112 - What it Means to Be A "Failure Expert" with Leah Yard of Leah Yard Designs

112 - What it Means to Be A "Failure Expert" with Leah Yard of Leah Yard Designs

Listen in to hear how failure can be your guide!

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE:

On today’s episode, we have an amazing guest, Leah Yard! Founder of the Jewelry Brand Leah Yard Designs, host of the “Voted Least Likely Podcast” and self-proclaimed “Failure Expert.” Leah went from dropping out of high school and working entry-level jobs for over a decade, to accidentally becoming an entrepreneur!

In this conversation, we dive into how Leah had major Imposter syndrome when she first started and felt like she didn’t belong in the fashion industry. She also shares a story of when she hid in the bathroom at her first event and we also talk about the value of building a connection with your community and customers through authenticity.

Connect with Leah:

Podcast Website: www.leahyard.com

The Voted Least Likely Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voted-least-likely/id1633840121?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box

Leah Yard IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahyard/

Leah Yard Designs (Jewellery brand) Website: https://leahyarddesigns.com

Leah Yard Designs IG: https://www.instagram.com/leahyarddesigns/

20% Coupon Just for our Community! Use code: BUSINESSBABES20 at www.leahyarddesigns.com

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Leah reveals her initial struggles with imposter syndrome, feeling like an outsider in the fashion industry. She emphasizes the importance of embracing authenticity and letting go of societal expectations to find your own voice and connect with your target audience.

Starting from Failure

Leah's entrepreneurial journey wasn't smooth sailing from the beginning. She candidly discusses her series of failures and the pivotal moment that led her to launch her jewelry brand. Her story reminds us that setbacks can pave the way for growth and success. Leah's unwavering determination and relentless spirit kept her going, even in the face of challenges and naysayers. She shares how fueling her drive with the desire to prove others wrong can be a powerful motivator, while also emphasizing the importance of reflecting on personal growth and accomplishments along the way.

Authenticity and Connection

Leah's experience highlights the significance of authenticity in business. By embracing her true self and sharing her journey openly, she found her unique community of customers who resonated with her story. She encourages other product-based businesses to recognize the value of vulnerability and the power of connection in building customer loyalty.

The Real Side of Entrepreneurship

Danielle and Leah discuss the misconception that entrepreneurship is all about glamour and perfection. They shed light on the reality of the journey, filled with ups and downs, and stress the importance of celebrating milestones and reflecting on how far you've come.

Leah's story exemplifies the transformative power of authenticity and perseverance in the world of entrepreneurship. By embracing her own unique path and connecting with her audience on a genuine level, Leah has built a successful business and shattered the myth of the "perfect" entrepreneur.

Our Top Business Resources to Support Female Entrepreneurs:

Connect on Instagram:

Connect with Danielle Wiebe @danilivinglife

Connect with Business Babes Collective @businessbabesco

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TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] Danielle: Today on the podcast we have an amazing guest, Leah Yard, who is the founder of the jewelry brand, Leah Yard Designs, and the host of the voted least likely podcast and self-proclaimed failure expert. Leah went from dropping out of high school and working entry level jobs for over a decade to accidentally becoming an entrepreneur.

[00:00:19] I absolutely love our conversation because we dive into how Leah struggled with major imposter syndrome when she first started her business, and she felt like she didn't belong in the fashion industry. She also shares a story of when she hid in the bathroom at her first event, and we also talk about the value of building connection with your community and customers through authenticity.

[00:00:43] I know you are gonna get so much out of this episode. I cannot wait for you to listen in. Before we dive into the episode, though, I have some really exciting news. If you have not heard already, we have two events coming up within our community. So in Vancouver, we are [00:01:00] hosting a holiday networking party and pop-up market on December 8th and in San Diego we are hosting a goal setting and vision board workshop on January 27th.

[00:01:11] To check out both of these events, you can go and grab your tickets or apply to be a vendor or sponsor. So if you want to check out the Vancouver event, go to businessbabescollective.com/vancouver, or you can go to businessbabescollective.com/sanDiego.

[00:01:26] We cannot wait to hang out with you in person. Alright, now it's time for our episode. Let's get started.

