1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,840 Welcome to the Why Not Today podcast, where we celebrate courage, determination, and the 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,080 power of saying, why not today? 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:13,240 I'm your host, Leslie Cain, and in each episode, we dive into inspiring stories of individuals 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:18,520 who have taken bold steps, face their fears, and embrace the possibility of today. 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:23,440 From entrepreneurs, artists, dreamers, and doers, we explore the moments when they said, 6 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,640 enough waiting, why not today? 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:31,160 Join me as we uncover the heartwarming, the audacious, and the transformative, whether 8 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:36,320 it's pursuing a lifelong passion, overcoming obstacles, or simply choosing joy, or guest 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,040 share their journey and inspire us all. 10 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,640 I started this podcast in honor of my father, Patrick Cain, who often did say, why not today? 11 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:48,240 And remember, you're just one decision away from changing your life. 12 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:49,240 And welcome, Courtney. 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,920 Courtney is my guest today, and a new friend of mine. 14 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,920 So I'm excited to have her on the podcast today. 15 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,240 And I always talk about where we connect and where we met. 16 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:04,920 So I went to a rest and chamber event that Northwest Federal Credit Union sponsored, and 17 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,680 she was there and just loved your energy. 18 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:14,840 And I've been paying attention, and I just, my last podcast episode talked about my why 19 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:16,160 not today scavenger hunt. 20 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:19,760 And I'm really paying attention to the people that I meet in their energy. 21 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:24,160 And so Met Courtney connected, and then it was funny, I was talking to my sister, and 22 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:29,200 she was like, oh, I met this person, Courtney, and she's doing this and that. 23 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,560 And then another friend of mine, Karen, told me about she met this person, Courtney. 24 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,400 And so it's just kind of fun just to see all of a sudden the connections. 25 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:42,080 And like, you don't live in our backyard at rest, and you're in DC, which, you know, not 26 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,360 that far, but it's not here. 27 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,240 And I think we are teasing you, like, I think I sent you an email about I heard you're coming 28 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,800 to network night, and I know you don't have a car, so I'm picking up the metro. 29 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,680 I'm not stalking you, it's just my sister. 30 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,280 Between the two of us, we know so many people. 31 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:59,440 So it's fun to have you here, have you as a new friend. 32 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:04,800 And I think I mentioned you look in your mannerisms and so much are like my friend, Julia, who 33 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:06,520 did stop stand up comedy. 34 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,680 So I've got to connect you guys because you'd be fast friends. 35 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:10,000 Yes, I would love to. 36 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,560 And I just have to say that was my first ever rest in chamber event. 37 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,520 And it was a phenomenal event on women's leadership. 38 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,480 It was fantastic. 39 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:25,240 And I met all of the people you mentioned, plus others, and I feel so embraced by the 40 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:26,440 rest in community. 41 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:27,440 I love it. 42 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:31,800 In fact, I'm spending most of my week in rest. 43 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,880 Yesterday, I will be there today for lunch with Karen. 44 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,840 I will be there tomorrow for the networking and I will be at your luncheon on Thursday. 45 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,840 So I just love, love what I've found out there. 46 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:44,840 So it's great. 47 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,360 Well, yeah, well, if you need a ride from the metro on Thursday, I won't keep your phone 48 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:49,360 there. 49 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,080 Wednesday, let me know. 50 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:53,600 So Courtney, let's get to know you. 51 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:59,840 Tell us a little about who Courtney is and a fast, a fun fact about you. 52 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,280 Okay, who am I? 53 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:03,280 Let's see. 54 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:09,520 Well, I'm an adventurer by nature and very curious person. 55 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:15,960 I have spent most of my career in international development working around the world in amazing 56 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,480 places and I've been to over 100 countries. 57 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,480 What's your favorite? 58 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:22,980 Do you have a favorite? 59 00:03:22,980 --> 00:03:30,360 I do not have a favorite because every place is so different and I think what I love often 60 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:35,920 most is the surprise of falling in love with a place that you don't think you'll fall in 61 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:36,920 love with. 62 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:41,200 Like when I first went to China, I kind of went for a school class, a business school 63 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:45,640 class and I kind of forced myself to go because I didn't think I would really like it. 64 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,320 I don't know what I had in mind and I completely fell in love with China. 65 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,720 I was just there for three weeks and I got back to business school, started taking Mandarin 66 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:58,880 and went back and studied in Beijing for a semester and ended up working quite a bit 67 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,440 in China at a later date. 68 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:07,640 So most of my career in international development across multiple sectors, many geographies 69 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:13,000 and it's just been quite a journey and I've made some changes. 