Welcome to Leveling Up with Lindsay, the podcast
where we dive into leadership, small business,
and everything in between. I'm Lindsay, your
host and the proud owner of White Peony Boutique,
a space created to empower women, build confidence,
and foster meaningful connections. Whether you're
an entrepreneur, a mom, a friend, or someone
just looking for a little inspiration, This is
your space to feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Join me as we share stories, strategies, and
a little bit of life's chaos while navigating
what it truly means to level up in starting a
business, relationship, and personal growth.
So grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let's
level up together. Today we're here with Megan
Miller, an executive coach, a self -employed
entrepreneur, a mom of two, a wife and a really
good friend of mine. So welcome Megan. Thank
you so much. I'm so happy to be here. Megan plays
so many roles and a little bit of what I want
to talk today is juggling everything. juggling
everything. When Megan and I get together, maybe
with a glass of wine or two, we could sit and
honestly talk to people and all the things for
hours. We got kicked out of the last place we
stayed. It was like a Tuesday night. We sat on
the sidewalk and just kept going. We just moved
the conversation from one spot to another. When
you say quick dinner conversation, it's not.
She's here on a lunch, probably. I am. This is
my lunch break. So we got to move it. OK, Megan,
tell us a little bit about yourself. Yeah. Well,
you always make me feel so much fancier than
I actually am. So I'll just tell you a little
bit about me. I'm a revenue enablement manager
at a local organization here at Instacloud. I'm
a communication coach. a sales coach, a friend.
How does my list keep going? I'm just like going
through your list here. And honestly, when you
asked me to do this podcast, like what is it?
Two days ago. I am so selective with my time
and you know, yes Yeah, and so like I go through
this mental practice Am I gonna get energy from
the interaction or am I gonna give energy? So
I'm like anytime I have with Lindsey I get energy.
So I'm like carve it out. I need it I will put
you on a pedestal because every time I'm with
Megan I have hired Megan as a photographer who
is One of the best, and I always say whenever
I leave, when I'm with you, I'm in a business
where we do a lot of photography and I actually
do not love being behind the camera. It's uncomfortable.
Why? She loves it. Megan makes you feel so incredible.
And I think that's the person you are. I also
look forward to being with you because I just
know we're going to laugh. You radiate energy.
You make people feel so good. I would say you're
also, I could set a friend coach earlier. because
as we're sitting here, she's like, you can do
it. I can't hold back. You know, like you've
been given this gift to coach and there's really
just no boundaries on where it stops. It just
follows me where I go. And I believe that you
have been given a gift to coach. So that is something
that you bring to the table. And honestly, when
Megan and I sit and talk about leadership and
people, she gives me a list of about 20 books
that I need to read. That's true. I have notes
in my phone specifically for when I meet with
Megan because I know I'm to come out of it with
takeaways. As far as people goes, let's talk
a little bit about that. So if there's one thing
I know that Megan brings to the table, it is
definitely coaching people. You have some incredible
people skills. It is one topic that I could literally,
like I said, talk about for hours. But where
Megan, along your career, along the lines, did
you feel like you found kind of your niche, if
that's what you want to claim it? I kind of did
that for you, but where along the lines would
you? you started feeling very comfortable. Yeah,
you know, I feel like I stumbled upon both my
business and I stumbled upon coaching. At the
organization I'm currently with, I was in a recruiting
role for seven years. And so my role was to talk
to people day in, day out and find the best match
for them. So I think I just really sharpened
my skill and ability to listen. Yes. And ask
the right questions and dig a little bit deeper.
And then the pivot from recruiting to revenue
enabled. is I could bring people in the organization,
but I wanted to make an impact on their experience
when they were with us. This role became available
and it was really about how to align some of
the tools and resources we had to make sure that
they were equipped to handle. And so it just
was a natural fit with the relationships I had
built for seven years. And so now for the last
three years, my role has been coaching. over
70 of our managers and directors. First, it was
to leverage the marketing tools that we have
and now it has been more so involved to the entire
sales process and how we coach, communicate and
challenge and how we use questions. to help our
employees self -discover for themselves. I will
say like, you know, I've had the opportunity
with Megan a few times and after our last photography
session, we sat and had lunch and you know, you
ask exactly what you're explaining. You ask the
perfect questions and I can sit and see you.