[00:01:33] Welcome to the Business Babes Collective podcast. I'm your host, Danielle Wiebe. In this podcast, you'll learn tangible business tips and strategies on how to grow successfully and sustainably. We'll also interview seasoned entrepreneurs so you can listen in on their stories and see behind the scenes of what it took to grow and scale their businesses.

[00:01:55] Let's dive in as we discuss the wild, exciting, crazy challenging, [00:02:00] rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship.

[00:02:03] Welcome, Leah, to the Business Babes Collective podcast. We are so excited to have you here today.

[00:02:08] Leah: Thank you so much for having me, Danielle. I'm absolutely honored to be here.

[00:02:13] Danielle: Awesome. Well, can you just dive in, share with, Who you are, a little bit more about your business and how did you get into this crazy world of entrepreneurship?

[00:02:23] Leah: Totally. I think that's the perfect word to sum it up. My name is Leah. I am the owner and designer behind the brand Leah Yard Designs, which is a demi fine jewelry brand here in Vancouver. I'm also now the host of the voted least likely podcast, which is a very new adventure for me and that started basically because I got a little bit tired of seeing overly curated feeds and just this whole kind of unrealistic myth about entrepreneurship.

[00:02:54] And you know, I, I've always said I'm sort of the least likely person to have ended up in the fashion industry, and I [00:03:00] felt so much like an imposter in there. So the podcast started kind of after a series of fa, of failures in my business. And then I just needed a creative outlet and I wanted to be the person to make people feel less alone on their journey. Because I'm not the right person to tell you how to be successful, there's way better people for that than me, but I'm definitely here to hold your hand along the way, let you know it's okay, and you're not broken .

[00:03:25] And yes, it should feel very hard. So that's been a really fulfilling project. And the jewelry business started, I registered in 2013,, but it really has been like a series of failures.

[00:03:37] And it took probably right before the pandemic, probably a year and a half before that where I finally got my stride. And it was, you know, on the side of a lot of part-time jobs. There was a lot of retail, dish washing, janitor work, all that stuff. And it was very much a side hustle for a very long time. And then eventually I just took the leap. But it's not as glamorous as it, as it [00:04:00] sounds.

[00:04:00] Danielle: Yeah.

[00:04:01] Leah: And I love it, but it just, it's been a pretty, as you said, like a crazy, crazy journey. This whole entrepreneurship thing is just not for the faint of heart.

[00:04:09] Danielle: Yeah, I'd love that. Well, thank you for sharing so openly and honestly about that. I would love to hear what originally made you. Kind of inspired to start your own business in the first place?

[00:04:21] Leah: It, I feel like it kind of happened accidentally. I'm definitely not a born entrepreneur. I never in my life dreamed of having a business. I'm a high school drop pot. I just never had these big dreams or anything.

[00:04:35] And I kind of like all through my twenties, I was mostly in just sort of, Survival mode. I was just working, you know, entry level jobs and I had always made jewelry on the side and loved it. And then I started seeing these unicorns out there, these independent designers, and it was just, once you saw it was possible, then I thought, I don't know, I kind of wanna just try it.

[00:04:55] But it's sort of crazy because, I don't like to say this all the time because I don't want [00:05:00] people to go into something with this mindset, but I genuinely thought I would fail. Like I didn't expect it to work and I had a lot of people tell me it wasn't gonna work, and I feel like I just, there was just something in me like I just needed to try and it was almost like I needed to prove that I would fail in a weird way. It was sort of like, just gotta try it and cease and I can at least put it outta my mind and move on to the next thing.

[00:05:23] But then once I started doing it, I just got this like taste for growing the business and it's so thrilling. I mean, there's ups and downs, but it is such a wild journey. And once you gain momentum and get progress, I mean there's no high like it, like it's just so fun.

[00:05:39] Danielle: Yeah. Well, yeah, I think, I think you're describing, yeah, the journey of entrepreneurship so, so well because , it's so true. It's like you go into it not really knowing what to expect, but you have this idea, or you have this potential vision that you have for what you want it to look like, and then you kind of start and, and even though it's really challenging, like even though there's so many [00:06:00] reasons why maybe that like you should give up.

[00:06:03] Leah: Yes.

