my niece is a Swiftie.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And I was like,
Stef Fournier:I remember what it was like to be, like, so obsessed with things. Let's be honest, still am. But, like, yeah, with community, I think it's really coming forward more than ever because we spent the last few years like, you think COVID, it was all about, like, me. I need to protect myself. I need to be myself.
Stef Fournier:And I, like, I'm my entire thing's personal branding, so you think it would be, like, all about you. But, really, everyone's, like, craving back that community. They they always everybody naturally is looking for a place to belong, to grow together. And, you know, we talk about the people that come and go in our life and knowing who fits into that space and who doesn't has been even more important than ever. And I think, yeah, community is kind of where where we're headed.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:I I feel like for a long time the word community makes makes you think Facebook group. There was the there was a there was a a phase of time there where it was like if you want to do anything in the world you needed a Facebook group. I mean when we started this podcast it had a Facebook group. I learned along the way that I don't really like like, being a part, like like like being the the person, the the leader of the Facebook group. I I was like, I can't do this anymore.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:So we shut that down and and now have switched and and are rebuilding now basically with, an Instagram profile and LinkedIn which is like kind of our 2 different audiences. But it's interesting because there's this shift now where it's people, you know, more getting out and whatnot. But when we hear networking, when we hear community people talk about this, like, referral networks. I think BNI, I think is the the one and Facebook groups. And so I think that you build community in a very different way.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. Yeah. I like how you just kinda like, you build in a different way. I'm like, do I build it in a different way? I think I think I love how you said, like, leading this Facebook group and everything, and you're like, I don't like it.
Stef Fournier:And I I feel like a lot of people don't actually like to lead that stuff because it's a lot of responsibility. And I was like that too, and then I found, like actually, I love it. I freaking will like, you know, you have to work through and, like, this is a little bit of segue, but you really have to if you want something, like, deep in your core and there's a little gremlin on your shoulder saying, like, this is not, like, something I wanna do, I would say, like, explore that a little bit because, like, maybe it's actually something you do wanna do, and you just have a few mental blocks along the way to get rid of them first. And so when it came to building communities, if you would have said to me, like, we've known each other for a long time now. But if you said to me in the beginning, like, Steph, you're gonna, like, lead a community, all those kind of things, I'd be like, no.
Stef Fournier:Because a lot of things were, like, I was scared of having that responsibility of holding space and all that kind of stuff. So when you say Facebook group, like, leading it, I'm like, that sounds fun. I reignited mine. I don't know how well Facebook groups are actually gonna do, but it I have been a part of so many communities. Like, I have been in BNIs.
Stef Fournier:I have been in casual networking. I have done the online networking thing. So now, like, I love community more than anything. I think that's actually what fills my soul. And so I've built this community that you you're a part of that has a little bit of a different spice to it.
Stef Fournier:Right? Where it's come as you are, be accepted as you are, but also be pushed in the way that you wanna be pushed. Right? And I think a lot of a lot of the people that come into my community space are actually people who haven't fit in communities before. Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:Because my main messaging is very much like, you know Be yourself. Be encouraged for that. Be your weirdness. Do things in a way that works for you. Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:And to be honest, a lot of communities don't work that way. A community where everyone's in a group program, in a group situation usually has to fit into a lot of boxes. So in my community, there is certain standards or certain things that I say, hey, if you wanna be in my space, you kinda have to have this, this, and this. But for the most part, it's about, like, creating this this interdependence of, like, okay, you are awesome at your thing. I am awesome at my thing.
Stef Fournier:Let's do this together.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:Right? And so I really feel like when I was searching for community, it was a it was very, like, clicky, like many communities are. I got my feelings hurt a lot. I just didn't mesh a lot. So building my community, I was just like, okay.
Stef Fournier:What can I learn from that? What can I learn from BNI? What can I learn from casual networking and all those kind of things? And bring it all together in this safe space that's easy for people to tap into, and in different ways. Right?