Your listening is incredible because I can see
your brain like spinning as you're listening
to every single little word I'm saying. Like
you're very zoned in. Listening skills for any
type of leader or professional or individual.
on a personal level is actually far more important
than I think people give credit to. Don't you
believe? Oh, I can spend our whole time talking
about this. Literally. I think what people often
miss, like they get so caught up in what they're
going to say next that they actually miss what's
being said. I don't have the magic question.
So oftentimes my managers will be like, where's
your list of questions? I'm like, I don't have
them. I do have some go tos that help challenge,
but mostly it's me listening to who I'm talking
to and building off of that thread until we've
gotten to the core. So, yeah, listening is a
skill. And I highly recommend it. It's just like
a tiny muscle that needs to be worked over and
over again. People think that's, like, if you
looked at, like, your competencies, listening,
you would just think it's like, okay. Easy, simple.
It's like you listen. Are you listening to respond
or are you listening to understand? Yeah. And
like, how do you wear that? How do you wear that
lens? I love that. So I guess I would take that
as a little bit of vice, but for anybody, what
would you say, like working on that muscle, like
you said, or listening to understand, how do
you work on that? How do you do better? Oh my
gosh. Well, OK, so let's actually, can we pull
it back to like leadership and the mentality
of leadership? So we talked about this before,
but I believe leadership is a mindset. It's not
a title. You don't have to manage people to lead
them. That's going to be its own podcast. Just
the two of us, whether you think you're a leader
or don't think you're a leader. I also always
say this. You don't have to be in a position
that says you're a manager, a leader, whatever
that entails. It's actually in your life, your
personal life. But anyways, go on because I'll
say it like, I mean, I say informal leader, but
you can be a leader in your home. So whether
you are a stay at home mom, which like kudos,
it's the hardest job out there and doesn't get
enough praise and recognition. your sacrifice
and everything. You can be a leader in your home.
You can be a leader with your friends. You can
be a leader in your family. You can be a leader
on your team. Just because you're a manager does
not mean you are leading your people. And so
people often confuse those two. I agree. I couldn't
agree with you more. The number I feel like a
mistake that organizations make, and this is
just like going back to my recruiting days, is
They often will say, this is the best performer
we have. So they naturally are going to be the
next manager that we have. And the problem is,
when you're a leader, it shifts. It's no longer
about you. Mic drop. I say that is exactly what
I say. Look at us. No, honestly, that's exactly
what I say every time I said, for some people,
the hardest adjustment when you move into a leadership
role. is it is no longer about you. Yeah. Simple
as that and I think well and that's simple. Yeah,
it's big and the mentality shift of letting go
of your desire to control the outcome or how
you get to the outcome and that's hard like going
into a meeting being like I know what Lindsey
means and I know what she needs to say and I
know what tools and I know what cadence and when
Letting go of that and then asking you questions.
That's where behavior change happens. There's
commitment And then there's compliance. Compliance
is, okay, I'm going to tell you what you need
to do, Lindsay. And you're going to say, okay,
I'm going to do it because I'm going to get Megan
off my back. Whereas commitment is where I get
you to a place where you're like, this is what
I need to do. And this is the why behind it.
And that's where you see the behavior change.
And that's where you get the buy in. It's like
buying into the process. Yeah. So. Back to listening
and leadership, becoming a leader and developing
that leadership skillset. Listening is top one
to three on the list of necessary strengths or
values that you bring to the table. And there
might be times we all fumble a little bit and
you might leave a conversation or you might leave
a little interview or a meeting and think, wow,
I maybe could have done a little differently.