70 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:20,480 I left my last sort of big executive nonprofit job at the German Marshall Fund to start my 71 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,840 consulting company Laughing Matters to unleash the power of thunder. 72 00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:25,400 We're going to talk about that in a minute. 73 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:32,040 Yeah, so we won't go into that and I'm also an executive recruiter but I'm just an adventurer 74 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:37,280 and I consider myself a global citizen who really cares about making the world a better 75 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:38,280 place. 76 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:39,280 Love that. 77 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:46,360 And I would say then we'll talk about this later as my dad but yeah, a lot like my dad's 78 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:47,360 philosophies. 79 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:48,360 One fun fact. 80 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:49,360 Oh yeah, fun fact. 81 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:56,920 A fun fact is that I have taught a trainer of trainers of aerobics instructors in Cure 82 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:58,920 in the song. 83 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:02,000 Okay, that is kind of fun. 84 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,000 Well, you have that in common with Karen. 85 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,720 I don't know if you know that. 86 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,120 I do not know that. 87 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,760 Okay, so you have to ask her about it. 88 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:12,760 She used to teach water aerobics. 89 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:17,000 I've been doing aerobics for 15 years. 90 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:22,680 I paid for my post-college url trip on aerobics money. 91 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:24,560 Yeah, that's funny. 92 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:30,560 Yeah, she used to and another fun connection we'll pull back together at the end. 93 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:31,560 So yay. 94 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,720 And I don't know, can you hear the banging above me? 95 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,440 No, not at all. 96 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,840 I live in a concrete building and they're doing construction. 97 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:40,840 So this is where I wish I was editing, but I don't know how I'd get rid of that. 98 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:42,640 So I'm glad you can't hear it. 99 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,520 Okay, so what is courage mean to you, Courtney? 100 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:53,200 I've been thinking about this and I think for me personally, courage is about taking 101 00:05:53,200 --> 00:06:05,200 a leap into the unknown and trying something that you don't know what to expect that you 102 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:09,120 may or may not succeed or you may not enjoy. 103 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:17,600 Okay, so true, but we got to be courageous and I think you with your travels worldwide, 104 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:22,520 it takes courage to go to all those places and trying new places. 105 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,200 Did you often travel with a group or by yourself? 106 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:27,200 Both. 107 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:33,200 So I've done a lot of both and I've traveled a lot on my own also for pleasure. 108 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:40,920 Yeah, and I think that is a skill and that takes courage that a lot of people wouldn't 109 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:41,920 do that. 110 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:42,920 Yes. 111 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:47,560 But you know, I've done the same thing and love it. 112 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,560 I remember one time I was going to the beach and a friend was supposed to go and backed 113 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:51,560 out the last minute. 114 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,120 I'm like, wait a minute, I'm single. 115 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:54,960 I live by myself. 116 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:56,720 And I travel for business by myself. 117 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:57,720 Right. 118 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,400 Like, why can't I go on vacation by myself? 119 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:04,400 I'm like, you know, it was kind of pleasurable and nice that, you know, I could eat ice cream 120 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,400 for dinner or read a book when I wanted or there was nobody else's agenda. 121 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:09,400 Exactly. 122 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:10,400 Exactly. 123 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:16,640 A lot of fun and you never, you, I feel like when you travel alone, you are more because 124 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:20,680 you're alone, you're more open to meeting people that you otherwise might not meet or 125 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,880 having experiences. 126 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:27,000 My nephew who will be 30 this month or next month. 127 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:34,000 He, when COVID happened, he decided that he didn't want to live here in a virtual, he 128 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,880 worked virtually, business wise, he could work remote. 129 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:43,360 And so he moved to San Diego and literally bought a surfboard before bed. 130 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,720 And so, and he's been traveling all by himself a lot. 131 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:51,280 I think even before then he went to Europe, he just booked a flight and he says he just 132 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:55,360 goes to a bar and has dinner and meets new friends and has just met great friends. 133 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,920 I think, yeah, you're forced to learn to meet people. 134 00:07:58,920 --> 00:07:59,920 Yeah. 135 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:04,280 You know, being one of six kids I remember going on vacation and my parents are like, 136 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:05,560 you guys never make other friends. 137 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,520 I'm like, we didn't have to, we had our own little posse. 138 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:09,520 Right. 139 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,000 So I said so many of us. 140 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,680 So something said to that. 141 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:17,200 So, all right, so you've had lots of jobs, but you've started something on your own and 142 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:23,960 that's really what is my sweet spot for women these days is that we're being bold and being 143 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,720 courageous and like, you know what, I want to do something for me. 144 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:33,200 So was there a moment where you decided, and I'm calling it my why not say moment where 145 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,000 you knew that it was time to make a change or you want to start this business or it was 146 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,160 like over time or was there just that one moment where you remember where you were, what 147 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,800 you were doing that in like, enough is enough. 