Welcome to the LuxLeap. My name is Raelynn Logan,
and we chat about women consultants making bold
moves, big wins, and the secrets to extraordinary
branding. So I have a question. What does it
really take to lead with purpose, pivot with
confidence, and build businesses that stand the
test of time? Today's guest knows firsthand.
Sheila Slick is a seasoned business leader with
over 25 years of experience spanning from education,
technology, and entrepreneurship. As the co -founder
of four businesses, a former four -chapter chair
for Volusia and the Flagler Counties, and the
host of Milestone Moments in Business and Leadership,
a podcast that helps Sheila bring a wealth of
wisdom, strategy, and lived experience to every
conversation. Her leadership style blends practical
know -how with visionary thinking, making her
a trusted voice for entrepreneurs, leading, navigating
growth, change, and defining moments. Get ready
for real talk on building, leading, and evolving
with intention. Please welcome the powerhouse
behind the business milestones and meaningful
leadership, Sheila Slitt. Hi, Sheila. Hi, thank
you for such a beautiful introduction. Of course,
of course. So I love to kick it off with everyone
just to get a quick summary of how did your brand
get started? What's the brief Reader's Digest
version of it? Well, so which one of the four?
Whichever one brings your heart happiness. Like,
how did you start? Well, I guess if I look back,
the first one. We didn't really think much about
branding because the company was named Tops and
we were manufacturing tops. Wait, tops isn't
the tops we wear, the tops we spend? No, no.
Like all kinds of surfaces, the kind that you
see on counters when you walk into an institution,
commercial, kitchen counters. If it was a top,
we'd manufacture it. So the company, which is,
you know, still working today, it's called Tops.
Oh, that's kind of brilliant. The second one
was, you know what? The third one, you'll understand
my branding mistake. The second one was a legacy
company. It is a retail jewelry store. And my
grandmother had built that out in one country
and then moved to a separate country where we
helped her not just launch it, but we were three
partners, my mother, my grandmother and I. And
so. we ended up having four different retail
stores. And so the name became a big issue because
we all wanted that same name. It represented
legacy to us, but we had to, you know, be a little
different than the other ones in the other country.
And now there are three different countries that
all share part of the name. The third one, Slick
Developers, Happened when I learned how to code.
This one just, it wasn't planned. It was before
technology was mainstream. You know, like today,
I learned how to code and that turned into another
company. And I, when I did that, I did it with
an educational purpose. I was mother of three
young children, which they're all adults now.
And I thought this could be for them. So I named
it Slick. developers. And that one child was
interested. But I didn't want to sell it. I ended
up selling some clients off because I felt like
I was selling my own personal identity. So those
are the first names. And then when I moved back
to the United States and I incorporated here,
I ended up using the term five milestones and
everyone always said. What do the five milestones
mean? What does that mean? And so that's my secret
that I can share later on with you. Oh my gosh,
I love it. Well, now I'm intrigued because I'm
like, I don't think you have five kids. Now I'm
just trying to do so many, so much math in my
brain over here. Well, as you look forward and
you really think about, you know, you've had
all these brands, you've made all these pivots,
you've changed countries. And you're back in
the States right now. What was a pivotal moment
in your brand's journey, whether it's personal
or all four businesses, that really defined where
you are today? Five milestones. Oh, might as
well tell us a story now. All right. So life
is defined by milestones. And in order to get
from where you're at now to where you want to
be, I broke that down into a five -step framework.
Five represents change. Fiverr presents a lot
of different things for me in a personal way.
And I also was going to turn 50. And so I thought,
this is a great way for this company to be my
next chapter. What do I want that to be? And
I was able to tie it in with the brand by breaking
down the framework to get from point A to point
B, whether it's a personal transformation or
a business transformation. in a five steps. That's
amazing. That's absolutely incredible. And since
you've done that, like what kind of transformations
have you seen? So where my passion really lies,
and I don't know, I've always loved like the
underdog, or maybe it's as a mother, you're always
trying to nurture, you know, the person that
needs it most, so to speak. And so when I was
chair and a certified mentor, where we mentored
over a thousand individuals and businesses that
year, I always found that the transformations
that inspired me the most were those where perhaps
someone was retiring or in that stage of retirement
where they had found a passion and they didn't
just want to sit around their homes, but they
also wanted additional income, like a side income.