Being mindful about the situation is so, so,
so important, but That is one thing that you
absolutely excel. I don't often say that about
leaders that I've coached as well, that they're
just fantastic listeners. Like it isn't just
something that's on top of my mind all the time
either, but that is something that you absolutely
bring to the table. Thank you. Gosh, you're just
making me feel so good. Is this what I do when
you're in front of the camera? Wait until we
talk photography because I will go on and on.
So you had talked about like leaving an interaction
and thinking, I wish I would have done that better.
I believe that the best communicators and the
best leaders and the best managers and honestly
just the best people. leave almost every interaction
and think, what could I have done differently?
So that next level, when you have like mastered
your ability to communicate, you no longer are
dependent on how somebody else shows up in the
conversation. You set the conditions, you get
ahead of problems before they become problems.
And then at the end, you're reflecting. And the
theme of feedback, you say what you see. So I
don't know if you've read the book, this is gonna,
you knew this was gonna happen. Everyone get
a pen and paper out or write it in your notes
on your phone. Radical candor. Yes, I have. Oh
my gosh. This is where my heart, I could talk
leadership all freaking day long and radical
cantor, I did. Did you really? Oh my gosh, we've
never talked about this. So I teach radical candor
often. And if I was going to teach it just like
in a really simple format, it's your ability
to communicate, give feedback while caring personally
and challenging directly. And there's like four
quadrants. So there's high caring or low caring.
And then there's staying silent or challenging
directly. So there's four different ways you
can handle it. So if Lindsey. was going to do
her very first podcast and she had spinach in
her teeth if I was going to challenge directly
but I forgot to care personally I might shout
in front of the whole store like hey Lindsey
you got spinach in your teeth The good news is
Lindsay knows she has spinach in her teeth so
she can get rid of it. The bad news is I didn't
really care personally and it probably made her
feel defensive and a little uncomfortable. The
other quadrant is if I cared so much then I'm
like oh my gosh if I tell Lindsay that she has
spinach in her teeth she's gonna feel so embarrassed
and I feel so badly that I'm not gonna say anything.
Most people fall in this quadrant. This is ruinously
empathetic. No change happens even though your
intention was really good and that's a problem
we sit there. so long that we swing into obnoxious
aggression when it's time. Then there's manipulative
insincerity, and that would be if I saw you and
I said, oh my gosh, Lindsey has spinach in her
teeth, and then I turn around to everyone, I'm
like, did you guys just see Lindsey? And then
we have radical candor, which would be, Lindsay,
I know you would do this for me. You're about
to step into one of the most important things
that you're going to do in 2025. You have spinach
in your teeth, and I wanted you to know. In private.
So that means I've cared personally and challenged
directly. So I use that a lot to gauge how we
communicate with each other. We rate it. We say,
scale of 1 to 10. How do you do in caring personally?
1 to 10. How do you challenge directly when reviewing
emails? And then we role play. how to change
it. I think we should figure out how to put the
book in a link in the show notes. We'll do that.
Yeah. Kim Scott. I love her. Kim Scott. Yes.
She's awesome. I should have worn orange to represent
her today. You look beautiful in the blue. Thank
you. Thank you. We're here representing spring.
Mindfulness. Let's talk a little bit about that.
Everything that you're talking about right there.
One thing that I've been asked many times, Lindsay,
are you ever going to be satisfied? And that
is a very broad question. I think sometimes I
reflect in pretty much all areas. Meetings, leaving
this like you're just saying, interviews, interactions,
employee moments, a little bit of everything.
But for me, there's always a little bit of room
for improvement. Now that does not mean I'm not
satisfied and incredibly grateful and loved the
interaction. When we have big events at White
Pony Boutique, every single little moment, I
reflect on that and look to see how we can kind
of level up. It doesn't mean I wasn't satisfied.
I was so thrilled and so happy, but I do believe
being very mindful is important because there
are little takeaways that you can get with an
interview, with an interaction after an event.
There's always a little bit of adjustment. There
is a space to celebrate. We should be celebrating
when things go well. I could not agree more.
