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 Puny 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. There are people who don't
just walk into a room. They light it up. Today's
episode feels extra special to me because I'm
sitting down with a dear friend and someone I
admire so deeply, Miss Megan Miller. If you know
Megan, you know her energy is absolutely contagious.
Her joy is genuine and her heart for people runs
so deep. She has this incredible ability to truly
see others, to draw beauty, confidence, and story
in a way that feels both natural and profound.
Through photography and far beyond it, Megan
has always helped people feel known. The last
time Megan and I talked she was standing in one
season and today she's standing in another. And
what I love most about her journey isn't just
the change itself but the courage, faith and
honesty in which she walked through it. This
conversation isn't about titles or timelines.
It's about becoming. Letting go of the picture
you once had. Stepping forward without a full
map and trusting God in the in -between. All
right, Miss Megan. I am so grateful for you.
I know how busy you are and I'm so happy to be
together again. It's about time. Me too. I feel
like... It's been forever since we've sat down
together, but it really hasn't been that long.
It's nice because we can just jump back in like
it was yesterday. It was almost a year since
I sat in this seat last. You're right. Yes. Okay.
So it has been a while. Yeah, it has been. Yes.
Buckle up. Buckle up friends because we can talk
for a very long time. I actually have questions
and everything prepared, but I feel like I'm
going to throw the papers out the window. That's
going to happen. That's good. I love it. So,
well, most importantly, let's do a little bit
of a recap of what this last year looked like.
for you. You've been through some really awesome
changes. Take it away. Yeah. So last time we
met, we were talking on a topic that I felt like
was an expertise of mine, and I was so comfortable
talking about it. And this year, fast forward,
there has been a tremendous amount of change.
And so this year, What we're going to be talking
about is I'm like in the season of change. So
career has changed. Life looks drastically different.
And so I used to be an internal coach at a large
corporation here in St. Cloud, Minnesota. And
I had kind of entered a season of life where
I knew that it was time to make a change. Entered
into a real estate team with my husband at Premier
Real Estate, the Miller Group. having so much
fun with that and continuing to do photography,
but also contracting and continuing to coach
leaders in sales. I just found out about that
piece and I couldn't love that more. Yes, it
was meant to be honestly. So I'm excited because
I'm doing so many different things and wearing
a lot of different hats, but. It's been an adventure.
I love it. Let's just take it back really quickly
as far as like making your transition referring
to what we talked about last time. We talked
a lot about leadership on different skills, but
tell me you were going through kind of a period
of time. So tell me why the transition. Yes.
Okay. So this is so interesting to explain because
I literally loved the people that I worked with.
I loved the work that I was doing and kind of
what was unexpected. It was like I walked away
from a 10 year career somewhere where I was very
valued and I had some really strong partnership
and it wasn't due to dissatisfaction. I was seeking
alignment and it's like for years I was being
called to do something different and it's like
God put it on my heart like Megan you've done
great work here but what I have for you next.
is going to be what you were designed to do.
And I think what was so strange about that for
me was like, but God, I love these people and
I love this work. And so it didn't necessarily
make sense for me. And it was so hard, Lindsay,
I don't know, cause you did this too. I did.
And honestly, you took, you take the words, you
made it sound like perfect from when I made the
leap also, like I was so grateful for the people
and so grateful for the position. I always talk
about like, I sat in this meeting and my mind
started drifting, but within this meeting. and
development of what we were working on. I was
like, Lindsay, this is your dream job. This is
where you were hoping to be. And my heart is
being pulled in a different direction, a whole
different level. It's hard to describe, but it's
exactly what you're seeing. It's hard to describe,
and it almost feels so weird because I'm like,
lady, it's a job. Do people look at this and
think, why are you struggling so much with your
identity through this? And I think that... when
I left, it was like a divorce. It was like a
divorce from the identity that I had. I had noticed
this about myself when I went on a vacation two
years ago. I went to England. Do you remember
that? It was so, it was so fun. And when I had
met some, I was like, so what do you do? And
he was like, you Americans, why do you always
start with what you do? And it was like, why
do I introduce myself in that way? And then when
I stepped out of my career, I found it more challenging
to identify who I was. It was like the weirdest.