148 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:46,600 Like let's do this. 149 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,880 Yeah, that's, that's an interesting question. 150 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:56,840 I think it had been, you know, over time and really the whole laughing matters thing came 151 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,520 to me over time. 152 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:04,360 And it was a why not today kind of moment when I decided I was going to try stand up comedy 153 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:05,360 at all. 154 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:13,480 So I was in London, I had just left Holland and a large international development organization 155 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:19,800 and I was trying to figure out my next steps and I had somebody had told me once, I think 156 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:20,800 you should perform. 157 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:25,680 So I was in London, I was like, well, I'm looking for a job, but I might as well, I don't know, 158 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:27,520 let's take some stand up classes. 159 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:35,680 So I just did and I signed up that very day and really fell in love with it and started 160 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:42,600 then already thinking about my gosh, when you go to comedy school, all these things 161 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,640 that you're learning about what does a persona mean? 162 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:50,200 How do you control the energy in a room and take the mic and how do you deliver a setup 163 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,200 punch and all of that is so relevant to business pitches. 164 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,640 And then I started studying about the humor and laughter and all the power of humor and 165 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:05,040 laughter and connecting people innovation, motivation, all these things and realizing 166 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,320 how powerful it is for leaders and teams and organizations. 167 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:15,600 So I had this kind of stuff brewing in my, my mind and I got to a point at my job. 168 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:21,520 Where I felt like, you know what, I've done what I can do here and sort of my work here 169 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,360 is done and things are running smoothly. 170 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:31,840 So this is a moment where I can leave and let's just start this thing. 171 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,600 Now I didn't know then that the pandemic was going to happen. 172 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,840 As none of us in that a little, you know, forward thinking that you didn't, you were 173 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,840 looking at other options before we all started looking at other options. 174 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,400 That's true. 175 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:47,400 That's true. 176 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:58,320 So yeah, I think with that, it had been brewing and I'm actually in a process of really bringing 177 00:10:58,320 --> 00:10:59,320 it back. 178 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:05,200 I kind of took some other jobs in between that and done some other things and now I'm 179 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,680 really refocused on laughing matters. 180 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:14,800 And it is, it's really, really scary. 181 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:21,440 Especially because I feel like, you know, the concept itself is really sexy and people 182 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,360 are like, yes, I love that idea. 183 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:29,640 And then it's like, yeah, but what would I be actually paying you to do? 184 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:38,400 So getting over that step is so it feels risky, but I also feel like there's, there are a 185 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,600 few things I'm more passionate about. 186 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:46,320 Yeah, and I think it's scary when we're passionate about something and we don't quite know the 187 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,880 journey I've interviewed so many people on this podcast that started here and ended up 188 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:50,880 here. 189 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:51,880 Right. 190 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:56,600 It's just those why not today steps like, okay, what do I have to do today to move the 191 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:01,440 ball and what do I, and then what's the next thing and I've had to do this with the podcast 192 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,840 and growing this one, I say business is like, you know, my first episode, I had no idea 193 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:06,840 what I was doing. 194 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:07,840 Right. 195 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,720 I was like, I'm just going to do it and then the next week I like added something else 196 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:15,320 and, you know, keep adding things to my tool belt and learning because, you know, when 197 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:19,400 you're running another business or working for somebody else, it's hard to have the time 198 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,600 to put into that. 199 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:22,600 Right. 200 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,840 Now, I don't know about you, but it's fun and you're enjoying it. 201 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:27,920 It's something new. 202 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,840 And so you want to play there more than the other job that's paying you. 203 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,000 Exactly. 204 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:40,600 But at some point you do need, we need to make that leap. 205 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:47,760 And I did that 25 years ago where I was working full time and started another side hustle. 206 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:53,040 And it was much more fun and much more exciting and had not replaced my income, but I'm like, 207 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,160 you know what, I know I can do this. 208 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,240 And worst case, I'll just get another job. 209 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:58,240 Right. 210 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,760 Everything fell in place and then six months later, my dad had a major stroke and I was 211 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:06,880 able to do that and I didn't have to ask permission to take time off or do anything that I was 212 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:08,440 able to just make that leap. 213 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,400 But it is a leap and it is scary. 