I have a coach and I have had a coach. He lives
in Scotland. So it's... I forgot about a Scotland
coach. Chris Mar, another shout out authoritative
coach by the book. need it. He's been coaching
me for the past three years and for me I'll tell
him about a celebration or a compliment and it
always ends with okay so what's your takeaway
from that or what's one thing you would change
or yes or when someone compliments him he like
never just takes us as a compliment if I'm like
Chris you've changed my life he's like tell me
the one thing that stood out the most. Why? Yeah,
tell me that. And he's so good at it. And I feel
like there's some good and there is a little
bit of bad. I think sometimes we do just need
to take a compliment, celebrate a win. And I
am guilty that I need to take a moment and get
excited. And it's not that I'm not, but I might
need to shout out loud to others a little bit
more, like deep reflect. So I get like even.
I'm not sobbing in the car ride, but there are
times where I'm like, the sun is shining and
my whole body is full of gratitude. I love that
so much. Like I take these moments, but it doesn't
mean I say them out loud all the time. A friend
of mine is like, do you ever shut that little
hamster wheel off of yours? Because you're like,
next. No. Next. But I don't want to discredit
gratitude and taking the moments and celebrating
the wins. being mindful and reflecting is a really
powerful tool as a leader. Do you think, now
I'm gonna ask you questions. Okay. Do you think
that is just a trait that shows up when you are
like about yourself? So when you're talking about
like... leave an event because when I look at
you and I review your post and you are just like
pouring and oozing out gratitude for everyone
and the community and the people that work here.
Do you think that is maybe just something you
put on yourself? It might be. You know, that
is funny. Some people I'm like, God, I don't
want to be too cheesy or whatever, but this is
me. Like, it's literally it is authentic. And
when you see a social media post or I want to
jump on and do a quick little video. It's who
I am. I think I've been put in positions to really
make you appreciate the small thing. I grew up
from the most incredible family who loved me
with their whole hearts. You see it! I love her
mom! So I'm such a number one fan. I just, there's
just been, I think she actually is part of the
reason why I love heart. Like our love and I
am very passionate about what I do. I'm passionate
about my circle. I would do anything for you.
I have so much gratitude, but I've also had moments
of anxiety, of fumbling, of... of some Hard times,
you know losing my father -in -law unexpectedly
that I've really changed a perspective even more
I think I've always been a very passionate person
I've always loved very hard, but I think some
of those moments really make you look at life
a little differently Everything could always
be worse when I talk about things like that because
you know being part of the Indy Foundation You
see different perspectives that really make you
channel gratitude speaking of gratitude or talk
about how cold it was and I'm like I know everyone's
saying that But we've had so much sunshine. Yeah.
See, look at you. I know. But it's like legit.
I am not all the time, but I'm like, I just drive
in a couple of winters where I'm like, I need
sun or I'm going to lose my biscuits. Yes. Lose
my biscuits. Don't do that. I love saying that
was such a lose my biscuits. We talked about
listening, mindfulness, Megan and I could talk
for hours. I think naturally we just talk about
leadership and I just want to make sure and reiterate,
it's not about leadership in a career setting
all the time. It's in your personal life as well.
There is one thing that I know with Megan and
I really try on my own is leading with authenticity
and being very genuine about your message. I've
had a few things in my life where my mom is like,
Lindsay. just be you it's okay and it's kind
of shown me that little birdie in the back of
my head and my mom which I'm so grateful for
but I have had to channel that at times where
I question myself or think too much into something
and I'm like nope just be me just be me you know
I'm not for everyone, but I'm okay with it. And
sometimes that comes with a little bit of age,
a little bit of background, a little bit of career,
a little bit of everything. Authenticity is,
this is what you're going to get. I love that
about you. You send me the goofiest snaps sometimes.
You're like, this is just what I'm feeling in
this moment right now. And I love it. I think
that as leaders, authenticity is so important
for connection and vulnerability. Vulnerability.
