How a Kansas City Mom Influencer Made Content Her Full-Time Job

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[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't even think anyone would pay me.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I've been doing KC cool mom for coming up on two years now, and I'm proudly can say that this is now like my full-time gig.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't know how to approach it as a business.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Hello, and welcome back to Be Life Changers.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Today, we're going to talk about what happens when someone opens the door for you and you turn around and hold the door open for someone else.

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[SPEAKER_01]: That's what's today's conversation is all about, the power of community.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Connection and what happens when we choose collaboration over competition.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Today, I'm setting down with a good friend of mine, Tori Wade, the woman behind KC cool mom and cool media LLC.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So let's start there.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Let's learn just a little bit about you specifically.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Who is Tori Wade?

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[SPEAKER_00]: All right.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I'm a local mom influencer and that's kind of how we've met is through a creator event, but I've been doing KC cool mom for coming up on two years now and I'm proudly can say that this is now like my full-time gig.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It was kind of just like a side thing I was doing for fun and then I started making a little bit of my

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm counting off of it and getting to do cool things, but now I'm like, hey, this is like my full time job, this is what I'm doing so I just launched my cool media LLC officially a couple months back and yeah, I'm leaning all the way in.

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[SPEAKER_01]: that is so cool.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think you even know how much that has meant to me even with the shifts and stuff I've had recently.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You know, becoming more into that creator space.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You know, everybody kind of assumes that's where I was to begin with, but you know, when I first came in, I was in, you know, the pop-up shopping and putting on events.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So I was more known for the event

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[SPEAKER_01]: I still love doing that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But as my son Gabriel, who's deaf and autistic, came out of school.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I had less and less time because he was home.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And that was my whole purpose.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Only my own business and having something was so that I knew one day he would be home with me.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I wanted to be able to stay home with him as well.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and so that's when that pivot started, you know, and I started becoming more in that creator side and then I realized His purpose is he really likes to give to and so now he's becoming the little creator So we've been doing some new stuff and I can't wait for you to see that that's going to be rolling out here soon Some of that stuff's new to me.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So I don't know if you know that you have really inspired me and made me though.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, that's how you do that

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[SPEAKER_01]: I think you can be an expert in your area and be able to share, you know, and that's what I wanted you on today for is to let people know, you know, we need each other, we rise together.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's a lot of your story as well.

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[SPEAKER_01]: When you got into starting to be a creator and doing those things as a mom.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So, um, tell us a little bit about being a

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, I have a little girl she's three and a half and I just scout and kind of like you, like this was a job, I didn't start as a job.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I started as like, here's the fun hobby and what was cool is like we started being able to trade for fun things to do as a family.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So, you know, we'd go to the aquarium or whatever and I'm like, oh, well, I'm here, I'm gonna make a little video about it and that was just a fun hobby, but then a play cafe that we'd like to go to is like, oh, do you wanna come out and make a video?

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I'll give you guys a free pass.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Well, yeah, I didn't even know that was an option.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So that's kind of how I got started and then I just didn't know it would turn into all of this but being a mom has always my first job and then Now as I pivot into this is full time, she's starting school.

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[SPEAKER_00]: She's doing preschool a couple of days a week and those are my

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[SPEAKER_00]: heavy work in flu in today.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So now I can do nothing but dedicate my Tuesdays and Thursdays to content creator events or collapse or podcast recordings or whatever it may be.

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[SPEAKER_01]: That's awesome.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And how exciting is that?

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[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, did you ever think it was going to turn into this?

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[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't even think anyone would pay me.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't, there was not even a thought in my mind that that would be one of the options.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It was about six months in when I got like a real, someone, you know, a real paycheck.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like someone's like, hey, well, you come to this event and make a video about the event.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I got a paycheck in the mail and that was so cool.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And it's like, so funny how excited they got for such a small amount of money.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, now I'm like, no, no.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I dream way bigger than that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's funny, it starts to free pizza.