214 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:15,760 And what I love what you were just saying about like, you know, I didn't know when I, 215 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,520 what I was doing when I started doing podcasts, so you just kind of start doing it. 216 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:26,400 And I think one of the things that's, that's always hard is don't let the perfect be the 217 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,480 enemy of the good or don't let the perfect be the enemy of the doing. 218 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,480 Exactly. 219 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:36,520 And one of the things you learn and stand up is like part of the process of getting a 220 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:43,000 good joke is telling it poorly and then reworking it and flopping it. 221 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,240 And so, and then redoing. 222 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:52,280 And I feel I always find myself in that like, I really want to do this like a three minute 223 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,520 interview of somebody, but how do I do it? 224 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:56,080 Well, you got to just do it. 225 00:13:56,080 --> 00:14:00,840 And so I admire what you were saying and it's, it's always hard just to get out there and 226 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,800 do it and then the next one will be better and the next one will be better. 227 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:08,160 Yeah, I found I work really well with the deadline. 228 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:09,640 And then backwards. 229 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,720 So like I'll plan something and put a date. 230 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:16,920 So the first podcast episode was purposely on March 5th, which was the day my, it was 231 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,040 my dad's birthday and the day he passed away. 232 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,560 So I'm like, there can't be a better day to start this podcast. 233 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:22,560 Right. 234 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:27,440 And then literally I recorded the first episode like it three or four on the day before. 235 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:28,440 Wow. 236 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,440 You know, but it was just like, I didn't want to do it. 237 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:34,840 Like I'm one of these people that I'm a last minute girl, but it's always stirring, you 238 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,040 know, and thinking and then, you know, writing the paper. 239 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:42,640 I was always the night before in school, but it came fast because I was thinking about 240 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:43,640 it. 241 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:44,640 Right. 242 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,960 So yeah, it's taking those pieces and just like, okay, what are the things that you need 243 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:49,960 to do? 244 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:55,640 And, and, you know, I'm doing some masterminds and some coaching and I built it out and I'm 245 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,320 like, okay, now I got to find the people. 246 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,080 But sometimes you got to find the people and then like, okay, now I got to figure this 247 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:05,880 out, which I did too, you know. 248 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:06,880 Yeah. 249 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:11,120 So it definitely takes courage, but I can tell you from being on the other side, it's 250 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:12,640 so worth it. 251 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:13,640 Yeah. 252 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:14,640 Yeah. 253 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:15,640 So let's talk. 254 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:19,840 So exactly what is your vision and your idea for your laughing matter? 255 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,960 So have you done, worked with companies yet with this or is it just? 256 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:24,560 I have done some work with companies. 257 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,160 I did an engagement with the Special Olympics. 258 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:33,760 They were having their international retreat where they were bringing in some of their 259 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:38,000 athlete leaders and their other teams from around the globe and putting them, getting 260 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,880 them together with their teams at the head office here. 261 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:48,640 And so I facilitated the whole day of that retreat and brought in various different tools 262 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:49,640 of humor and laughter. 263 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:54,160 One of the goals for them was for the teams to get to know each other, but to know each 264 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:58,520 other both personally and also to have an appreciation and understanding of what the 265 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,240 other teams did. 266 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:04,080 And so it was a great way to bring in some of the tools of laughing matters. 267 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:08,520 We did some exercises around people's persona and team personas. 268 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:12,800 I had them do a joke telling contest, which was really fun. 269 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:20,480 And that was such a great experience because it was both international people from various 270 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:26,240 different cultures, lots of people from different backgrounds in terms of their expertise, and 271 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:32,120 a lot of different disabilities and levels of intellectual ability. 272 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,440 So it was great and so much fun. 273 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:40,600 I've also done a similar activity with We Connect International where they brought people 274 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,760 from 60 of their country, their country leaders. 275 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:49,560 So that was a group of 60 global entrepreneurs coming together to really work through their 276 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:52,640 strategy for the next year. 277 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:57,880 I've done a workshop with conflict negotiation negotiators. 278 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:01,600 It was a group of practitioners. 279 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:08,200 And that was amazing because some of the stories they have to tell about how they've used humor 280 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:09,440 in negotiation. 281 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:16,080 And some of them were literally hostages in hostile countries and how humor came to bear 282 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:17,560 on those situations. 283 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:25,200 So I have done some work with another, I did some individual coaching with a senior leader 284 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:29,320 in the shipping industry on her presentations. 