And you can't even go to the farmer's market
and sell your crafts if you're not a business,
at least here in our city and county, you need
to go through those steps. And when you're dealing
with the baby boomer generation, well, you know,
I learned how to code at 36, but technology is
a lot more intimidating for them. So when you're
able to help a person go from I don't even know
where to start in the business. Three years later,
asking them for advice on what apps they're using
to document their videos and their processes
on Instagram because they went from not understanding
social media and a simple thing like a hashtag
to being able to set up their own online store
and Shopify and create engaging videos and campaigns
to be able to turn that into income. That's absolutely
incredible. So just giving them a new path in
life, so to speak, versus just sitting at home.
I don't even know if I have the capacity in my
heart right now to retire because I want to go,
go, go. And I think I meet lots of people who
still have that energy, older than my parents,
who still just want to go and live life. And
I think that's a beautiful thing. And the fact
that you empower them to do so is so perfect.
I love it. Well, that's something my grandmother
is still alive. She's 96 and she did not want
to retire her. And when I ask her, what is the
secret to life? She'll say, just always stay
busy. And so if you planned it right and you've
maybe worked your entire life and you're burnt
out, maybe that's what's in retirement for you.
But me that I've been an entrepreneur since 21,
I'm very passionate about what I do. It's part
of who I am. And maybe what changes is just the
direction of how and who I help sometimes. And
I think that being an entrepreneur is part of,
you know, being adaptable and being able to pivot.
So we'll see with AI coming in, I've got like
the wheels turning. What are these next 10 years
going to be like with these new technologies?
And I think they're going to change our world
in beautiful ways. I know there's a lot of negative
Nancys out there, but I think it's going to change
the world in really spectacular, beautiful ways.
And to watch it unfold in real time, I'm really
grateful. But I like change. Kind of live off
of it. I've always loved change too. So my master's
degree, when I moved back to the States in 2018,
That wasn't quite as planned, right? Like I'd
probably be moving back to Florida this year
because my youngest is going off to college.
And that's when we had considered moving back
from overseas. But life happens. And it was the
one time I wasn't prepared for that change. And
I had always embraced change. I thrive on change.
I love moving everything around because it just
feels fresh and new. But that was a bit different
because it was out of my control. It was unexpected.
And I went back to school and I was going back
for an MBA. I ended up with a master's in leadership.
And when I say leadership, you're probably like,
oh, you know, where are you looking to work?
Organizational leadership. And I was able to
use that as a change management. like degree
so to speak and apply all of those principles
to my own um adapting you know to change because
it was easier to move overseas at 21 than it
was to move back at 40 in my 40s you're not three
kiddos like that's a lot that's a big move yes
you're not just changing your life you're changing
you know the entire family but yeah sometimes
you have to you know, step back and reflect in
order to make the best decisions for you and
your family. So I do believe in reflection. That
is step number five of my framework. And now
that the children, I call them children, even
though they're young adults, they've graduated.
I'm asking them for feedback. They have broken
glass ceilings in our family. So yes, I ask them
for advice. I'm like, wow. How did you discover
that? Like that would, you know, just didn't
even cross my mind when I was in high school.
But then I make sure to ask them, so did we make
the right choice? Right. Because now it's a we
looking back so that I'm at peace and they're
at terms that everything worked out for the best.
And then I always say, how could I have been?
you know, a better parent or how can I be a better
parent moving forward? Because now I'm in a support
role. They're young adults, right? So I'm always
asking them for feedback. They are. I love you
call yours kids and our family, the siblings
who are the same age as your kiddos, we still
refer to as the babies. So don't worry. They're
forever as all adults known as the babies. So
at least your kids are kids. Well, the youngest
just said prom, you know, and he's wearing the
tuxedo and his date girlfriend's just spectacular.
And you do want to call them babies. But then
that may just slip out at the wrong moment. At
the wrong time. But you just remember when they
were babies. Like, I don't know what else to
say. When I was graduating high school, I think
one of my siblings was like three. So they were,
they were just babies. It's fine. It's totally
fine. All right. Getting back on subject here,
because we all know that I can go off on 500
tangents. Let's look towards the future. What
are your long -term goals for expanding your
brand's impact right now? So I am once again,
remember the five milestones was approaching
the fifties and I'm in a pivotal moment. And
my children say it best. You no longer have to
worry about all of us. This time is for you.
And so I started exploring with that back in
November. And I started writing a book because
that's been on my list. My book right now is
about 350 pages. So I think. that I really need
to either break it in half and just accept the
fact that that is getting published. And people
say, well, why do you want to write a book? I
think writing a book is a great way to not just
leave a legacy, to be able to share some of that
knowledge that perhaps other people can find
helpful. But it also serves as me feeling that,
you know, this is how I got to where I've been.