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[SPEAKER_01]: It's like, no, I got like a free clay cafe pass.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Those are like $12.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I know, I'm like, oh my God.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, my.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, hey, I still do it for the free events.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, yeah.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And sometimes if I go to a meal and even if we're just on a date night, and it's a good meal, I'm going to post about it in any way, even if there isn't any trade involved, that's just kind of part of it.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I want my audience to

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[SPEAKER_00]: trust my recommendation and that means sometimes it's someone that hired me to come try that food or sometimes I'm just like, hey, this is good people should know about this.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's important to say because that's the heart and I think that's where we connected so much online is because that's where we fuse together a lot as we just have a heart for helping people.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I'm shouting them out.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I mean it's fun.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Like I did that way back, you know, before

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[SPEAKER_01]: that was even popular.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Like it was the phone came out.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I was such a door.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But anyhow, I don't know.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But we just love telling people our experiences and word amount is so powerful.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Definitely.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and so it just becomes natural.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And but I do love that people recognize that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And you know, and it can be something that helps us be home and available for our children.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure Scout loves it.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, yeah, she has so much fun and we're almost my husband.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I are like, man, she spoiled.

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[SPEAKER_00]: She's going to grow up thinking everybody went to the circus three times a year and everybody got to go shopping at any time and they want to go shopping.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm like, no, this is just part of Mommy's job and it's funny to say, oh, well, you're going to work with mom today but then we show up to a movie theater or whatever fun thing we have going on that week.

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[SPEAKER_01]: She'll never forget those experiences and what's the real cool thing about this as an older mom

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[SPEAKER_01]: who's my, I have like 10 grandkids now.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So the one thing I can say that will be a shock to you is how the little entrepreneur spirits you're already birthed in her.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Like my youngest ones were around me when like I ran the gym and things like that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And they're the ones that are the more outgoing already have their own businesses.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Genesis is an artist right here and can't

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[SPEAKER_01]: And this is any rap artist and in model and things like that, but it came from she used to have a little clipboard at the gym and one round and sell memberships to everybody.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Oh my gosh, they watch us.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you don't know this, but my mom was an entrepreneur and that's probably why I got it from that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't know that, that's exactly where she was.

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[SPEAKER_01]: it came from.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that is so true.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And my mom, she was a cosmologist.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I used to go to work with her.

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[SPEAKER_01]: They send me down to go get hamburgers down the street.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I thought I was a cool thing.

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[SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, and it just goes down and down.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And so, you know, she'll already have that boldness.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And she sees you dedicating that time.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then Ashley gets older.

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[SPEAKER_01]: She's really going to respect her mom to spend

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and I think that's your hope.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So this is, I mean, what's the point if it's not benefiting her, you know?

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, exactly.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, because that's what we do it for.

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[SPEAKER_01]: We do it for our families, and that's being authentic.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I think our audience sees that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You know, they see that heart, and that's why, you know, businesses want to bring you in, because, you know, or want to have me come in, because they know that's creating the experience for Gabriel.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So he's not setting them the couch at home.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You know, like, um, sometimes we think they can't do that or, you know, I don't know what to do with and what if he has an outburst or, you know, um, some parents are scared about that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I lean in to them and say, you know, they have purpose too.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So don't worry about that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Right.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I love how, um, as I began to open it business or open their doors and say, no, we wanted to come like he went to bubbles and goo.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's so much fun, you know, even there when they first opened to you, it's so cool.

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[SPEAKER_01]: That's a nice global place.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Really good.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So let's talk a little bit about when you came in.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I know you said, because I know it was a little nerve-wracking for me as well.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And thank you.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think you know you've helped me.

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[SPEAKER_01]: But thank you, some of those things I was like, oh my goodness, cause you know, you get an expert in one area.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then you have to, I always say you're not growing if you're not always scared.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I just had a conversation with my grandson about that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: He went to a new job, he's 20.