285 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:30,520 So I have done that. 286 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:36,400 And what I've also started doing recently is building up a sample workshop to start giving 287 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:42,240 to potential clients and groups of potential clients so they can see what it looks like 288 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:43,240 in reality. 289 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:48,200 And so talking about deadlines, I've set myself, I had my test audiences. 290 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,760 So I had deadlines for each of those. 291 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:57,360 And now I'm ready to move that into a next phase of starting to share that with potential 292 00:17:57,360 --> 00:17:58,360 client groups. 293 00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:05,440 So I know what you're doing is so important now that we need laughter, we need fun, we 294 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:06,440 need community. 295 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:12,840 And that's one thing I'm passionate about is I think after COVID, we all, you know, COVID, 296 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:18,080 I don't know about you, but I was out networking, meeting, doing a million things, always busy. 297 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,920 And then COVID happened and we had to go in. 298 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,400 And but then we had to double down. 299 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,920 Like I had to recreate a completely new business. 300 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:27,800 We had so many people. 301 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,960 And so, and we had, we just went into survival mode. 302 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:32,680 We stopped dreaming. 303 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:37,000 We stopped, you know, goal setting, we just were in survival. 304 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,840 Like let me get through today. 305 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:42,120 And you know, I don't know about you, but we were stuck on the TV like, okay, what's 306 00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:45,960 the governor going to say we can do this week? 307 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,000 And so it was day by day, week by week. 308 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,560 And then we came out of it. 309 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:56,200 I mean, we're still seeing ramblocations and, but somebody else listening to a podcast one 310 00:18:56,200 --> 00:19:00,480 time, like we never took time to grieve the life that we left behind. 311 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,520 Oh, that's so interesting. 312 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,800 And we've never taken time to memorialize it. 313 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:11,400 Like there isn't a COVID anniversary or, I mean, a COVID Memorial Day, but we never 314 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:12,400 grieve. 315 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,240 So we just double down. 316 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:19,520 And now I think people are coming out and going, okay, this is not, this is not what 317 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:20,520 I want to do. 318 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:21,520 I want to do this. 319 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:27,480 And, and being, I know me personally, I'm purposeful of who I'm around and what I'm doing. 320 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,560 Is it filling my cup and has it given me energy? 321 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:36,520 Like I'm not going to spend time with people just because you never know where it might 322 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:37,520 go. 323 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:42,760 You know, I'm really being purposeful and working on that community and fun. 324 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,160 We did with the why not today connects. 325 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,040 I started the luncheon, which are going to be our guest speaker in August. 326 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,680 I'm super excited about that. 327 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,760 And I started that to connect people and build community, not to stand up and give an elevator 328 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,440 speech, but authentic relationships. 329 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:01,440 And we did last week, we did our first kind of fun event. 330 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,240 We did a why not today summer camp for adults. 331 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:06,840 And oh my gosh, it was so much fun. 332 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:08,840 Everybody had such a great time. 333 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:10,320 It was fun to watch. 334 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:12,060 And I've seen this at the lunch. 335 00:20:12,060 --> 00:20:16,000 People coming together, not knowing each other, but finding those connections, building those 336 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,000 friendships. 337 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:24,920 And there's one woman who was the sponsor and she's like, she's amazing. 338 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,600 You never know, but she's in her 80s, early 80s. 339 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,400 And her hairdresser that she had for years, years retired. 340 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:31,400 I mean, simple thing. 341 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:32,880 One of the women there is a hairdresser. 342 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,800 She's like, oh my gosh, I needed to come to meet you. 343 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:44,320 But we're open to those things and taking time for fun and humor and doing different things 344 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,840 and getting out of our comfort zones. 345 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,160 And this is funny talking about coming back to rest at a meeting with Karen. 346 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:54,280 So Karen got me out of my comfort zone on Sunday night. 347 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,160 I'm having lunch with her today. 348 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:57,160 And that's what you said. 349 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,720 So you have to ask her about our concert we went to. 350 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:03,440 So she reached out to me on Sunday to go to Wolf Trap. 351 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,400 So people listening globally, it's an outdoor amphitheater place. 352 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:07,800 Well, she's like, do you want to go? 353 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:08,720 And I'm always up for it. 354 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:10,200 You know what? 355 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:11,200 Enjoying life. 356 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:12,200 And sure, I'll go. 357 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:13,200 Well, it was National Symphony Orchestra. 358 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,200 So I'm like, okay, that's cool. 359 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,040 Well, it was with Naz. 360 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:19,760 I had no idea who Naz is. 361 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:21,760 Do you know who Naz is? 362 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:24,560 Okay, no idea what I was walking into. 363 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,480 So those listening don't know who Naz is. 364 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,560 Naz is a hip hop artist, pretty famous. 