Stef Fournier:Like, so I host in person things, but I also have an online community. So it's just yeah. I think when people are looking for community, you really have to be, like, okay, what's not the hottest, the popular, or what's not good, like, what's the one with the formula that's gonna work? No. Like, what's the what's the community that's gonna feel like me?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:Right? And I think, I think that's where people need to find their space a little bit more. Right?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Yeah. It's interesting you talked about kind of knowing, you know, doing the things that make you uncomfortable because sometimes you need to push and sometimes you you actually don't like them. And I feel like when I started my business that was like a real thing because I was happy to I was I started with the mindset that I was I was going to be uncomfortable and we were going to get through it. And I was like no matter what we were going. And it's like I did lots of things that made me super uncomfortable and I kept going and I'm so proud that I did those things because I think that it was like part of the journey.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:But then I also look at things that I was like, I was like never going to be good at that. I was never going to like that. But it's like sometimes you have to actually be willing to at least give it a shot. I mean had someone said, you know, oh you're gonna be on YouTube and do podcasts and you know enjoy photo shoots and do all these things, I would it was a no. But so then you do though and then you find out, oh actually I really enjoy this.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:But then there's these pieces like, you know, running a leading a Facebook group and doing those kinds of things that I'm like, I can. I mean, I can go create a Facebook group. It's not gonna be a great one, but I can create I can create that group. But it's it's just, like, it's such a knowing when and and knowing, like, when to hold and when to go is is such a challenge in that pushing yourself, thinking big.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. I would agree. Like, I feel like a lot of people are trying to do all the things still.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:Right? And as business owners and to be honest, you know, I mentioned I got hurt a lot. That that's usually what happens. You know, we get jaded by a partner. We get screwed over by a client or something.
Stef Fournier:Or we want we let that one thing go, and it blows up in our face. Right? And so then we wanna just do everything ourselves. Yes. And so then we kinda shy away from community.
Stef Fournier:And we're like, but I don't wanna depend on anyone. Right. Right? And I feel like I feel like that's kind of what happened a lot. And especially with the people that kind of come in and out of my community, they're usually neurodivergent, very empathetic, very sensitive people.
Stef Fournier:So it just hits us a little bit harder. And so we've pulled away. And that's where, like, even some of the mindset things come in where it's like, okay, yes, you got heart. But okay, like, what's gonna happen differently? Right?
Stef Fournier:And so that, I feel like, is where community kinda comes in. Right? And so a lot of entrepreneurs are like, you know, like, take a graphic designer. I and I can say graphic design, because that's my background. But like, you know, the graphic designer who becomes a web designer, who becomes, like runs an agency, who does this, this, this, and this, and this, which is great.
Stef Fournier:It's a great model. But then they start to do absolutely everything. They start to do all the social media strategies. They start to do everything. And then it's like they can't they feel like they can't depend on anyone anymore because they're gonna step on some toes.
Stef Fournier:Right? And that's kinda where, like, some of the professions are going, but then you become very lonely and you don't really become specialized anymore. Mhmm. And even for, like, agencies like yours that do a bunch of really cool things, you guys still focus on, like, the general, like, this is the this, this, and this is what we do. Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:So it's like, how do we marry those things together? Like, let's not depend on each other completely, to get everything done, but I I still want the support of the people around me. And I really feel like that's what community is about.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Mhmm. Right?
Stef Fournier:Like, stop trying to do everything. Right? Let's be good at what you wanna do.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Yeah.
Stef Fournier:Build whatever empire you wanna do, and then share it with these people who are, like, bringing you along. Right?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Absolutely. I think it it there's so much strength when you combine different skills and attributes because, you know, how you look at something might be different than how someone else looks at something. It's it's the same as growing a team and having diversity. You don't want to hire a bunch of yourselves because ultimately that is just chaotic. You want to, you know, there needs to be balance.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And I often refer back to like my time in corporate. I had 2 business partners. 3 very different people. And why did that work? Why did that business grow so quickly?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And how did it work together? Well because we we trusted each other to stay in each other's lanes and and ultimately at times super frustrating because, you know, the person who's a little more of the like rule follower and the black and white gets frustrated when the person is a little more Wild West. This will say politely. But you know what? At the end of the day it's I now growing my own, you know, empire as we'll call it.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:It it really comes down to, now I see more value in that and that's like a shift in an evolution in my own mindset. I think, gosh, why didn't I pay a little more attention? I could use a little bit of that right now. I actually I thought recently I was working on this this deal, and I thought, gosh, if I could just ask him just a couple of questions, that would be really helpful because it's, you know, there's there's everyone has all of these different ways of doing things. None of them a 100% right or a 100% wrong and it's finding the, you know, different pieces and, you know, thinking about what works and causing the rest.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. Actually, I love that you said nobody's ever wrote a 100% right, a 100% wrong. Wow are we in a day and age where that is more important than ever. Like, I fundamentally hold the believe that everybody is right in their own mind.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:Right? And that's really hard to stomach sometimes. It really is. Right? I mean, obviously, current events right now are cycling through my head, and you're kinda like, you're looking at the other side and be like, wow, what's going on?