And with that in mind, I had wanted... The book
has helped me put the five milestones principle,
which the framework comes after a lot of reflection
on my own life stories, my personal inventory,
where are my skills, how have I helped others,
along with the education and the science behind
the Master of Science degree. And it's been like
peeling an onion for me. I'm getting that clarity,
but what I really want to do moving forward is
be able to help more people rather than so much
one -on -one. And I do that often through training,
through public speaking. But public speaking,
for example, sometimes requires travel. So my
youngest will be in college in May, and I have
three different speaking opportunities. One is
in Miami, which is back in the big city where
I was raised, about six hours away. So I'm really
excited that I'm opening myself up to other opportunities
to see how I can continue to make a positive
impact on others' lives and always focusing on
helping them economically, right? whether it's
through their business or self -employment. That's
so incredible. I love everybody who comes on
the show who has a book. So when it's published,
you let me know. I will be first in line. It'll
live in my handy dandy pile of books that's always
within reach, literally. And I will talk about
it all the time. I love it. So you just say the
word and let us know when it's live and we will
let the world know. Just do it. I can't wait.
Thank you so much for that support. I did double
down on my own podcast. I now have two episodes
a week. Nice. And it's been a great way to just
channel a lot of, you know, what I'm working
on in the book. And we'll see what happens with
the podcast as well. So these spaces are so wonderful.
That's incredible. And I agree with you. I think
being on podcasts, it does, it helps gain a lot
of clarity on what people want, what people need,
and just also being able to put those stories
out into the world. Because a lot of times we
think through talking and it's a powerful way
to do so. It's a powerful medium. So as you're
thinking about the book, you're thinking about
speaking and really leaning into the podcast
more. How will your marketing strategy adapt
to support your brand's growth here in the future?
Well, that's where I would need to come to an
expert like you so that I could talk it through
and be like, Orlando, am I on the right track,
right? On the right track. As entrepreneurs,
we wear so many different hats. And sometimes
you need to understand the importance of collaborating
with someone whose expertise is focused on one
specific concept. And I haven't been on marketing
and branding. I mean, I can walk someone through
it and get them to think about it, but I would
prefer to reach out to someone like you who is
laser focused on that one specific thing. So
yes, that's where I'm going. I do want my champagne
flute. Oh, yes. Okay. So everyone, I have also
been on Sheila's podcast. Five milestones. It
was absolutely incredible. But we went through
my flute process for how to write your website
copy because I see a lot of rough websites out
there in this world. And so there are ways intentionally
to market yourself. Sheila and I can attest not
everyone's way is the same way. YouTube University
is great if it works for you, but it doesn't
work for all people. I'm going to leave everybody
with that little nugget. You have to know yourself.
You have to know where clarity comes. And then
you can make a strong strategy to move forward
in a way that is in alignment with you. Unfortunately,
most of the internet is not going to be in alignment
with you. But it's also really important to have
that niche and know who you want to serve. Because
you can't please all of the people all of the
time. It's really important, though, to just
understand that no matter how well you want to
do things, sometimes it is better to reach out
to someone who is more experienced or perhaps
has already walked that path. It'll save you
time, money, and it'll be a lot more effective.
So I even have for my podcast, I would have probably
never launched the podcast if it wasn't because
of my podcast coach. And now I am able to help.
People with the technical part, we gave birth
to a podcast yesterday. I'm helping someone give
birth to a podcast on Tuesday. And these are
people that want to do it, but rather than go
through YouTube University, they'll say, you
know, do it with me. And I will help them through
the setup just so that they too can share their
voice and walk through the strategy. But that's
about as far as I get. You want more strategy
with the podcast or? I will send you to a podcast
coach. Right? Like it's really, you save so much
money if you pay the uh -oh tax up front. That's
how I usually refer to it. So you can keep trying,
keep trying, spinning, spinning, spinning in
a circle until finally you fall down because
you're dizzy and then you have to get back up.
Meanwhile, there's probably about five coaches
around you just watching you to see which way
you're going to fall. Because at the end of the
day, you have to make that choice for yourself.
And choosing to spin is a choice. Yes, even here
as a business consultant, helping people start
their businesses. I've seen people working as
consultants and maybe two, three years in business.