365 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,480 So he was performing his first album with National Symphony Orchestra. 366 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:35,480 Oh my gosh. 367 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,520 It was really cool. 368 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:42,280 Now I was not familiar with him and didn't know any music. 369 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:43,920 And we had really good seats. 370 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:48,520 It was hard to hear, but it was cool to just watch. 371 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,080 I was people watching big time. 372 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:56,440 People in the audience, who was one girl that's been seeing his concerts, she was seven. 373 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:57,440 Wow. 374 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,480 And knew every word, but watching the orchestra perform the conductor, it was just kind of 375 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:02,480 cool. 376 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:05,320 So it was one of those things, you know, would I've paid for it? 377 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:06,320 Probably not. 378 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:07,320 You know, would I've pursued it? 379 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:12,000 But I'm so glad I did that I think we need to get out of our comfort zone and try new 380 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:16,520 things and make our brain think different thoughts. 381 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:21,000 That yeah, I'm going to do a podcast episode on this that I was just listening to a podcast 382 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,640 and talked about how can we make our life more exciting? 383 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,840 We do the same things. 384 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,440 Like you're making your life more exciting now playing in Reston. 385 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:32,440 I know. 386 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:34,760 You know, and it's things to look forward to. 387 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:36,280 And you know, we get in a rut. 388 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:37,720 We go for the same walk. 389 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,000 We go to the same restaurants. 390 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,200 And we work at the same job. 391 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:46,240 But what can we do to shake it up and do exciting things and try new things? 392 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:47,240 Yeah. 393 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:48,240 No, it's amazing. 394 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:54,520 And I think to your point about having fun and just getting together for the sake of 395 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:55,520 getting together. 396 00:22:55,520 --> 00:23:03,560 But I think, you know, what I love about the science behind humor and laughter is that 397 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:05,080 laughter. 398 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:11,640 There's a comedian from the 1930s, Victor Borga, and he calls laughter that it's the shortest 399 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,040 distance between two people. 400 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:20,720 And, you know, it actually physiologically does actually connect us because of the various 401 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,000 different hormones it's releasing. 402 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:30,600 And so it's a way that we naturally build a relationship. 403 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:35,080 And if you notice laughter is contagious, right, because like you're sitting in the lecture 404 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:39,880 hall, right, and somebody next to you laughs and you don't have, there's no shared joke. 405 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:41,080 You don't know why they're laughing. 406 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:43,440 And then all of a sudden you can't, you start laughing. 407 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,840 And then the moment you look at each other, you're both laughing. 408 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,720 And now you have this strange connection with this person over nothing other than just having 409 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:51,440 sure to laugh. 410 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:57,400 And both laughter and humor totally open our brains to think in completely different ways 411 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:02,880 and new ways and open connections because they use all the different parts of our brain. 412 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:09,880 And so, and just they know that, for instance, something like 88% of people say they're not 413 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,760 engaged at work. 414 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:19,520 And we know that and 53% of American adults, something like that, say that they don't find 415 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,720 happiness on a regular basis. 416 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,440 And that is one of my major passions. 417 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:29,920 Like I was on a leadership call and they talked about people, especially, you know, we're 418 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:36,920 living in the DC area, that people have countdown clocks on their desk down to retirement. 419 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:38,960 And that just broke my heart. 420 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:43,440 Like I, you know, I've worked for myself for more than I have it. 421 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:48,920 And I've created a life that is full of fun and adventure and excitement. 422 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,280 But so many people, they hate their jobs. 423 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,160 And I'm just like, it just breaks my heart. 424 00:24:54,160 --> 00:25:01,160 Yeah, and it's crazy, like just from a business perspective on the flip side of that, we know 425 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:10,280 that businesses that where people are happy, their profitability is way higher, like 38% 426 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:11,280 higher. 427 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,000 So just changing that. 428 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:20,640 And they, I mean, there's just the statistics go on and on staff retention, everything, 429 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,520 people's health, less sick days, safer workplaces. 430 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:32,800 It's amazing what a little humor and laughter and fun can do for everything, our health, 431 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:34,800 our business, our productivity. 432 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:43,040 And I think embrace that with everything happening people, the conversations we're having and 433 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:46,840 what we're doing with the workplace, the so many people working virtually and we're missing 434 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:47,840 that. 435 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:51,200 I mean, when I worked, we had fun. 436 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:55,800 Like I remember one day we, my boss, it was a Friday afternoon, he got grabbed a whole 437 00:25:55,800 --> 00:26:03,200 bunch of solo cups and made a putt putt golf place around the office. 