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[SPEAKER_01]: In my, um, my boys and them are doing contract labor and they went to Montana and he was a little nervous and I said, son, I said, let me tell you, if you don't have butterflies in your stomach and you're not feeling a little scared, I was like, then you're not dreaming big enough.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I said, because you're grandma at 53 years old.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, still pushes myself to the point I'm scared because if you're not you're not growing and you need to grow And so I said it is cool to have people like yourself that are open to that because you know Being together and not feeling like we have to compete and I think Kansas City is good for that A lot of the creators I've been to a couple of creator events as I was switching and kind of like okay I'm a little nervous in this area.

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[SPEAKER_01]: That's going on

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[SPEAKER_01]: Um, but um, everybody was so welcoming.

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[SPEAKER_01]: How was it for you when you first got started?

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[SPEAKER_00]: So I agree.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's, it's been so welcoming and there's like, this back and forth because it's like, well, those are my competitors.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, and we may, especially, I've become really good friends with some local mom creators.

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[SPEAKER_00]: and we're all fighting for the same jobs, but like it's never been that.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's always been.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Hey guys, here's my contact at such and such business.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You should reach out.

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[SPEAKER_00]: They were really easy to work with or just, hey, how much are you making, working with this business?

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[SPEAKER_00]: I just want to know, should I be negotiating or what, what are they doing for you?

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[SPEAKER_00]: And it's just those things that like, man, we should probably be a little more competitive.

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[SPEAKER_00]: everyone's so welcoming and I told you a little bit about this but when I first got started I was running social media for my mom's business she owned a bakery at the time okay and so that's how I knew like oh I really enjoy making the content but it was a lot more fun to do so things like I said the aquarium like I'd much rather make a video about an aquarium than a about a bakery sorry mom but like

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[SPEAKER_00]: you know it's a lot more fun to do something that's about my own interests and my own family and I didn't know how to approach it as a business I just knew how to approach it as someone that's creative and like to make the videos but there was like a virtual round table with some what I would call like career content creators so like

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[SPEAKER_00]: other influencers here in Kansas City that do this full-time and kind of run it as a business and they invited us on for like this free Zoom session and just gave us all this information and and here's how to do it.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You need to make a media kit.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm like, well, I don't know what that is.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, you know, a resume for influencers.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I had no idea that was a thing.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And without that surface, I would have had

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[SPEAKER_00]: been able to approach this in this way as like a career.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And so now that I can say I'm a little more established and I at least a little bit know what I'm doing.

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[SPEAKER_00]: I can give that back to others.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And so I think what you're talking about where you said I've helped you a little is through my brand new Instagram that I just launched, which is cool media LLC, which is my new business umbrella over the KC cool mom.

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[SPEAKER_00]: And with that new Instagram account, the whole goal is to do like free coaching.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

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[SPEAKER_00]: So new content creators can send me a DM and say like, I don't know how to start a media kit.

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[SPEAKER_00]: What even is that?

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm happy to help.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Or they can say, hey, made a media kit.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Can you look at it and just make sure this is what it's supposed to be?

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[SPEAKER_00]: Or right.

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[SPEAKER_00]: are these rates what I should be charging?

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[SPEAKER_00]: How do I respond to this pitch?

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[SPEAKER_00]: And I love love, love helping because that's like my love language.

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[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's something, if I have the knowledge and I can help you, it's not hurting me any, I would love to help you grow.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Because collaboration over competition is the key, because we all can rise together.

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[SPEAKER_01]: always saying that to people like, you know, we get much further if we work together.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's great in the industry.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And I love that's also so excited when you say I was like, you've jumped, I actually jumped.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I saw, I'm on it.