[00:06:04] Danielle: You just can't, like, it's almost like you, you can't give up. And I've shared on this podcast before, so people that have been listening to podcasts for a while about like the seasons of my business, and this has happened a few different times, several times.

[00:06:18] Leah: Mm-hmm.

[00:06:19] Danielle: actually, where I've come to kind of like these crossroads where it's like, okay, I could either give up right now because this is really, really hard or I can keep going and what do I wanna do?

[00:06:29] And I, I think, I would love to hear from you what has kept you going in the times, cuz you were saying, had a lot of ups and downs and failures

[00:06:38] Leah: Yeah.

[00:06:38] Danielle: And those kind of things. What has actually kept you continuing to, to build the business?

[00:06:44] Leah: I think there's a few things. I think firstly, I'm very, I'm relentless. Like I just have this,

[00:06:49] Danielle: yeah.

[00:06:50] Leah: This feistiness. I'm very relentless, so I can't let something go. That's one thing. I think there's some maybe not so good things that keep me going. Like when you think about the people that [00:07:00] told you that you couldn't, like sometimes we sort of dig into that darker side, which honestly like it is fuel, right?

[00:07:06] It's, trying to prove somebody who told you you couldn't, that you could. I mean, it is fuel. I don't stay in that dark energy for long.

[00:07:13] Danielle: Yeah.

[00:07:13] Leah: But, on those days, I do tap in and I think it's just when you're in it, you forget how far you've come. And I think so often we're always, we're visionaries, so we're always looking ahead at the next thing.

[00:07:28] And you can't help but compare yourself because that's kind of how you get inspiration. But then when you do that, you're comparing yourself often to people that are miles ahead of you. But I think it's so important, like when I get really stuck, I just have to look back and think like, well, remember that other thing you overcame?

[00:07:43] Remember that other obstacle? Or even if it's something that like feels familiar and feels awful again, it's like, well, Remember that you've already done this. Like you've already overcome that. And I feel like every time we overcome this hurdle, you get a little stronger and then you prove to yourself that you can do it.

[00:07:59] I [00:08:00] mean, I feel like entrepreneurship is like personal development 1 0 1.

[00:08:03] Danielle: Yeah.

[00:08:03] Leah: Like it's just, and so I think

[00:08:05] Danielle: totally

[00:08:05] Leah: it, it just, you really have to reflect on the journey in that. I think that's been a huge portion of what's just kept me going is just looking back every once in a while and being like, oh, okay, yeah, may, maybe I can do this, you know, maybe I can over overcome this next thing.

[00:08:19] Yeah.

[00:08:20] Danielle: Yeah. I love that. And so tell us a little bit about kind of the beginning phases of, of growing your business. I know you've shared with me just a little bit about how you felt imposter syndrome and you kind of felt like, you know, you said you're least likely , um, to, to become an entrepreneur, so tell me a little bit about beginning stages of your business and getting into the entrepreneurial world and what was that experience like? And what were some of the mindset shifts maybe that you had to have during that time?

[00:08:51] Leah: Totally. It, it was really hard. I mean, the fashion industry is one that really values prestige and glamor, and I really like fancy things, but I am [00:09:00] not a fancy person. Like I'm a beer and nachos kind of gal. So

[00:09:03] Danielle: yes,

[00:09:03] Leah: you know, it was really like trying to fit. Sort of elitist kind of vibe, and that's just not me. So at the beginning, especially, and I still struggle a lot with imposter syndrome, but at the beginning especially, it was, I felt like nobody in that industry was showing all the real stuff.

[00:09:21] It was always just this kind of fake, it's just so unattainable and like nobody makes, makes mistakes and nobody has pores on their face and whatever.

[00:09:31] Danielle: Right.

[00:09:32] Leah: and I remember starting and just, you know, you're already overwhelmed with starting a business. It's, it's so scary and so overwhelming. And then on top of that, just as that expectation to look perfect the entire time doing it.

[00:09:44] Danielle: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:09:46] Leah: And it just, you know, and then you add social media and all that in there and it's really hard. So at the beginning, I just kind of, Reminded myself to keep it simple. I started online and that was a way for me to kind of dip [00:10:00] my toes in. I had the platform, but I didn't start doing, you know, any in-person events or anything like that until years later.