438 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,440 We played putt putt golf in the office. 439 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:06,440 Right. 440 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:13,360 Basketball, we'd go out to lunch and yeah, we had some cocktails, but we made it fun. 441 00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:16,920 And we worked hard, but it was fun. 442 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,760 And this podcast I just listened to about adding excitement, you need to check it out. 443 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:25,600 But they talked about the workplace, having people switch departments for a short amount 444 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:26,600 of time. 445 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:27,600 Right. 446 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:28,600 Something new. 447 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:31,600 One of my mentors shared with me one time, it's really hard to get excited about something 448 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:32,600 you've done before. 449 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:33,600 Oh, interesting. 450 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,280 And they even talked about vacations. 451 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:40,760 Like the first 40 some hours of vacation is the best. 452 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:42,880 And as every day it goes down. 453 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:48,320 Because it's the first time you saw the ocean, the first time you went out to have this drink 454 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:49,920 by the ocean, the first time. 455 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:56,040 And they said even more exciting is not your first day of vacation, but the day before you 456 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:57,440 leave for vacation. 457 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,000 Oh, interesting. 458 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,000 The anticipation. 459 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:06,000 And they said, you know, so figuring out how you can maybe do more short trips. 460 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,000 Even talk about your house, your kitchen. 461 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,000 Right. 462 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,440 How boring and you're like, you look at somebody else's kitchen. 463 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:15,040 And they said, go away for a couple of days and come back and it adds a little sparkle 464 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:16,040 to it. 465 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:20,520 You know, it's interesting because I find just like the littlest things in my house, 466 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:26,280 like I'll do a new little vase with something in it and put it somewhere. 467 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:30,120 And just that tiny thing changes the whole way I feel about it. 468 00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:31,960 Or just moving something around. 469 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:32,960 Yeah. 470 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:33,960 Yeah. 471 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:34,960 So so many things. 472 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:35,960 Yeah. 473 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,960 And I think you are so needed in the workplace and we need to share your message and let 474 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:42,040 people know that you're available. 475 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:43,040 And. 476 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,920 Yes, I am. 477 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:53,840 And one thing I can say that I guarantee is that if you work with me, you and your team 478 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:55,480 will laugh. 479 00:27:55,480 --> 00:28:01,240 And I also, if we go this route, but everybody will write and tell their own joke. 480 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:02,800 And it's a really fun experience. 481 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:06,520 Well, I'm excited to have you as our guest for the lunch. 482 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:12,360 So before we go, how to encourage somebody else to be courageous to do the thing to laugh 483 00:28:12,360 --> 00:28:16,880 and have fun to start a job, pursue their passion. 484 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:22,280 Yeah, I feel like your whole company name, it's the why not today. 485 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:30,200 I feel like it's always, I always have to remind myself that it's never the things 486 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:34,680 I do that I regret having done. 487 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:40,960 It's only the things that I don't do that I wish I had maybe done later. 488 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:46,920 And so I think about it like just, I mean, silly things like this morning, I'm trying 489 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:48,240 to talk about trying something new. 490 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:49,640 I'm doing kickboxing. 491 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:54,160 So I was waking up this morning and I was like, oh, I don't want to get up and go. 492 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:57,160 But then once you're there and it was so much fun. 493 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:01,760 And you know, it's never the night that I going to do open mics. 494 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:03,960 It's a long night and it's a slog. 495 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:08,440 And I never regret getting up and going and doing it, but I'll do often think, oh, I wish 496 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:10,040 I'd gone last night. 497 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:16,200 And so I think that you just when you're thinking about why not today. 498 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:18,480 Do it. 499 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:19,920 Why not just. 500 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:20,920 Why not? 501 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:22,600 Well, it's interesting. 502 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:24,840 I taught water roots for 13 years. 503 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:25,840 Yeah. 504 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:30,440 And I started taking the class and I'm on all or nothing girl, like I would go work out 505 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:34,120 at the gym and then not be able to move for a week because I did too much. 506 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,520 So when I started going to a class, I'm like, I'm committed to once a week. 507 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:42,040 And then by and within six months, I was signed up to teach. 508 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:46,520 And so, but I always just tell the people in the class, I'm like, okay, and it has to 509 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:47,520 do with anything. 