And perhaps they forgot to get these business
tax receipts. I'm like, well, you're illegally
operating. if you skip that simple step right
and sometimes you may incur in fines and so forth
and they didn't think you know to consult with
someone they just thought well i'll ask my facebook
group right where you know anyone that goes in
a facebook they'll say well what do i do or even
with these um oh lord with you know there was
this new one time that you have to um declare
who the beneficiaries financially are. And I
go into some of these Facebook groups, for example,
and you had people complaining, well, I didn't
hear about that. So first question is, well,
where are you getting your information from?
Because this had been shared and shared and shared.
So if you didn't hear about that, it's time to
reflect and think, what else haven't I heard
about? Maybe you're not even properly. you know,
legally established if you weren't getting any
of these notifications, or perhaps you don't
have an accountant or a bookkeeper. But, you
know, from someone in my spot, I mean, I just
kept seeing it. I shared it on my LinkedIn very
often. I saw the cities, the counties, you know,
it was all over the place. So I'm wondering,
did she just rely on Facebook? So it's your responsibility
if you're going to do it all on your own to also
make sure that you're always compliant. And it
could also mean being on top of trends or new
technologies because all that changes. So it's
a lot to take on by yourself. I agree. You need
a team. Even if they're not employees, you need
a team, a board of directors. in your mind, if
you will, but you need a team to help you push
through. And you need someone like Sheila who
can coach you. You need someone like me who can
get things in alignment and get you the right
path forward. And you need an accountant, unless
you are an accountant. But even then, I'd say
you still need an accountant. Double check, checks
and balances. There are people that you need
in your orbit to help you grow. And it's really
hard to do it alone. It's so hard to do it alone.
So just choose not to do that. That simple. All
right, Sheila, I got two fun questions for you.
Okay? You know, in all seriousness aside, I ask
these of everyone, and I need to know, what does
a day living a luxurious life look like for you?
Depends on the decade. But right now, it involves...
luxury travel. I'm going from like going to Disney
with the five kiddos. And yesterday at the chamber
of commerce, I met a travel advisor and it was
like a calling. She sat in front of me with this
romantic luxury getaways. So she had me at hello.
And I thought, you know, I don't even need to
plan this vacation because I know how the travel
agents work. They earn the commission anyway.
From the different suppliers. And so I was like,
you've got yourself a client. Can we look at
Greece and Alaska? So that right now is where
I'm at. I'm also thinking retaking a hot air
balloon. I had wanted to do that in Sedona with
some champagne, but I want to, you know, like
I've been married 30 years almost to my. sweetheart
he's partner of our first company and i think
it's a time to also um nurture the relationship
like two kids together so that's what it looks
like right now would be some luxury travel where
i don't have to worry about planning it and babysitters
and kids food and activities and Oh, that sounds
nice. I'm a long ways away from that, but I guess
in my season, I'm just really grateful. Whenever
I ask Grayson, we have this question we always
ask. why do you love me? Like just trying to
think of things that are different every single
time. We have a lot of conversations. I have
like kid conversation cards next to me. And he
always goes, mom, you take me on the best vacations.
Like you really think them through. And I'm like,
man, can't wait till somebody can think them
through for me. But I, I will be watching you
from the ground in Sedona. But if you go to Sedona
and take that hot air balloon ride. There's also
this really cool zip lining park not too far
from Sedona. And it's over a wildlife refuge.
Like it's really cool. So you should do that
and then go visit Jerusalem because that's also
a really cool place. Might have just told you
that I grew up in Arizona without saying I grew
up in Arizona. So I love it. Sedona is one of
my favorite places in the world. It's absolutely
amazing. Now that this has become a travel ad
for everybody, also visit Slide Rock if you go
to Sedona. Okay, travel ad over. But last question
for you. In one word, what is your primary motivation
in business? Purpose. Why? Because it's what
motivates you when you don't want to get out
of your bed. If you have your why, your reason,
and it gives you purpose. then it's not work.
That's incredible. Well, Sheila, where can they
find you if they want to connect with you? My
website is Sheila Slick, S L I C K .com. And
since this is a podcast, you can tune in to milestone
moments in business and leadership and tune in
so that you can, well, hear your interview along
with other. entrepreneurs and leaders that are
making an impact. I absolutely love it. Well,
thank you again for being on the show. It was
such a joy to have you here, just meet you and
get to know you in these last few weeks. And
I'm really grateful you took some time out of
your day to make this happen. So everyone have
a beautiful weekend and we look forward to hearing
how you also are taking luck's leaps in your
world. And we'll see you next time. Bye everyone.