I was not expecting that. So there were some
challenges that came with the change like the
waves of grief. Like I felt such a loss of identity
and loss of community in the role that I had.
And then just a change in, I had to shed this
expectation that not only I had for myself, but
everybody watching had for me too. That's a tough
one. Because I think there were a lot of people
from the outside looking in being like, girl,
you had it all. Like, I think that it's crazy
that you walked away from what you did. Yeah,
I think for someone who knows, I totally can
see exactly what you're saying. However, for
someone who really knows you like outside of
your career, I was like, I can't wait to see
what you can do. I really appreciate that. Like
wholeheartedly. So we had conversations about
this and you know, it fuels us. I do believe
like we both have that achievement, you know,
mentality, like overachiever for sure. So for
me, when I took the leap, it was like I have
to prove to everyone, I have to hustle. to do
all these things because I'm like, you know,
the world is against me right now. And probably
what you're saying where everyone's like watching,
like with a, you know, magnifying glass and is
like, what's she going to do? Is she going to
make the wrong move? Is she coming back? Yes.
Yes. And I'll never forget someone had told me,
I had a meeting with them and they said, you're
going to do really good. He goes, I had a business
too. And I was back in the workforce within five
years, like essentially said, you've got to fill
your fill rate. And I was like, bring it on.
Like bring it don't you kind of love that sometimes
when people put just fuel on your fire It's like
sometimes that's what that does and yeah and
for the role that this person was in it I really
it did make me stop and think it opened my eyes
to the roller coaster of what I was kind of going
into so As you were, we talked about this before,
so terrified. Terrified. Terrified. Can I get
it a little louder for the people in the back?
Terrified. Self -employment. It's such a rewarding,
terrifying, scary, high pressure, flexible, weird.
And not flexible. Flexible, not flexible. Yes,
totally. Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I
work more hours now than I've ever worked. Everyone
says that. I do. But when you love it, and it's
something that... It doesn't feel that way. It
doesn't feel that way. And it's on your own terms.
Every day when I look at my calendar, I'm like,
you did this to yourself, but you did it to yourself.
But what I'm so fortunate for is, so this is
another thing. I thought I would hop into like
real estate and everyone in my office, we would
just become best friends because that's what
I'm used to having with my coworkers. I'm just
used to a deep connection and a partnership and
we share wins and losses. And there are some
wonderful people I'm working with, but that's
just not common. And so my community wasn't who
I thought my community was going to be. And so
now my clients are my people. I work with the
best. I mean, you're a client and I adore you.
And yesterday I was having coffee and I saw Danny,
who is a client and I adore her. And then I saw
another client Alison. I'm like, man, do I have
the best people? I love that. Then I get to work
with. So that's a, that's a choice in the community
that I, that I have. That was the kind of an
unexpected change. Yes. So Definitely. You took
a big leap of faith. Yeah. You're wearing many
hats, but you have said to me too, you felt a
little bit lost in the process, kind of what
you were just referring to. Yes. So let's dive
into a little bit of what you're just talking
about a feeling loss for someone out there in
the world who is listening to this, who has a
change in their future is in the middle of one.
Like tell me a little bit more of how that felt
kind of like working through with that feeling
of like, where do I go next? Yeah. So I think
This is something that I'm actively working on,
so I can't speak from resolution, but I can tell
you that I, like many people, had a vision for
this is what you should do and what success looks
like. And I was holding myself to this standard.
I was the only one holding myself to this standard,
by the way. And moving forward, what I'm really
focused on to help with the navigation of this
is being able to shed and let go of what I thought
was. to redefine what is. I love that. What did
that look like for you? What was your vision?
Yeah, I mean, it's like you go to college, get
a job, a stable job, start, you know, you want
to get promoted and then get married and have
kids and work for a company and just. buy a home
and live in a community. And all those things
are great by the way. They're wonderful things.