[00:10:07] And again, this is why it's taken me so long because I really, baby- stepped my way, but personally I needed to, like, I wasn't ready to kind of go out there and play this sort of part that I thought I had to play. And I think that that is, So often is the root of imposter syndrome is that we have these expectations.

[00:10:26] It's the story that we're telling ourselves of what we think we should be. Like, to me, a jewelry designer does not look like me, does not talk like me, doesn't, doesn't eat beer and nachos. You know, like that's this story that I have in my mind, that it's this fabulous person who's always, you know, got themselves put together and all that.

[00:10:44] And I mean, nobody is that.

[00:10:46] Danielle: Yeah.

[00:10:46] Leah: And the other thing is like who, who is my customer base? Who is my community? Because the people that I connect with aren't those people. The people that buy from my brand, you know, they aren't that sort of looking for that elitist [00:11:00] kind of. Vibe so I think so often when we get hung up, I was definitely hung up on this story.

[00:11:06] I was telling myself of what I was supposed to be, and as soon as I let that go, things really started to turn around and I started just sharing more, being more real on social media and my business grew. I mean, they always say, right, just be yourself,

[00:11:22] Danielle: yes.

[00:11:23] Leah: It's so true. Like as soon as you're more authentic and you kind of find your groove and you're comfortable, it puts other people at ease.

[00:11:30] And then all of a sudden you have customers that support you because they love you. You know?

[00:11:36] Danielle: Yeah.

[00:11:36] Leah: And it's, it jives with them.

[00:11:38] Danielle: Yeah. It's so interesting. I find that like when people tell me like, oh, I found I found you or found your podcast, whatever that is, The biggest thing that they always say is, oh, I listened to this episode and I love that you shared this specifically about, you know, something. It, it'll usually have to do with something that I shared that's like super vulnerable [00:12:00] or, you know, way that I, yeah, failed or like something, and that's what they really resonated with. It's not the, you know, inspiring story of this, this, or that.

[00:12:09] And I also find that even in when I'm interviewing people, like people wanna hear the struggle and people wanna hear totally because it's real and it's what they can relate to. So I think like that. And it goes for any business, like you said, like you are a jewelry brand. And some might say like, well, people don't really, you know, I have a product-based business. People don't wanna hear about me.

[00:12:33] Like people don't wanna hear about my struggles or like anything. They just wanna see the product and that's all that they care about. So I would love for you to maybe speak to those people because maybe that was, that was you at the beginning kind of thinking that maybe people didn't wanna hear from you. So can you

[00:12:50] Leah: definitely

[00:12:50] Danielle: share, like what do you think for especially product-based businesses or maybe just businesses that are kind of trying to almost put up this front of [00:13:00] everything is perfect, everything is, nothing is wrong. Would love to hear your perspective on that.

[00:13:05] Leah: I, I think it is so important, and I think things have really changed, especially in the last couple years, just with social media being over the top and, you know, we've, we've seen perfection now.

[00:13:15] We've seen every single version that there is of perfection. I, I don't need to see another cellulite free bikini body on a beach. Like, I just don't need that anymore. I'm, I'm maxed out. You know. Nothing wrong with it. I've, I've hit my max on that. I think people are just craving that personal connection and consumers have changed.

[00:13:32] I, I think it is so much more important. People wanna know who they're buying from. Like, a huge thing for me is if I go to somebody's Instagram page or their website, I wanna see a face. I wanna know who this person is. I wanna know like something about them, because if it's all just beautifully curated and everything's perfect, like you said, I, I don't know.

[00:13:52] Is this even a person? Is there even a team here is, you know, and I think I, I just think things have really changed so much in the [00:14:00] last couple years. People are way more intentional about who they're supporting and where their money is going. And I love that change. I think that's wonderful. And I think product-based businesses really need to include them in their marketing.

[00:14:14] And you don't have to share, like I share a lot. I'm a pretty open book. You don't have to go as far as everybody thinks I go, but, but you need to give people a sense of, you are a person, there's something about you, and you don't have to have some wonderful, elaborate, you know, some rags to riches story.