Stef Fournier:Right? But, like, when we take a step back and we say, I can see how you're right. Doesn't mean it's right for me, but maybe it's right for you, and I can see where you're coming from. You start to actually see where where the ebb and flows are. Right?
Stef Fournier:And so I love that you say, like, bring some of those people into your space. Yeah. It's probably not gonna be easy every time because you don't want absolutely everybody like you.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:I mean, I do everything around so my clients, and it's not about finding the person who's perfect for you that's gonna work exactly the way. It's the person who's gonna help you grow and the person that's gonna light your passion on fire the most. And I think that's where community kinda comes in too. And even just having, like, the chance to sit sit in a, like, hypothetical room when it comes to, say, Zoom and talk to 20 other people who have similar values, but maybe just might look at things in a different light, I think that's so cool. Right?
Stef Fournier:And it's it's tough sometimes, because we get in our head, like, no. This is the way. This is the way it has to be done. But what if it doesn't? And I think that's where, as you said, community or and when I say community, that could even just be your team.
Stef Fournier:Right? But when I think of community, it's like the spaces that I hold are a lot of very opinionated, very passionate entrepreneurs, who just trying to be, like, hey, you're safe here. They're like
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:I think anything that really runs on passion. You know, I was I was talking to, my husband just the other day because, you know, my my son plays lacrosse and it's a volunteer association and there was this that we were talking about, you know, basically some people and and their level of passion we'll say. And I said, but here's the thing all of those people are so passionate that they are volunteering like I mean, endless amounts of their time. They're they're dedicated to this. They have, you know, full careers and lives and families and whatever.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:But then you look at how much time and I'm, like, that is it's it takes the passion to be willing to do that. It takes the passion to build it. But then you can't be surprised when those people are passionate and, you know, it's it's kind of it's the same thing in your business. You you need to have enough passion to enjoy what you do because ultimately no one says you have to get out of bed and go get it to your desk. There's no one saying you must do it or I'm not paying you.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:I mean, I guess your clients if you really don't show up but you know what I'm saying? Like, if there's this there's a certain level of personal accountability that is required and so, you know, without a passion and a dedication to what you're doing, I mean, it it kind of fizzles.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. And, like, I feel like you sitting in front of me, this is an excellent way to interject one of my most passionate communities is Dachshunds. For people who don't know, is wiener dogs. Right? And we're laughing about this now because I have a wiener dog, and you have 2 wiener dogs.
Stef Fournier:And we were friends and clients before the wiener dogs. But as soon as you're like, wiener dogs, I'm like, heck yeah. We're we're just friends for life now. Right? And, like, I run a Facebook group.
Stef Fournier:We talk about Facebook groups and leading them, and it's, like, 4,000 people, and they're almost in all of BC. Like, that's a lot of wiener dogs. And it's a lot of time. And, like, sometimes I get messages where I'm being, like, too strict on things, and it's like, well, as you said, takes a lot of passion. And with passion, you have to have, like, okay.
Stef Fournier:These are my boundaries and this is how I'm gonna have to do it. And I think, like, the thought flowing through my head right now is sometimes people look at people leading communities and they're, like, oh, well, they're very very rigid in some ways. They're very, like they they become so much more judged, and I think that's where people get scared of leading communities because you do become judged. But the only way you can lead a space is with a little bit of structure.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Yeah.
Stef Fournier:And you get to decide what that structure is. Right? So, like, you know, I think of all these wiener dogs and all this passion and all this time. And, like, you know, we had Halloweener a month ago, and it's, like, 70 wiener dogs show up. And you're just, like, this is a lot of passion.
Stef Fournier:Right? And so I like to look at people. What are they passionate out outside of their work, and how do they bring it in? Because those are the people you wanna get on board with. Those are the people I like to hang out with.
Stef Fournier:What are they freaky passionate about? Right? Like because you know they're gonna get their work done.