And people who stay working for companies, it's
okay. But for me, it just like, it didn't feel
like this is what I was supposed to be. It didn't
align. It didn't. And so I guess for people who
are feeling lost, don't fight against the feeling
of not knowing what you're supposed to be doing,
but welcome it and be okay with not having the
answers. Cause I'll tell you right now, I don't
have answers. I can tell you, I have never been
more uncomfortable, excited. inspired, terrified
in my entire life than I am right now. Like there
are days on this roller coaster of entrepreneurship
where I'm like, can you believe I get to do this?
How lucky am I in other days? Literally five
minutes later, like, what am I doing? What am
I doing? What have I got myself into? So there's
like this wave of self doubt. And so I think
it's just, here's another thing too. Like I have,
I've coached many, many people, leaders, sales
professionals, and I think that there comes a
point where people are like, I really want to
do this thing, but I'm scared. And if you really
like peel away the layers on what's scaring us,
it's the fear of going from knowing exactly what
you're doing to not knowing a thing. Yes, like
The you in order to change and grow you really
have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable
being so Uncomfortable and breaking a little
bit publicly I am being so vulnerable and open
with my change right now, and I love that I'm
not like I'm not out here masking like life is
perfect and everything's great Because it's it
doesn't it's not real. Yeah, and I the people
I coach I'm consistently pushing them to do things
that are hard and that they're gonna be bad at
first So it's like how do you give yourself permission
to suck at something? I mean we could all relate
to yeah when we started and how bad we were when
we like not saying you were ever bad at lives
but if you looked at your first live let's never
actually don't even think about it abby they're
deleted like get her back there because my podcast
how much you learned about like the technology
and the changes and like how to how to optimize
the process like what a beautiful journey that
you went through and it was quiet like people
didn't know all of the like I didn't know yes,
I will never forget ever ever ever that when
I was thinking about making this change and I
stood on it for a long time and I know I'm you
know, like it was a long time because my heart
was with the people that I was serving at the
time and my heart was in all the work that I
put in but I'll never forget talking about my
idea saying that this is gonna be more than a
clothing and it was actually at a Christmas and
my husband's cousin was listening and his wife
and he he was the one who actually said to me
but Lindsay like the look he gave me was like
I believe you, we believe you, believe in you.
And he didn't say it, but he said, you know,
what if you don't have to have all the answers?
Cause I just kept saying, but then this, I'm
not sure that, you know, when I was explaining
and when he said that it stopped me dead in my
tracks and I was like, I had validation from
him without him even saying anything. And then
I was like, you're correct. Like it's one foot
in front of the other. And I think, If you would
have told me when I started this boutique, if
I was going to have a podcast, that would have
never been in my cards in my future. There's
something to that too, because we think that
we look at other people who are doing incredible
things and we're like, they've always had it
figured out. Like we have convinced ourselves
that everybody else knows what they're doing.
Like this is a journey you walk into naturally.
Yes. And that is a part of imposter syndrome
that I don't know if it ever goes away. Like
I don't know if you ever stop feeling like a
little bit of self -doubt. When you're doing
a really good job at putting one foot in front
of the other through the unknowns and up against
what makes you really uncomfortable. When you're
good at getting uncomfortable, I think you're
going to have a little piece of that. Pressure
makes diamonds. That's what they say. So I am
not diamond yet, but boy am I experiencing the
pressure and I'm loving it. I really am just
trying to celebrate. If I have a call or a coaching
call or a moment where I'm like that flopped,
I will always say at the end of it, what did
I miss? What could I have done better? What did
I learn? Megan, I literally sitting here and
talking to you, like even the experience of being
an entrepreneur for seven, well, I can't even
believe I'm saying that because the days that
feels like it's been a year, days that it feels
like I've done this my whole life. But when you're
talking, I literally am like, I cannot wait to
have this conversation a year from now with you
to just see how everything evolves. so quickly
because you are the epitome of when you follow
your heart and what you're truly passionate about
and that's helping other people. It's going to
align. Like further. It's not that it hasn't
because I can totally see everything evolving,
but I truly am like, I cannot wait to have this
conversation near. And then in 10 years, can
you take that little clip of us with the app
where we forget things and then let's have that
10 years from now. which will happen. We'll continue
to do that. I appreciate you saying that so much
because here's what I'll tell you. I stepped
out in faith, entirely taking a chance on myself,
on my family, like, you know, cause Gus is my
partner, my husband and things, knock on wood,
have gone so well. When a door that I was waiting
and maybe took too long to close finally closed,
there were opportunities for me that I would
have never in my wildest dreams thought, oh my
gosh, am I going to be doing this? Like, I can
recall a time where I told Michelle Pape with
Next Monday, the queen of all queens. I hope
she hears this. I love her so much. I told her,
I said, Michelle, I am terrified of public speaking.