[00:14:35] It just has to be relatable in something that like, yeah, I'm human too. Right? Like I think especially during the pandemic, we were so focused on being on our screens. And we just are now craving that human connection that we just need to know it's a person. And you know, people buy from people.

[00:14:52] They don't buy, and especially in saturated markets like jewelry, there's a billion jewelry brands out there. Like I, [00:15:00] I'm not the best jewelry brand. I, I'm definitely not. You know, people buy from me because they like me and they like what I do and how I do it. And that's what I always try to tell people too, is like, nobody can do what you're doing the way you're doing it.

[00:15:12] but that's what you have to show people that you are a person doing it your way. Um, I think things, you know, have changed and I see a lot of brands making that shift, but the ones that are getting stuck behind just can't let go of that perfectionist thing.

[00:15:26] Danielle: Right.

[00:15:26] Leah: And I totally get it, but it's. It's forgettable.

[00:15:30] That's, I think the main thing. There's nothing you're gonna, we remember stories, right? We don't, we're not gonna remember a beautiful photo shoot like in the same way.

[00:15:40] Danielle: Absolutely. Absolutely. And it's always, and it's so funny cuz it's, I, I feel like social media is shifting in that way too. Like, I feel like the things that people most wanna see often are the pie in the scenes and obviously reels are really popular right now. And

[00:15:54] Leah: yeah.

[00:15:54] Danielle: Kind of like people are looking for content that's not necessarily just that perfect [00:16:00] photo or that perfect high produced video.

[00:16:03] Leah: Yes.

[00:16:03] Danielle: Whatever that is, right? Like, and I think there's, there's a way that you can showcase your products or your services in a way, but then mix in some of that more personal content.

[00:16:14] Leah: Yes.

[00:16:14] Danielle: Too, which is great. And also just let people know more about you. And I think that's a really good point because. I find that whenever I usually find a brand and I go to their website, I mean, it might be also, I might be a bit biased because of what I do.

[00:16:30] I'm always wanting to know like who's behind the brand, but

[00:16:33] Leah: yes, totally.

[00:16:34] Danielle: I do know that a lot of other people do this too, that when they're going on a website, they're like trying to find, well, like who's behind this? Like if they can't see faces or names, they're kind of like, well, who, who is this? Like, I wanna know more.

[00:16:47] Leah: Yeah.

[00:16:47] Danielle: About actually who, who produces these products or who, like who is the founder? And so I think people miss out on that opportunity to, to connect And

[00:16:58] Leah: yes.

[00:16:58] Danielle: What I really love, and this is [00:17:00] something I'm like, oh, I need to actually do this myself, but uh, what I really love is when people have really personalized things on their website, like, Even like when I see, like for example, and I don't know, maybe you do have this on your website, but like the fact that you're like, oh, I'm a, I'm a beer and nachos kind of girl.

[00:17:16] I'm like, yes. Like that's something you should have like on your about me page, you know, because it's like, then I'm like, well, I love beer and nachos too, so obviously now we're more connected. You know what I mean?

[00:17:27] Leah: Yes, totally. Totally.

[00:17:28] Danielle: I, I, I think that what you said about brands wanting to have that perfectionist sort of thing, or they're tr or maybe they're just trying to be somebody else. It's, it's only gonna work for a certain amount of time.

[00:17:40] Leah: Mm-hmm.

[00:17:41] Danielle: and then people are just gonna kind of be bored with it. Right?

[00:17:44] Leah: A hundred percent.

[00:17:44] Danielle: So yeah. I would love to hear your, cuz I know I heard a little bit about your first experience going to an event because you said you kind of were like dipping your toes and you were online, you [00:18:00] didn't really want to maybe connect in person with people cuz maybe it made you nervous. So tell us about that first event. What did it look like? What was your experience?

[00:18:09] Leah: This is so funny. I, I know exactly what you're talking about. um, so I had done a couple of like tiny little market things, but my first like legit event was this sort of conference style event, and it was, It had like Empower or empowering women or something in the title.

[00:18:28] I don't remember what it was, but I remember like signing up thinking like, okay, I'm gonna do this. But right out the gate, like just that title in itself, I felt so out of place. I just felt like, who do I think I am to be anywhere in relation to a title like Empowering Women ? It felt so unworthy of that title.