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Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:That's path number 2, profit bookkeeping. Io. And to the show. So obviously the wiener dog is the the it's a thing.
Stef Fournier:It's a thing.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And so, you know, I absolutely adored yours and then had been working on, you know, convincing my husband for 2 years to get a dog. And then a week before we bring home, you know, puppy number 1, he says, well, why don't we get puppy number 2 at the same time? You know, way to be efficient just you know, one time. Totally. And, so but then I'm, of course, doing all this research online and I I'm I'm a part of this Facebook group and and all of a sudden I'm realizing that, you know, you're leading this Facebook.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:I didn't didn't even know it. So I mean, one community is lots, but multiple communities, I mean, that's just a level of just I I don't even know. I energy? People energy? Yeah.
Stef Fournier:You know, I used to, like, hate people. Like but then I realized, like, through, like, back to those, like, mindset blocks and stuff. It wasn't like so many people are like, I hate people. And you're like, no. I'm just really sensitive to how people are feeling, or I'm sensitive to how I'm feeling, or I get overwhelmed easily.
Stef Fournier:It's not that like, I think biologically, we're we like people. We just don't like what they do or make us feel or any of that kind of stuff. So when I realized, no. I actually really like people. I just need space from people.
Stef Fournier:Then it's like, yeah. Like, I I I could build communities all day long. Like, that's really what changed for me over the last year. I went from somebody who's like, please leave me alone all the time, which I still have those days. But now, yeah, as you said, like, a big Facebook group of wiener dogs, which is an in person thing.
Stef Fournier:And then, yeah, my online communities, which is, like, we meet together to talk about our personal brands, and we we build content, in person networking, a mastermind. Like, please please just give me another community. I would love that.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And that goes back to that whole, you know, people who have different things paired together. And I love being a part of your community. I genuinely and I don't make all of them but I look forward to some of the events with the people because they are the right people that have been assimilated. I think that that's really part of it because when you're a part of any kind of group where it's just kind of mismatched, it's, there's a bit of a disconnect. So, you know, and you were talking about structure and I think it's important in so many different, I mean, I like structure, but why we need structure all day long.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:But the, you know, it's in terms of, you know, putting yourself out there, whether you're leading a community, whether you're leading a team, whether you're showing up on social media, you know, ultimately, at one point, someone's going to say something or disagree with you. And I think so often we, you know, feel like, oh, it was the wrong direction. And people stop. They they stop going and and Yep. Derailed.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And I think it's tough because you are putting yourself out there, but kind of deciding right from the get go that you're gonna do it anyway.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. Yeah. I love that. And I owning a business is hard. Being friends with people is hard.
Stef Fournier:Life is hard. Right?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And I think to be positive stuff.
Stef Fournier:Well, I'm gonna get I'm gonna switch that. But it's also beautiful. It's also challenging in a good way. It's fun. Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:There's so many amazing opportunities. We get to we we are while it's a stressful time for many, we're living in a very cool time too. Right? Like, we're on a podcast right now just talking about stuff. Right?
Stef Fournier:That's pretty cool. And, I really feel like that's where there's such a big gap in business is just how are you thinking about things. Right? Mhmm. And, like, when people say mindsets, it's not just about, like, journaling and all that kind of stuff.
Stef Fournier:Like, yeah. Like, how are you thinking about things moving forward? What is in your way? Why is it in your way? Mhmm.
Stef Fournier:Is it in your way just because you're, like, you're lazy today or, like, this is some childhood trauma. Right?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:So this year, speaking of childhood trauma, I kept I went to multiple medical professionals then they kept saying I needed to deal with a few things. And everyone kept talking about, like, this EMDR and I should try this out and whatever. And so actually, I'd had this person who I'd been on a marketing sales call with and she had been talking to me about her business and because I was like, what do you do? Like, you know, asking them, like, who do you help? And, like, trying to get the and while she was while we were on the sales call, I'm like, I need this.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Like, this is amazing. And so when now that, you know, the doctor and then the other doctor and is like, oh, you need that. So I was like, I I remember. So, like, it's like a year and a half later and I've like follow-up the 3rd I'm like hey yeah we're gonna go the other way and I gotta come hang out you know. And so, it was really about one specific thing is what how it started and that we were gonna do EMDR about this car accident that I was in and I was like okay this is I was I was going in with a lot of structure.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Turns out when you're doing personal developments sometimes structure is a little less structure. Yeah. And we did all sorts of things but one of the things that we talked about was, this kind of like anxiety and that which just felt normal to me, like worrying and, you know, worrying about what people were thinking or whatnot. We worked through a lot of things and she just she asked a lot of questions. Why do you know, why do you feel that way?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Like what would be another way that you could feel? And it has really shifted my business more that which was totally different direction that I was planning on going because now I seem to just have less feeling about things. And sometimes it is just I kind of think about it as like turning down the volume where it's not everything is for me needs to be so emotional. I'm an overthinker. So Yeah.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:It's, it's very interesting.