And she, you know what she said to me? You got
to speak at my next summit. I'm sorry. I don't
know if you heard me. I am terrified. Like black
out hives and weirdly enough, and what I spoke
about was having my son and postpartum depression.
So it was really vulnerable, like really deep
stuff. And it's much easier for me to go up and
talk about business and work and leadership.
But when it's about myself and I just cried and
cried and cried reading, it was a letter to my
younger version of myself. I think it was like
letter to your 22. old self and I just let it
all out and people came up and they're like thank
you so much for that can I share that with my
daughter can I share that with so -and -so and
it was like okay I helped people through that
and weirdly enough my career it continues to
bring me to spaces where I public speak. Like,
I mean, this is kind of, I mean, you're not an
audience, but you are. Yes. But I am continuously
being put in front of people and I'm trusting.
I just give it all to God. Like use me as your
vessel today. Who needs to hear a message from
me today and give me the words to say, to help
them with whatever it is that they're dealing
with right now. And that has been kind of my
foundation in this change. Oh, goodness. There's
so much unpacked there. First of all, for a new
year, a stronger you theme that we're kind of
going through with white puny and our theme.
I just thought to myself when you're saying that
I need to write a letter to my younger self.
And I need to have a moment where I just let
it all out and like look at all the accomplishments
and a wins because when you take a leap of faith
and you're going to a new career or you are becoming
a business owner. It legitimately, there's no
other way to describe it. Looking back, other
than you literally pushed me off a cliff. Yeah,
I pushed myself off a cliff. That is what it
feels like. And you figure it out. You survived.
I had no solid answers. I really didn't like
we had the business moving for sure. But oh my
gosh, the things that I figured out in the last
few years. But so That is one piece of it. So
our New Year's Stronger You theme isn't about
reinventing yourself or what you could be doing
or it's literally standing in your power, standing
in your values, standing in your power, standing
in what you bring to the table stronger. And
you know, with we say going through what you've
been through in 2025, this is the year to take
what you've accomplished and what you've achieved
and be dang proud of that. Channel that into
a bold strength that pushes you to do things
better, differently, slower, more intentional.
Because it's not about all the hustle and moving
faster. It's actually about intentionality, doing
less, doing it better. So I think a really good
takeaway from this is to do what you did when
you're speaking moment, actually, is I would
challenge anyone listening to take Five minutes
to write a letter to you. If I think of me 22
having my brand new little baby, goodness gracious,
she's going to be a senior. I can't. Darn it.
I'm already like this. maybe this would be an
episode of me reading that. I have to have a
moment going through it, but this is a really
good process, I think, for anyone starting the
new year, because friends, I don't care where
you are in your life, or if you've gone through
a change, or you're going through a change, you've
got to look at all that you've accomplished.
Celebrate all that you have become. But additionally,
if you had an awful, challenging, hard year in
2025. It's sitting down and saying, what did
I learn from that? 100%. How did that change
me? And how can I use that moving forward? Because
God uses us and these hardships to give us exactly
what we need. And there's beauty in the pain
and all the mess. 1000%. Actually, I've never
I would say the last two years being in business
for what I'm doing has definitely been a challenge.
Entrepreneurship, no matter what you do, where
you're at, how many years you've been in, it
comes with a roller coaster. That's just life
100%. It is, I think, if you're not a business
owner, right? But the thing is, what has helped
me actually, it's crazy because I've never been...
You know, as far as my faith, it could have always
been deeper. It could have always been going
to church more. I am the epitome of the quiet
strength. I dug so deep into saying, like you
take a deep breath and you're like, I trust.