[00:18:47] So right away I'd like set myself up, kind of like for failure in a sense. And then I'm there at this event and I just remember it kind of just, I mean, for one, I'm really introverted, so doing these kinds of things, [00:19:00] it takes a lot out of me. It it,

[00:19:02] Danielle: right.

[00:19:02] Leah: I like being introverted. It definitely has, its, its, um, perks to it, but, It just, it takes a lot to do this.

[00:19:09] So I am at this event and there's all these women and it just, everybody just looked and sounded perfect, you know? And just everyone had their, like, their pitch and their like perfect Aritzia outfit and their like, everything just seemed so, you know, got perfume and makeup. They just seemed so put together.

[00:19:28] They were what I was kind of thinking I should be or look like because I'm the designer kind of thing. And I just remember, you know, set up my booth and that. And I don't remember, I think just people, enough people had come in and you know, when you're in that kind of event, like the energy sort of builds and I could just feel this and I just kind of had a panic attack and I went and I hid in the washroom.

[00:19:51] Danielle: Awww.

[00:19:52] Leah: My God. And I honestly, I don't know how long I was in there, but I just had, was suffering from the worst case of [00:20:00] imposter syndrome. And I remember just looking at myself in the mirror and just like repeating, what are you doing here? How are you gonna get out of this kind of thing?

[00:20:07] Danielle: Right.

[00:20:09] Leah: and I could even hear the event when I'm in there. It just sounded, everyone's so excited and networking and, and so confident, and I just felt like this little rat in the washroom. It was terrible. So I remember just kind of slinking back to my booth and just thinking, I just couldn't even leave from behind the table.

[00:20:27] I just stayed there and it's funny because, again, this is where we are just so in our own heads because, first of all, I, I guarantee you there was somebody else feeling exactly what I was feeling there.

[00:20:37] Danielle: Yes.

[00:20:37] Leah: That was feeling out of place, like it was a room full of very powerful, important women. Like these women were great. And so there would be somebody, if not everybody, that felt that a little bit.

[00:20:50] Danielle: Yeah.

[00:20:50] Leah: Um, and the other thing that's, so I've just remembered this so vividly, cuz there was one woman that came up to my booth. [00:21:00] I always joke that I think she probably just smelt my fear, and came up and she was so kind and so gracious and just chatted and we, we just chatted a little bit and immediately it put me at ease because all of a sudden this gigantic event that to me meant everybody was perfect and everything except me was perfect, all of a sudden it was human again.

[00:21:20] Cuz there was this person that was in front of me and we could connect and you know it just, it's that thing where we create this reality in our minds so often that isn't actually true. It's just what we're experiencing and maybe we have a feeling and then we turn that into this story that's not actually happening. It's not, it's not really what's going on. Um, And I remember talking to her and I still didn't come up from under my, from around my table for the rest of the event, but I did, I was able to, you know, talk to other people after that.

[00:21:53] Danielle: And you survived it? You survived your event!.

[00:21:56] Leah: I survived it, yeah. It's so funny and like, [00:22:00] I still do, like this year will be the first year doing, you know, events and that again, which is really exciting. And since that time, I've done tons and it, I'm fine now, I don't hide anymore, but I still get really nervous and I still, you know, still get that imposter syndrome and or feel intimidated by other people or whatever.

[00:22:17] Like that is just part of the gig. But I think in that, I learned so much at that one big failure. Because I learned to just keep it. If you can find that one-on-one connection, it makes such a difference. Find somebody to connect with. And also, the way I was thinking and the way I was sort of acting at that event was kind of self-involved.

[00:22:36] Like I was so consumed with how I looked and how I was acting, and assuming everybody's judging me, which nobody cares for the most part. Like nobody cares. And, you know, instead of focusing on other people and asking other people questions, being curious about somebody else, instead of just so consumed with my own stuff that's rattling around.

[00:22:57] So I'm really grateful for that [00:23:00] experience.

[00:23:00] Danielle: Yeah.

[00:23:00] Leah: Even though I've got some scars.