510 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:51,160 When you get up in the morning, you don't feel like doing it like kickboxing didn't feel 511 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:52,840 like getting up. 512 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:56,480 I always say, okay, when you put your head on the pillow tonight, how would you feel 513 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:58,600 if you did it? 514 00:29:58,600 --> 00:29:59,600 Or if you didn't. 515 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:03,720 So if you did it, you came back, you feel great and you feel amazing all day, right? 516 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:04,720 Yeah. 517 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:05,720 You didn't do it. 518 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:07,560 You beat yourself up all flip a day. 519 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:08,560 I should have gone. 520 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:09,560 Why didn't I go? 521 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:10,560 I missed out. 522 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:12,000 This would have been fun. 523 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:13,800 And so just do it. 524 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:15,960 Do you know who Daniel Pink is? 525 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:16,960 No. 526 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:17,960 Okay. 527 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:18,960 So he is an author. 528 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:20,960 He's actually from D. He lives in D.C. 529 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,800 Written several books, one being on regrets. 530 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,800 And I read the book right before I started the podcast and exactly what you said. 531 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:34,360 He's like, we never regret the things we did or regret the things we didn't do. 532 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:41,440 And he started an op ed partnership with the Washington Post called why not? 533 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:42,440 Yeah. 534 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:50,080 Big questions like why not pay teachers $100,000 a year? 535 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:54,880 His newest one was why not have all roads you can't make left hand turns only right hand 536 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:55,880 turns. 537 00:30:55,880 --> 00:31:02,200 Because of traffic and believe it or not, UPS I read recently did a study and about 538 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:03,200 that and they stopped. 539 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:05,440 UPS drivers you'll notice will never go left. 540 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:06,440 They always go right. 541 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:07,440 Oh, interesting. 542 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:08,440 Increase your time. 543 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:11,320 So hold the time that we can go on. 544 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:15,880 Well, so, but so I was trying to connect back to my dad and you're like, I didn't know 545 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:16,880 you dad. 546 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:18,680 How can we possibly do that? 547 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:25,680 So he was all about having fun, living life sounds like you are definitely was a traveler 548 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,360 and he definitely cared about the community. 549 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,840 But I think the fun connection is you connecting with Karen. 550 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:33,480 So you can she can tell you all kinds of stories. 551 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:39,480 So Karen, who we keep mentioning was friends with my dad and knew my dad long before I knew 552 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:40,480 her. 553 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:41,880 And it's funny. 554 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:46,600 She worked for the rest in chamber years ago and one of the first people she met was 555 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:52,400 my dad who was a character and the logo is he had an eye patch on handlebar mustache. 556 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:57,440 So she tells a story of she had a receptionist there. 557 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:59,880 The receptionist buzzed her whispering. 558 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:04,640 There's some man here with an eye patch and her handlebar mustache and smoking a pipe. 559 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:05,800 This was years ago. 560 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:09,280 And so he comes in as his jeans, his flip the lops. 561 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:12,120 Like what can I do to help you? 562 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:16,480 And then Alicia, my sister actually worked for Karen. 563 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:20,760 So we can go full circle and then go back to that water or the aerobics thing. 564 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:25,720 She taught aerobics and one of my friends from high school found out she taught with 565 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:27,960 taught with her knew her. 566 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:30,000 And then the same person worked for my dad. 567 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:33,800 So all the criss-cross connections is just fun and crazy. 568 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:35,480 And you just never doubt. 569 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:36,480 You never know. 570 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:39,240 So, well, thank you for your wisdom, your courage. 571 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:42,200 So where's the best place for people to find you, Courtney? 572 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,320 You can find me on LinkedIn. 573 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,240 Just go to Courtney Pickard on LinkedIn. 574 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:50,000 And that's a very easy way to connect with me directly. 575 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,480 And you can also find us at laughing-matters.com. 576 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:54,480 Okay. 577 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:56,840 And I will share all that in the show notes. 578 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:57,840 Okay. 579 00:32:57,840 --> 00:32:59,880 So thank you for being our guests and thank you. 580 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:01,720 I'm glad that this was so much fun. 581 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:02,720 I really enjoyed it. 582 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:03,720 Yeah. 583 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:05,880 So thank you everybody for joining us on this inspiring journey. 584 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:10,080 Remember, every day is an opportunity to take actions, chase your dreams and make a difference. 585 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:11,720 So why not today? 586 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:15,920 And of course you can find out all about why not today on the whynottodaypodcast.com. 587 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:18,160 You can subscribe, share, keep pushing forward. 588 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:21,640 And until next time, stay motivated and keep making things happen. 589 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,280 And as I always say, why not today? 590 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:25,280 Thanks to Courtney. 591 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:27,880 Thank you so much.