I trust that this is leading me to where, like
you're leading me to where I need to be. I trust
that this is the process I need to learn. I trust
that you're giving me a lesson and sometimes
I'll say, okay, I'm done with the lessons. Yeah,
I learned. Remove the pressure. Wow. So I have
leaned into my faith stronger, deeper and quietly.
through the last few years harder than I ever
have. I love that. I think that since we're on
this theme of anybody who's going through a change
or going through this process, pray through it.
Pray through it. I prayed so hard last year just
for clarity and a vision on where I was going
next. And what's weird was I'm like, I'm not
hearing anything. I'm not hearing anything. And
a part of that was he's like, no, you There,
I'm telling you, but you're just not slowing
down enough to listen. And so it's how are you
creating that space? Not where you're like praying
in the car when you're going from one place to
the next, because you're busy and you need the
strength to do whatever it is you're doing. Please
continue to do that. But if you like create a
system or a space where you can just be in a
quiet space for you to Deeply pray and hear what
and receive. Yeah, they receive do you open to
receive? Yes. I love that I think and no matter
what you believe in There is a way to go about
this. Yeah, there's a way to just give yourself
that space Period. Mm -hmm. That's in case Okay.
Thank you. I did first couple of them You might
have been one of them in the beginning a time
lapse our whole conversation because I forgot
like someone hit stop Oh, no. Have a wonderful
day And then it was like an hour of not to like
cut or edit anything on your phone. Yeah, it
takes hours Yes, yes, cuz it you had a whole
hour of it or whatever. Yes, and it loads like
Ben Barrett I think his was like an hour and
10 minutes time lapse. Oh I did on the accident
and like to do anything with that video. It takes
me so long. So don't ever do that Oh my gosh,
okay. Well, I'm sorry. You have to listen to
me for that long, especially you I'm so sorry
I Love your voice. It's giving me the tingles
ASMR. I think I tried to do this last time Cool,
that's a painful listen Well, I think we recorded
I don't even know how many podcasts and I was
like I hadn't Re -listened to one really why
because it was like we did like interviews and
then I finally was like I didn't really set a
launch date because I was like scared and then
I Was like, okay one day I was irritated just
whatever and I finally said That's it. I'm listening
to it. Cause I was like, if I do not like what
this sounds like, I will not do this. I was like,
I will not move forward. At that point. Yes.
You went that far. Yes. I was like, cause I wanted
to make sure we had enough and I was like, it
made sense. Like I was getting the hang of it.
Like it was meant to be rather than just something
I wanted to try and do. I didn't want to like
launch it and over promise under deliver. So
there was one day where I was like, I'm listening
to it right now. Cause I just don't care. And
I was like, Actually, you sound pretty good.
Not as bad as I thought. Do you know who you
sound like? I've thought about this already today.
You kind of sound like Meg Ryan. Has anyone ever
told you that? No, never. It's like, you're like,
if I close my eyes, you're Anastasia. I don't
know who that is. Are you the animation film?
Oh, okay. You have got some homework. Actually,
I do think I know what movie you're talking about.
Once Upon a December. Yeah, I got to watch it
again. It's been years. Okay, I know who you're
talking about. Yes. Okay. Yeah. Listen, it's
you. I think that that's your voice, which she's
famous. So you're on your way there. Okay. Anyway,
we digress. Okay. So we're talking about faith,
diving faith. And I was just going to say, giving
yourself that space. Letting go once was the
challenges that I wasn't expecting, the change
in the community, introducing myself. Okay. So
just in talking with faith and however that looks
for you because I love and I give everyone their
own space to believe in what you wish and do
what you need to do but like give yourself the
room to receive like you said yeah but honestly
what that means to me too is putting one foot
in front of the other and leading with your heart
when you lead with your heart Side note, you
are going to trip a couple times. You're going
to learn some lessons, you know, but you have
to be open to like learning the process. But
as long as you're addicted to learning the process,
I mean, it just like the podcast. We just had
this conversation. I did not know if I was fully
ready to launch a podcast and I had imposter
syndrome. That's so hard. And I've talked about
that in the beginning because I just didn't know.
But what I did do is I did put one foot in front
of the other. And I said to myself, if this is
meant to be, it's meant to be. And actually I'm
working on a few things behind the scenes right
now. And I do not have every answer laid out,
but it literally is keeping me up at my office
at night because I'm so excited. Like, yes, I
don't know, but I just know that I am being led
for something even greater with white peony.