[00:23:02] Danielle: Yeah. Man, thank you for sharing that, because I think there's definitely people listening being like, yep, that's exactly me, or that has been me before. Or I can't even, like, I haven't even been to an event, cuz that's, I know that's gonna be me.

[00:23:19] Leah: Yeah.

[00:23:20] Danielle: So thank you for sharing that. And it's so funny because I always, we obviously pre pandemic, we were doing events all the time.

[00:23:27] Leah: Yes.

[00:23:27] Danielle: We're starting to implement events now, uh, back into our business. One of the biggest things that I would hear from people that really wanted to come, but they're like, I'm not gonna know anyone.

[00:23:38] Leah: Mm-hmm.

[00:23:39] Danielle: everyone's gonna know each other. I'm gonna feel left out, I'm gonna feel, and all these things. And I always say to people, everyone else in the room is feeling the exact same

[00:23:49] Leah: yeah.

[00:23:49] Danielle: Way. And it might be really hard to believe that, but it's true.

[00:23:55] Leah: Yeah.

[00:23:55] Danielle: I get really nervous for my own events, like I'm nervous [00:24:00] to host my own events.

[00:24:01] Leah: Yeah.

[00:24:01] Danielle: And so I think it's important to realize that everyone has those insecurities or things that they're kind of worried that other people are thinking or whatever that is. And so like you said, like if you can just flip it and be like, I'm gonna connect with one other person, right?

[00:24:19] And even with like public speaking, done a lot of public speaking, I get really nervous every single time. But I try to remind myself, I'm speaking to one other person at a time because there's a room of people, yes. But it's as if I can just speak to one other person. And so if I can just like remember that and remember like everyone's humanity, and be like everyone else

[00:24:39] Leah: totally

[00:24:39] Danielle: feeling this, you know? And if I make a mistake, it's not a big deal.

[00:24:44] Leah: Yes.

[00:24:44] Danielle: And just take that pressure off of yourself and Yeah. I think it's so, so key cuz you're right, we are so worried about what other people think about us, but really. Everyone else is thinking about themselves.

[00:24:56] Leah: Totally.

[00:24:56] Danielle: So it, it just becomes this funny thing where, you [00:25:00] know, if we could just get outside of ourselves a little bit and just focus on connecting, uh, with one other person, I think that's so, but, and just like you can even break the ice and be like, Hey, have you ever been to one of these events before? I'm really nervous to be here.

[00:25:14] Leah: Totally.

[00:25:14] Danielle: And other person's probably like, yeah, same. Like I don't know what, I'm

[00:25:17] Leah: totally

[00:25:17] Danielle: doing here. I'm not sure. So if you can just kind of break the ice, I think that's when you can like really connect with, with another person, which is great. Oh, I love that. can you share with us, I have love this conversation so, so much and can you share with us, within your entrepreneurial journey, what are you the most proud of? What have you accomplished or done that, that you're proud of?

[00:25:42] Leah: I think, honestly, I think surviving the, the pandemic was like, I really can't believe we did it. Like,

[00:25:50] Danielle: yes.

[00:25:50] Leah: You know, I just, there were so many times I really seriously thought about quitting, like, and not just, you know, thought, oh, like I really started researching how to close [00:26:00] your business, like Googling, how do I close, like, I was very serious about, you know, just throwing in the towel. It was so incredibly stressful and you know, it had gone from doing all these in-person events to only online and I was lucky that I already had the online presence, but you know, it was not prepared for none of us were prepared for just lockdown and, and all of that.

[00:26:21] And yeah, I think just overcoming that because it's funny, even that story of me hiding in the washroom, I feel like the things I worried about at that time, are so different than the things I worry about now. And you know, it just, that resiliency has just grown so much just due to the fact that we've been through so much over the last couple years, right?

[00:26:41] And there's definitely some silver linings in there. I, I don't, would really not like to go through that again.

[00:26:46] Danielle: Absolutely.

[00:26:48] Leah: But I, I think, yeah, just overcoming that and pushing through and, you know, just getting back up. I know that's not like the fanciest sounding accomplishment. But yeah, I think people underestimate the [00:27:00] things you see people celebrated for and all that.