Stef Fournier:Overthinkers club. Yeah. And I think I think that's another, like, you know, topic of today is is community. Right? And that is one thing that I really love bringing into community is also, like like, how are you thinking about things.
Stef Fournier:Right? And just bringing some attention to that. And I think I love that you did all that work because it totally shows in your business later. Right? And even, like, you know, the beginning of one of our calls the other day in my group, we were talking, like, okay.
Stef Fournier:Like, we did this, like, visualization of this tree and, like, all these branches and, like, what branches needed to be pruned and all that kind of stuff. And it's surprising how many people just don't stop and just be like, okay. Like, I am overwhelmed. I am anxious. This isn't normal to be, like, this 247, but we feel like it has been.
Stef Fournier:Right? And so, yeah, I love that. And, like, when you told me about that, I was like, yes. Right? It's just so cool.
Stef Fournier:There's so many cool ways of, like, approaching things, and I think we just go so far into the marketing and so far into everything. But having that community space to just say, hey. I'm even I'm struggling a little bit with this, and having somebody be like, okay. Well, what can we do about it? Yeah.
Stef Fournier:Right? Like, my mastermind call yesterday, for example, that was the call. Right? Like, I'm in there with my my, like, few people who are in there, and we're, like one of them said, I can't post. I can't post.
Stef Fournier:I don't wanna post. And rather than just be like, well, just do it, like, what most people say. Yeah. It's, like, let's take a step back. What what is the thing in your in your way here?
Stef Fournier:Yeah. And it ended up being, like, a little bit of an insecurity. Ended up being something from, like, 5 years ago. Just in a quick community conversation. Right?
Stef Fournier:And so Well,
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:it's it's interesting how we really do get in our own heads about lots of different things. And so, you know, one of the things that I work through is kind of the sense of obligation of, you know, and so it's, you know, I was I was saying, oh. And it was in casual conversation. She's like, oh, are you, you know, looking forward to such and such? And I was like, I mean, not really.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And she's like, well, why are you going? I was like, well, because I'm supposed to.
Stef Fournier:Yeah.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And she's like, according to who? And I was like, well, I mean, I just I've just I've always done it that way, which is interesting because that is my worst saying when people when it comes to business. People, you know, do things in a very, you know, out old fashioned outdated way. And I always say, why do we do it this way? And people say, well, because we've always done it that way.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And I'm like, that is terrible. Terrible. And as I was sitting there, I was like, oh, my goodness. It's leaving my mouth. And I was like, that's and so, you know, it's this shift of, like, well, just because it was that way doesn't mean it needs to be that way.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:And so, it's just such an interesting, shift. And so I I stopped doing it. And, you know, nothing nothing. Nobody died.
Stef Fournier:No. Nobody died. No. And that's that's such a good thing. I love I love that that's where things have gone or, like, even, you know, if I I can't do this today.
Stef Fournier:Okay. Cool. Right? There's a there's a little bit more flexibility out there. I'm a believer in the, like, self care with or self care without being selfish mentality, where I love that you said, like, what like, what is this?
Stef Fournier:It's a sense of obligation. Well, why? Right? And if you're like, there's no reason behind it, then cool. But what if you said, well, my friend really depends on me for this.
Stef Fournier:Right? And I I feel like we've actually lost that step a little bit.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Yes.
Stef Fournier:Where let's let's marry both sides. Right? Do I really need to do this? No. Do I does my the person who depends on me really need me to do this?
Stef Fournier:Then yes. Right? And let's just, like, finding that balance and shock balance. Right?
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Well, but, you know, I mean, in everything in business and life, it's that pendulum swing.