Yes. It goes hand in hand. You're right. We can
just keep going down these hurdles. But I think
that in terms of authenticity, it doesn't give
you the permission to just show up with the wrong
energy. And what I mean by that is I actually
asked a question. So if you have... there's a
performative nature to being a leader or a coach.
If you've had the longest day ever here and then
you had an event and maybe some things went wrong
and your kids FaceTimed you, you get a FaceTime
from Tenley, how are you going to show up on
that call? Right. No, I'm just kidding. This
is not rhetorical. I'm coaching. You're actually
asking me. OK, so I get that. There are times
I'm exhausted and I get on the call with Tenley
and you kind of have to trigger that. You kind
of have to dig deep. Sometimes it's a little
fakey to make it. Why? Why would you show up
that way for her? Well, first of all, energy
is very contagious. Step one. And I don't want
to like take my exhaustion and lay it out on
her. Sometimes fakey to make it is OK. Being
authentic is absolutely one thing. And sometimes
I have to be honest with my kiddos, too. You
know, mom is tired. I'm tired. Yes, I can't.
listen to you reading that book out loud for
another 30 minutes. You know, we need to, but
at the end of the day, like a little bit of fake
it to make it because energy is contagious. And
what I want, if I can help her or someone else
turn their day around as a leader, I walked in,
I don't know if this is the right direction going
with this, but as a leader and my previous career
was so good at it there, you could feel the room,
the atmosphere kind of culture go down a little
bit. And I was like, not today. If I have to
get through this day too, we're all going to
be brought up. So I would walk in and like, how
do you like mourning so much? And I was like,
it's a mindset. Either do or you don't. So there's
a little bit of fake it till you make it, but
authentically is where I think personally, I
just channel the gratitude a little bit. And
then when I see that little face, it's like,
mom. And I'm like, how's your day? You remember
your whys, you remember what gives you the gratitude.
So what I'm hearing is that you showed up the
way that. They needed you to show up. Yes. There's
a like you said there is a little bit of fake
it till you make it But that's you like pouring
the energy that your people need. Yes in order
to make calls that day or get ready for school
and it's negative 44 degrees outside. So like,
although authenticity is so important and I will
shut down if I don't have a role where I'm allowed
to be authentic, it does not give permission
to not show up with the right energy. Yeah, I
agree with that. I think it is important to be
yourself. It's important to be silly. It's important
to laugh and to like bring that. Sometimes you
have to put yourself in a position to bring it
back to who you are, if that makes sense. So
like you leading that many leaders, that can
be difficult. Managing managers or leading managers
can be very difficult. I love you guys if you're
watching. No, I love you. I do. No, I know you
do actually. And I know you love what you do.
But like for myself, that's what I did for years.
And it can be difficult. But what I think is
sometimes you have to put yourself in a position
to Remember what makes you the way you are. Like
I love laughing. So sometimes like if we're having
a rough day, not that long ago, we had a moment
at even the boutique and it was kind of a rough
week. I swear it was a full moon. We were running
around rampant, all on empty. And I was like,
that's it. I need to laugh. No joke. Do you know
what I did? I went and put on a freaking blow
up. Halloween costume. I love that. Because it
was getting close to Halloween and I came out
and the girls were like, what in the? And we
laughed. It was a dinosaur, right? It was like
a big panda or... I think I saw a snap. Probably.
I love that. We laughed so hard and it was this...
but I was like, that's what... so... You do show
up for your people. Leading leaders can be hard
because I'm not letting them be, you know, you
can be tired and all of that. That's not what
I'm saying, but I'm not letting the culture and
the momentum slow or emotions waiver. I am going
to do something that I love and I love to laugh.
So I just grabbed that and I walked around like
a big, you know what? It looks like a dummy,
but like it was the best. I mean, it really is.