And yeah, it's just that to me is faith. Can
I ask you a question? Can we trade? Okay, so
you walked away from your career that you were
like up and coming. There was a lot of promise
for your future and you were doing some really
incredible work. You stepped out. open, white
peony was already open, but it was kind of your
side hustle. And you're like, I'm going to do
this, I'm going to go all in. Assuming you struggled
with an identity crisis at that time, too. What
did that process look like for you? And how long
did it take you to feel rooted in what you were
doing? Yeah, so I'm going to take it back to
I always go here in my mind, through my careers,
like my biggest career and my past. There are
things characteristics that I've carried from
a little girl that I am realizing deeper and
deeper and deeper Through my relationships through
my connections with my employees and the people
that I oversaw and That either you know as time
went on What once was maybe something that people
looked? I don't want to say frowned upon or like
my ideas were overlooked or I was like a little
too much. Yes, this or too passionate about that.
For example, it is crazy because looking back
at I don't want to call it like what would have
maybe been a flaw because it's not never been
flaws of mine. It's actually the biggest strength,
but they were always, I would say I felt like
they were definitely overlooked or there wasn't
room to really empower strengths. So as I moved
in and took the leap of faith, jumped off that
dang cliff, I was like, I love clothing. I am
doing a boutique right now. Things are going
great, but I still have no idea how I'm different
from someone else. And I didn't believe in myself
at that point. I did not believe Like I still,
the imposter syndrome was so strong and here
I am. You took my really awesome salary away.
You wiped me out like a rug from under your feet.
I still have no idea. how I'm going to be different
and cooler. How am I going to be a standout in
a world that has a hundred different stores or
businesses or entrepreneurs? What do I have to
bring to the table? I really sat in that and
I said, I don't know, but I have a business.
I'm going to move it forward. I literally am
going to put one foot in front of the other.
And then I started to hone in on what makes me
tick, what my values are and over the time of
owning the business, I'm standing in those stronger
than I ever have. But it was a bit of a process
in like an identity crisis, like you said, to
kind of really be like, you know, peel away the
achievement layers. Like, yeah, I am. I'm still
up and running. Like we're still moving. Yeah.
But who am I? And what that ties to is your business
and your work. And it's crazy with time and you
know like the things that brought me joy and
was starting to bring other people joy and the
strengths what I thought you know that were overlooked
started to be like things people needed from
me and you just kind of like it's an evolution.
that is very authentic, if you let it be. I love
that. So authentic. But you have to let it be
that you have to be you. I love that. And I have
a couple more questions. But so you talked about
how the things that made you you in the space
that you were working in, there was some like,
be less complex or too fluffy or that's too much.
But then when you found a space where you could
be authentically self the gifts that you were
given, help other people. And that's how you
know. Like that's, I really believe that's how
you know is when those things click. So if somebody
asked you today, Lindsay, who are you and what
does make you qualified to do what you do? Can
you confidently say that? Yeah, I would say I'm
not qualified. Nope. Try again. Just kidding.
No, but actually, truly. Okay. I'm going to say
it though. I'm not qualified and that's a beautiful
thing because the perfectionism in me since I
was little is unbelievably strong. And I've come
out of this. I have put one foot in front of
the other with a business that is actually taking
my imposter syndrome and turning it against me.
So you have to face yourself in the mirror. And
I think what this whole story evolves like, I
always say everyone is a leader in some way,
shape or form. And I think when you can hone
in on that, when you move forward and take a
leap, you kind of, if you turn to yourself and
you say, I'm a leader. Your strengths and your
characteristics in some way shape or form you
were put on this earth to give to others Mm -hmm,
and I think we forget that other people need
these things. Yes Yes, do you know what I mean?
I feel like I don't have the answers But what
I do know is I love helping people there were
moments where I connected so deeply with others
there were moments where I saw people who needed
to be connected like you just It's on your heart.