[00:27:03] That's great. And like accolades and all that. Those are wonderful things, but it's the stuff that, you know, when you go to bed at night, that stuff doesn't really matter. It's, it's the knowing that, you know, what you kind of overcame or how you handled yourself in a, a meeting or how you, you know, maybe you didn't have a meltdown when something didn't work out right, or whatever.

[00:27:21] Just it was little, it's that again, that personal development piece that I think people don't really realize that's kind of what entrepreneurship is, is just constantly molding yourself and getting more resilient and, and just keeping at it.

[00:27:33] Danielle: Yeah. Well, and I appreciate that so much because I think a lot of people end up quitting their businesses or, or maybe not even trying because they're wondering like, why is this so hard for me?

[00:27:46] Leah: Yeah.

[00:27:46] Danielle: Why does it feel easy for everybody else? Why am I struggling so much to make this happen? And that is just complete lies and, you know, it's so interesting cuz I work with people all the time, obviously, like one-on-one [00:28:00] and in group settings.

[00:28:01] But something that I, I notice is that people will say, Yeah, I don't know. There's something wrong with me or like, I don't know what's, why I can't figure this out. And it's like, it's not you, it's, everyone struggles with this, everyone. And I think we need to hear that more and more because it's so, so important.

[00:28:22] And that's why I'm so, I'm so excited for you and your podcast and what you're talking about because

[00:28:27] Leah: Thank you.

[00:28:27] Danielle: I think it's just so important to recognize we normally, like you said, we compare ourselves to the unicorn businesses, right?

[00:28:35] Leah: Yes.

[00:28:35] Danielle: That's one in a million business. But then we think like, well, why can't, why couldn't I accomplish that in six months or whatever it is.

[00:28:43] Leah: Totally, totally.

[00:28:44] Danielle: And we're not really being realistic. And we're not actually, yeah, going through the personal development and all of those things that are necessary for, for us to actually experience that success. So thank you for coming on.

[00:28:56] Thank you so much for sharing your story, sharing [00:29:00] your journey. Can you please share with us where we can connect with you, where we can find out about your jewelry, your podcast, all the things.

[00:29:08] Leah: Totally. So I am, I'm officially in so many places now.

[00:29:12] Danielle: Yay!

[00:29:13] Leah: And so for the jewelry side, you can find me at leahyarddesigns.com. I also have a studio here in Vancouver, so you can come and shop the studio and then Instagram, same thing @LeahYardDesigns. And then the podcast is the voted least likely podcast and that you can find anywhere you listen to podcasts. And then I have a personal Instagram that is kind of linked to that, which is just @LeahYard, and that's where I share a little more of the raw stuff, the stuff I can't post on the, on the jewelry page.

[00:29:44] A little more fun, a little more cheeky. It's a little, a little less polished. So, and then I'm on TikTok, which has been so fun and such a refreshing new little nugget on the internet. I just love that space. It's, it's very, it's it's, I feel like it's made for me. Just, you know,

[00:29:59] Danielle: I [00:30:00] love it.

[00:30:00] Leah: Come as you are kind of thing, but yeah, I would love for people to connect and yeah. And thank you so much Danielle for having me. This is just like a dream come true. I love this show and it's such an honor to be on it.

[00:30:11] Danielle: Oh, thank you so much. I appreciate you. Well, thank you so much. And yeah, for anyone listening, go check out Leah and check out her podcast and her jewelry. It is absolutely beautiful. So definitely check it out and yeah, thank you so much. Before you go, I wanted to share something super exciting.

[00:30:28] So Leah actually gave our community a specific discount code in order to use in her jewelry shop. So you can use BUSINESSBABES20 all caps, BUSINESSBABES20 to get 20% off anything in her shop.

[00:30:44] So you can go to leahyarddesigns.com and check out all of her gorgeous jewelry and get 20% off just for being a listener. So thank you so much, Leah, for hooking us up.

[00:30:58] If you love this episode, [00:31:00] make sure you screenshot, post and tag us on Instagram @businessbabesco. Want to know when the next episode goes live? Subscribe on your podcast app and while you're there, leave us a review. Until next time, keep dreaming big, setting goals, and taking action.

Danielle Wiebe