I love that. I'd love to hear. that there's awareness
too, like self -awareness. I think, gosh, there's
so many different, there's so many different
threads that I feel like we can go into, but
you talked about how you felt like listening
was one of the top three skills. One of the most
important is your belief in the person that you're
coaching. Because the moment you stop believing,
they feel it. Right? And when I say I love my
managers, I mean it. I know you do. I get that.
Because talking with other people in our community
or in my previous career, I see and I feel and
hear that from you. Sometimes my managers are
like, spill the tea. Who do you hate? I'm like,
no one. I really don't. I'm really fortunate
for that. But there's a belief. So if you're
like, I don't think this person can do this,
it's like, whoa. Check it. I mean, that's being
a mom, too. Like, be a mom and a friend. We've
talked about listening. We've talked about mindfulness.
We've talked about authenticity. You know what's
so crazy is leading how many people in the organization
that you're at right now. Megan's a pretty awesome
deal here. You're like... You always overdo it
for me. I'm not that big of a deal. Lizzie's
a big deal. No. Okay, but what is freaking cool
is... as Megan is a photographer, Bertrand Honey.
Not only is she so incredibly skilled, but I'll
never forget seeing your work on social media.
I think is maybe why I reached out, but having
you in person in the beginning of this boutique,
there was a lot of insecurities drumming up.
Sure. Right. Sure. Going through emotionally,
like just, you know, whatever that looked like
I could. That's another podcast. Yeah. But I'll
never forget, like any time leaving with you.
It was like, I did have to be a perfectionist,
I just had to be me. Like you bring out the authenticity
in people, which makes you automatically feel
more beautiful. When you can channel, one of
the things, I was actually gonna get a tattoo
of my grandma's writing on, I don't have any
tattoos, but I was like gonna go for it. I'm
an over thinker when it comes to that. I know.
Tiny tat, here we go. I was gonna put on my wrist,
be beautiful. It sounds cheesy, but at the end
of the day, there are moments where I'm like
behind a camera or a perfectionist shines through.
And I was like, no, be beautiful. Because to
me, what that means is like everything from within,
authenticity, and so on. And so when I'm with
you as a photographer... I literally feel like
I can be myself. I'm myself, and it is so fun,
and you're so good at channeling that with people.
So I think that is part of the reason that makes
you a really fantastic leader as well. You're
gonna make me cry. It's the best compliment.
I would love to keep seeing her photography business
on here, but I actually don't want her to get
too booked up, so... Lindsay, anytime I try to
like say I'm gonna slow down, I get a text from
Lindsay that says that you better not be talking
about me, which I never am. I love it so much.
And actually, I see that in my kids and my family
too. I have two girls and my husband. And you
think girls would be like, it's fine. No, they
actually equally do not take pictures like my
husband. They're getting much better. And they've
grown up so much. But anyways, I just think it's
pretty cool. Believe it or not, there's very
few clients that are like, I just want you to
know, I am so photogenic. And this is going to
be the easiest session you've ever had. Usually
people are like, I hate my arm, and I hate my
profile, and I hate like, and so I start with,
we're going to not highlight your insecurities,
but I want to know what they are. And then what
are the things that you feel really good about?
And there's synergy. I know that you're getting
here. There's synergy between my role as a coach
and what I do in photography. And it actually
took me a long time to see it. My role... as
a photographer is to see the best in the beauty
in someone and pull it out. But the coaching
component is getting them to see that themselves.
Right? Like it's like full circle. Mic drop.
That's a mic drop. That is so full circle. It's
so full circle. Oh, I was going to sit here and
say we were saying that I was like, and you're
like listening even as a photographer. But what
you just said there is so key is getting someone
else to believe in it. Getting someone to believe
in themselves. And I think that like sometimes
even just from and this is like being a mom and
everything is like we have this death by comparison.