Stef Fournier:Yeah.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:It's one way and we're like oh it's not good, it's not good, we're all feeling you know and then it's like whoop we go the other way and you're like oh now we're like letting people down. Yeah. And it's like it's like but it's got to come back to the middle and I think that applies to so many things. It's the you know it's the you've been burnt by a team member. So now you say I'm not hiring.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:I'm doing everything myself because I can do it faster and better myself. And and sure, you you probably can, but you can't grow any bigger because you're still one human. So at one point, you have to take that step or, you know, whether it's, you know, politics or whether it's, you know, different policies or or whatever. It's there's always this, oh, we didn't like this, but then it's the overshoot back to the other way.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. And I really feel like like the start of this this conversation is, like, we've gone from always wanting to just be ourselves, and it's, like, now we're craving that group again. But so many people are scared because they're like, oh, I'm gonna get hurt. Alright? It's like, okay.
Stef Fournier:Well, let's go in it with a little bit more consciousness
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Yes.
Stef Fournier:Around it. Okay. This didn't work for me the last time. What if I do get hurt? Right?
Stef Fournier:What will I do about it? Yeah. What if things go wrong? What will I do about it? Right?
Stef Fournier:Like, I'm a believer in plan a, b, c, d, e, f, g.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Back to that overthinking
Stef Fournier:club. Exactly. But really, it's also releasing that, like, any it's like even just that analogy of love. Right? Like, do you wanna be alone forever?
Stef Fournier:Or do you wanna take a chance that you're gonna meet somebody and it's gonna go bad, but maybe it's gonna be flabbiness. Right? So I feel like let's bring that back to community mindset, where it's like you just need to date around a little bit, find the spaces that work well for you. Maybe you'll get hurt. Maybe you'll maybe you'll you will hurt, or maybe you'll, like, birth the most amazing business you've ever dreamed of.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Oh, that's I think you there's many people in in history that have gone and and have made many unsuccessful things. And then, you know, it was that one decision, the one thing, the change and went on to be wildly successful. And so, you know, it's it's continuing when it, you know, and back to that continuing when it's uncomfortable, but not just in the things that you want to do or not do. But overall, if you are committed to the journey, if you are committed to being a business owner, then it's it's not gonna be a smooth ride. There will be twists and turns and bumps and and so but you gotta you gotta be committed to the to the journey.
Stef Fournier:Yeah. And I cannot say enough of especially recently, especially over the last couple of years of the people who journey with me. Like, even I think of you, like, when some of this personal stuff has happened. Like, we have a business relationship, but we also have a friendship. And I just said, hey, this is going on.
Stef Fournier:And you're like, that sucks. And that's all you needed to hear in that moment. Mhmm. And then other times, it's, like, this is going on. And you're, like, that's fabulous.
Stef Fournier:Right? Yes. And so I love that you've been journeying with me, and it is all about the journey. And I think we need to focus on that a little bit more.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:100%. It's, it can be lonely. And and so as much as even as introvert, even as non people, you know, I don't wanna lead the community, but I genuinely enjoy being a part of your community. So where is it? Where can people find this this community?
Stef Fournier:Community. Okay. So there's a couple things. And for my in person people, like, in Vancouver, we have an in person networking. That's just a little bit of an odd shoot.
Stef Fournier:The big thing I'm really passionate about right now is literally called the soulmate client soulmate client society. Let's get that right stuff. And literally, that's just soulmateclient.com. This is a community that's meant to be so low cost as such an easy yes. We meet twice a month on Zoom, And it's really for the entrepreneur who wants to step into a personal brand, find their soulmate clients, find the people that that gel with them, wanna work on that interpersonal.
Stef Fournier:So, like, I do my thing, you do your thing, and we do it together, and just have a little bit of feedback on everything that they're doing. So that's that's the big thing that I'm working on right now. And then, obviously, there's a mastermind part of that too. But Soul Mate client's the place to hang out.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:Soulmateclient.com. Absolutely. Well, Thank you so much for being here. We're all out of time for today, but the fun doesn't stop here. Make sure to subscribe to the Service Based Business Society podcast on your preferred podcast app.
Tiffany-Ann Bottcher:If you're hanging out over on YouTube, search for Tiffany and Batcher. Your likes, shares, and reviews really do help the show. Until next time. Have a great week.
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