It's on your heart. You move forward and this
whole, I don't know if I answered your question
right, but I just know I'm not qualified and
that's okay. And it's funny because if you would
have told me what I'm doing now compared to before,
that's that achievement thing. Like in my mind,
I would be making millions of dollars and being
this huge thing. And I'd have all this education
under my belt. And here I am owning a business,
running a podcast and being a mom and a dog mom
and all the things. It's not perfect and that's
okay. So the values that are leading me right
now. More than ever our absolute community and
connection. I was just gonna bring up community
I think you're leaving now at a big piece of
what you do here in this community community
and connection for me Family to me, especially
with my daughter becoming a senior. Oh lord.
That is a whole nother thing But I'm like, it's
a different it's different. I've ran fast for
a long time and You know, as Haley's getting
older and Tendley's growing up to be something
and her personality is so awesome. She is awesome.
But it just, it, it slows you down to really
think about what you want when you're old. Yes.
So anyways, community connection, family, of
course, passion in everything. I just, when I'm
doing work, you're gonna, you're gonna feel it.
You're gonna hear it when I walk in a room. It's
a vibe. It is a vibe. And you can see it too
when you get an idea. That's happened probably
about six times in this conversation. You're
like, oh, wait, that's an idea. And the coolest
part is you don't need approval or permission.
You just need the community that you have here
at YPONI to bring your visions to life. Yeah.
And I just think of with the ups and downs of
over the last years, it feels so good. this new
year's stronger you just saying like, here is
who I am like it or not. I really don't care.
Like this is what I bring to the table. This
is what I believe in. This is what the work I'm
doing. It's good work. Like you fight that imposter
syndrome. You fight that perfectionism for so
long. And then it feels so empowering and so
good to say, this is who I am. You know, there
was an exercise at a summit, a next Monday summit,
and they were like, hey, I want you to write
a letter to yourself. Yes. And we're going to
just send it. and we're not going to tell you
when. And just write down who you are. Love that.
And all these women around me were just writing
like so fast. And I just sat there and I couldn't
write. And I was like, this is so embarrassing.
I like folded up my piece of paper and put it
in my purse because I'm like, I don't know how
to answer this question. And what is so weird
is like I wanted to write down like my job description.
Truly. Which is so strange, right? And so I folded
out my piece of paper and I put it in my pocket
because I'm like, I don't even know how to answer
this question. So for me, I'm like really working
on defining who am I, not what do I do? Like,
who am I? Strip all the titles, strip everything
you do and what you've accomplished and just
answer the question. Who are you? When you do
that the universe responds. The universe responds
and my shift went from I want to fit the perfect
ideal vision of success to I want to build a
life that I'm not like working to count down
the days to escape. Oh I love that. I am not
in a rush to escape. I'm not like I cannot wait
till Friday because I have I get so fired up
for the work that I get to do and the people
I coach and the people I get to photograph. Because
it's not just about taking pictures, as you know.
It's like really helping people with real estate,
a huge transition in their life. With photography,
big life changes and milestones, scary ones,
beautiful ones, like having children, career
changes. And so throughout all the things that
I do, the common vein is I get to help people.
And that is like... my true purpose and I'm in
no rush to stop it. I love that. Do you know
what I tell everyone? And this is legitimate.
This is zero fluff. I am not joking you if I
won the lottery tomorrow. You keep doing it.
Which is why I think the universe should respond.
Agreed. Hello. I would not change a thing. That's
beautiful. I would maybe go and sourcings more,
you know, that kind of thing, but like I would
never, I mean it. I would not change this. I
would do this until I can't do this anymore.
I truly would, but I have really like with blinders
on kind of put one foot in front of the other
to Live by what I believe in and I believed from
beginning without knowing any answers that I
was going to Be more than clothing, but I just
didn't know how or why yeah, like I had no idea
and so Like your purpose with moving your transition
Mm -hmm. You know you are dabbling in so many
like things like you are really But there is
a purpose like is there anything that you could
say with with blinders that you don't have a
full answer to but is there a purpose that's
leading you? It doesn't matter what you're doing
as long as you're doing it like alongside God.
So the work that you do Like I don't need just
the one consolidated job with a title and a benefits
package in order to have a fulfilled life. I
need... That was her therapy session coming up.
I've not had no therapy. Thank you Chat TVD.