Yeah. Where we will look at social media and
we'll look at somebody else's pictures or we'll
look at whatever. And we're like, they have got
it together and the reality is every session
I have kids they're like I would be surprised
if you got one picture and then they get it and
they're like oh my gosh I'm like believe it or
not you are so beautiful your kids are beautiful
and there's beauty in the chaos and so it's not
about like these manufactured moments it's about
orchestrating and and like having the organic
that's where the honey comes in like the organic
and sweet sweetness and I think you're talking
life right there like honestly Cause I'm thinking
what you just spoke to there coaching and everything.
I think of my career life, rolling that into
the boutique and every like being a mom and all
of that. It isn't picture perfect. And that's,
that's cool. I love that you share that though,
because boy is it the imposter syndrome. We've
talked about this. This could be a whole episode.
This is just like a teaser. Oh, I actually have
perfect segue. Gosh. So we won't spend too much
time on that. I don't know anybody that's in
their role doing it being like, how on earth
am I being trusted? to do this. Yeah and if you
are great that's amazing but truly it's a it's
a thing but I don't know being authentic is so
great because it just shows like there are imperfections
there's hiccups along the way you're goofy and
not absolutely how someone wants you to be or
thinks you should be I don't know it's a pretty
awesome Well, we just have this fundamental need
as human beings to feel accepted. Yes. But not
just to feel accepted, like this happens to our
young kids too, like they feel like they need
to be accepted, so they change who they are.
We have a fundamental need to be accepted for
who we are. Yeah. And so like your people, which
you found here. Yep. At YPONIA, like where you
are like running around in a ladybug costume
or whatever it is that you had. And like you
just get to be yourself. You can hop in and out
of being goofy and being inspiring. challenging
and having a hard conversation. Like it all comes
together. It does all come together at White
Pony. I always said it's not just about clothing.
I want to create a space where everyone feels
welcome to come and be themselves. It's so true.
But leave a little bit more empowered. Yes. I
love when we do photo shoots with your girls.
It's like we have fun. Yeah. Oh, yeah. It is
a blast. They're just hyping each other up like,
girl. You look so good. That's everybody's job
is to fuel each other. I agree. OK, so let's
wrap this up because we're going to have to do
another podcast. I know. I'm like, we're going
to have to do this again. I do want to just ask
a couple of really quick question takeaways just
to leave anyone listening with a few things.
Yeah. I know you have a whole long list of books
that you would recommend. Yeah. Oh, my gosh.
Canter is one of them. But what would you say
if there was a podcast or a top book? that you
would really recommend for someone looking to
fine tune their authenticity or leadership skills.
Oh my gosh. I wish you had given me this beforehand
so I could just go through my list. But you have
so many good ones. Fine tune your authenticity
or leadership. So I mean this is really biased
because it's my coach but the authoritative coach
is a really short read and it's meant to break
you out of your people pleasing habits. Love
that. Because naturally we want people to like
us whether we say it or not. Sometimes that can
get in the way of challenging and showing up
in the way that your clients, your employees,
your family needs you to show up to pull out
the best version of them. I've gotten some really
great frameworks. It's kind of a well, I just
keep going back to revisit it because we just,
under pressure, go back to what we know. Okay,
now juggling all of the things that you do literally.
What is, and I've seen a little bit of this side
of you lately and I love every second of it because
as leaders and moms juggle things, I have done
the same thing. What is a major stress reliever
for you? That you have to like do for yourself.
Yeah. Okay. So I used to get stuck in these habits
of like where you turn your brain off at night.
I would sit and watch a Netflix series until
it got too late and then fall asleep while I
was editing or something. But I've been really
intentional about I go to bed at nine o 'clock.
I put the phone down. I turn off my TV. My alarm
goes off. At 3 .50 in the morning, I get up.
I know this sounds so crazy and don't be like,
oh, she's getting up in the morning. This is
honestly the only time that I can find for myself.
I couldn't agree with you more, or I'm going
to be up so late. There's something about, well,
and I always talk about this book, The 5 AM Club.
Oh, I'm not. Lindsay, I've not read this book.