I didn't need to pay for that. But I don't need
that it's like and I also don't need to just
be like this is my one thing This is the one
thing that I'm good at. It's like this brings
me joy. This brings me connection This brings
me closer to my faith This brings me and allows
me more time with my family and that's okay,
and you don't have to have all the answers It
doesn't need to be perfect. We have one life
and make it the best life. Yes, that's it Oh,
I love that so much. I amongst everything else
and the universe responding, your family in this.
Yes, for your kids. Like there's just something
about this, like looking back, even in the transition
that took me a little bit longer to make the
leap in the middle of it, I wouldn't have told
you that I wanted to like leave any sooner or
anything like that was ungrateful. But in hindsight,
looking at that transitional phase and my kids
even, I was like, I should have read the clue.
You shoulda woulda coulda at the same time. Yes.
That's interesting that you say that because
my husband, like my first week when I had stepped
away, I was playing a card game with my kids
and he just looked at me and said, I am so happy
for you. And I was like, why? I know I said why
and he goes you literally wouldn't have been
able to mentally show up like the way that you're
showing up with your kids right now and so it
was like yeah it was Monday through Friday but
it consumed so much of me outside of that because
I cared so much and I just wasn't showing up
the way that I wanted to for my family yeah and
it is a full -time job being a mom yes I mean
it is so if you're doing that full -time kudos
it is a very hard thankless job but probably
the most fulfilling and rewarding title i've
ever held and that i will ever hold yes and my
legacy so i'm letting letting that drive each
decision i make yeah and what i get to do i think
you know Now the journey that you're on yeah
self -employed that has definitely been a process
for me because you're you're evolving You're
trying to figure out like the next kind of move
a little bit. Mm -hmm, but Realizing and putting
your family first is so key. Yes my whole Mind
and heart shifted this last 12 months in a much
bigger and better purpose the title of this podcast
is going to be something about becoming because
There isn't final answers. It's leading with
your heart. It's following faith. It's walking
one foot in front of the other I think everyone's
always in a journey of becoming no matter where
you're at But I'd relinquishing this vision.
Yes that you thought you had for yourself because
God's plans are so much bigger and better and
more aligned with who he created you to be and
for anyone who's feeling stuck Anyone who's feeling
unsure or afraid if it's too late or you know,
you're nervous about starting something new.
Megan, I'll have you end with a little inspiration
just to give to wrap it all kind of together.
I said it earlier, but I'll say it again, really
relinquish control, relinquish the vision and
the idea that you thought you had for yourself.
Welcome failure and obstacles and hiccups because
the only way you will master anything new or
you will strengthen your ability to do anything
different, you got to be willing to fail and
it's okay. It is okay. It's okay. And there's
more people cheering for you than there are rooting
against you and lean into that and give yourself
grace because it's not going to be pretty or
perfect. Grace. I think that's where we'll end
it because we all need a little bit of grace
through this entire journey. Mostly giving it
to yourself because that's who we're hardest
on. As we close today's conversation, I want
to pause and say this. Megan, you are such a
gift. Your courage, your honesty, and your willingness
to share the middle, not just the polished outcome
is what makes your story so powerful. You remind
us that becoming doesn't require perfection,
certainty, or a finish line. Your courage, your
honesty, and your willingness to share the middle,
not just the polished outcome is what makes your
story so powerful. You remind us that becoming
doesn't require perfection, certainty, or a finish
line. It requires faith, humility, and definitely
trust. You've always had the rare ability to
see beauty in others. And in this season, it's
been so inspiring to watch you extend that same
grace towards yourself. To everyone listening,
if you're standing at the edge of change, if
you're grieving a version of life you once imagined,
if you feel excited and terrified all at the
same time, let this be a reminder that you are
not late. You are not lost and you are not failing.
Sometimes the most faithful step forward is the
one taken without clarity, trusting that God
will meet you there. Megan, thank you for being
you. Thank you for your heart, your light and
your courage. And I'm so proud of you and so
grateful for this conversation. I'm yelling because
she's across our store right now. Thank you for
listening. If you found this information helpful,
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time, keep dreaming, keep striving, and keep
making a difference.