Okay. I have not read this book. Immediately
download it. It talks about what you can get
done in a day when you wake up and you're up
at 5 a .m. and you're doing that. Spending you
time. I get to the gym at 4 30 and then I get
my workout in and then I sit in the sauna and
I pray and I reflect and I just like... sat my
mind for the day, softened my heart, give me
the words that you need to say to these people
to pour into them. And when I don't do it, like
I've been sick as I'm coughing up a lung here,
I've taken time off. I still wake up. I can't
help it. You did. 430 a .m. I could not go back
to sleep. But like the intentionality and the
discipline and like. I was going to say this
earlier, as a leader, you're always showing up
for other people. You can't continue to pour
into people with an empty bucket. I agree. And
so like being intentional about what are you
feeling? What are you feeling into yourself?
Is it a audio book? Is it a podcast? Like what
this right now? Yes. Like, is this your you time
working out or going to spa? How intentional
are you being? And so that has been a new part
of my routine for me. I love how you said the
discipline to pour into you rather than. It's
not easy. No, it's not. And you can come up with
every excuse under the sun of what else you could
be doing or getting done. So I would say that
is an absolute takeaway, whether that is in the
morning or at night, but to give yourself...
a moment there. We're in a hustle and bustle
kind of world, you know, so give yourself time,
but it's going to take a little discipline. The
number one thing you can do to show up for other
people as a leader is to carve out the time for
yourself. Cause if you're not the best version
of yourself, if you're completely, I'm talking
to you a little bit too. I feel your eyes really
close to you on the side of the table. Rest is
so important for God's sake, rest, you know,
maybe that'll be a different podcast. Oh my gosh.
Yeah, and what that looks like and and sometimes
it's productive rest It doesn't mean that you
don't you're not doing anything and you're just
rotting. Oh, that is an incredible hobby I would
love to just rot on my couch for a day, but I
have two kids. So there's no such thing No, okay.
So man with all that you've got going on Are
there any big things in the future that you've
got planned or coming up? If I had a crystal
ball that told me that right now, I'd pay a lot
of money. I don't know I like have this theme
in my life where things just have like I've stumbled
upon an opportunity and I believe that's God's
work I agree and so I'm just trusting what's
to come but I'm just so great. I have the best
clients So if my clients are listening to this,
I love you. I love you I love you and I have
I mean, I just have an incredible opportunity
to work with so many people in the world that
I have so I don't know what's to come. No I'm
scared to say this but if anyone, listeners,
yes we're gonna have to have Megan on again because
this is fun and so natural but if anybody could
find your work. Yeah. Please don't use your schedule.
No, I'm just kidding. You're going to text me
and be like, this is my fault. I opened her up.
I'm in trouble. But where could they find you,
Megan, with your photography work? I'm about
to age myself as a millennial that I am. I only
have a Facebook right now, because I shut down
everything to balance intentionally. Sometimes
you've got to do it. I'm leaning more towards
doing commercial photography. So I have you,
obviously, as a client. I work with Tomline Candle
and Lady Inside. And so that's the type of work
that I'm looking at. to do. I intentionally shut
down my webpage, but you can find me on Facebook.
I love it. Or you can reach out to Lindsay and
she can be my gatekeeper. Yeah. Oh, sorry. Megan's
busy that day. Maybe next, you know, month. I
don't know. Next quarter. We'll get to it. We'll
get to it. I love it. Well, thank you so much
for being on here today. Thank you for having
me. I love sitting with you and talking to you.
And I even said, like, yeah, great. We're here
talking about podcasts. But let's do dinner.
Yeah. Just like ASAP. You guys, that would be
an incredible episode where we're having wine.
Actually, we should do that next time. That's
not a bad idea. If Abby allows it. Abby. We'll
give her a glass of wine. She can record it.
We just said, if you just blow on your coffee
or blow on your wine, people won't know that
it's actually wine. Did I say that right? Yeah.
You think it's coffee, but you don't know. Exactly.
Life tips. All right. Well, thank you so much,
everybody. And thank you, Megan. Thank you. Thanks
for having me. Thank you for listening. If you
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