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[SPEAKER_01]: It's like, I said, she actually started teaching.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm so excited.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Like I thought that is so what a way to take two years of experience and turn around and help like open the door and give back.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You know, the same way you had help when you first came in where I do is I even help find you just Yeah, because that's how I'll see this.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm a girl.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I know I hope that people seem known and remember that's my job You know what this person or something.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm the event you

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so that's, and that's kind of like, I'm like, you, I am Brulled something over, which is a little bit like, it's kind of cool to see that everything in life you've ever done.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I started with coaching because I was like, a personal trainer group fitness instructor, you know, over.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And then we did these ladies and nights out to help flip a gym.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And that's literally how K.C.

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[SPEAKER_01]: women's events was born.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And later, I rebranded when my business partner came out to K, Kathy Co's events K.C.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, thank you.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna say it's Kathy Coats of that.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah.

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[SPEAKER_01]: As my name is Kathy Coats of Newman.

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[SPEAKER_01]: My last name is Newman, but to keep it on brand, we brought in Coats because my grandfather was an entrepreneur and my father was an entrepreneur, you know, and so I thought, well, what a way to keep their legacy going is to keep it going plus it's on brand.

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[SPEAKER_01]: So it's a chance for the community.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, for the community.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, yeah, no.

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[SPEAKER_00]: It's like your stage name.

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[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it is.

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[SPEAKER_01]: That's exactly.

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[SPEAKER_01]: I was like, well, because I asked my husband because I wasn't so sure how that was going to go.

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[SPEAKER_01]: And he was like, I'm not really, he's like, he's he laughed and he said, well, you know, it's just like a radio announcer name, right?

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[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

14:50.770 --> 14:54.234
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, you know, a stage name was like, yeah, I could feel like I have my own stage name.

14:54.254 --> 14:54.735
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yeah, yeah.

14:54.755 --> 14:56.637
[SPEAKER_00]: He will recognize me in public a story way.

14:56.657 --> 14:57.978
[SPEAKER_00]: They're like, oh, are you Katie, cool mom?

14:58.019 --> 14:58.439
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm like, okay.

14:58.479 --> 14:59.280
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I am, girl.

14:59.440 --> 15:01.301
[SPEAKER_00]: I know that.

15:01.401 --> 15:03.162
[SPEAKER_00]: I have a room name too, but yes, I am cases.

15:03.182 --> 15:05.063
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I think it's a cool mom.

15:05.103 --> 15:06.024
[SPEAKER_00]: That is so cool.

15:06.204 --> 15:06.724
[SPEAKER_00]: I love it.

15:06.764 --> 15:13.328
[SPEAKER_01]: Being able to give back like that, you know, taking that group of people that

15:13.608 --> 15:39.843
[SPEAKER_01]: took years to build like I mean literally through COVID and all like yeah it was just like one punch after another punch after another but I met so many businesses and like you said I thought you know what can I do now that my son has done I don't want that just to go away like what am I going to do with that and so that's when I started bringing other coordinators under anything kind of like what you're doing with your LLC I bring other coordinators and I'm be like okay let's where Monique and I met.

15:40.343 --> 15:47.767
[SPEAKER_01]: So, in her, instead of her starting with a ground zero with just a few followers, she started out with, with your number.

15:47.807 --> 15:50.228
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's what people look inatter.

15:50.288 --> 15:50.888
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

15:51.049 --> 15:57.212
[SPEAKER_01]: And so, I'd help people that way because I want them to be successful, because when they're successful, I'm successful.

15:57.812 --> 16:04.074
[SPEAKER_01]: When they're successful, every business I've ever worked with is successful because when people show up to their vendor shows, they'll get traffic.

16:04.474 --> 16:05.214
[SPEAKER_01]: They'll have people.

16:05.314 --> 16:06.175
[SPEAKER_01]: I want to share that.

16:06.715 --> 16:08.475
[SPEAKER_01]: And it doesn't matter that my name's not on it.

16:08.555 --> 16:09.696
[SPEAKER_01]: Like she's like, do you not know?

16:09.756 --> 16:11.116
[SPEAKER_01]: You don't need my logo on there.

16:11.236 --> 16:12.797
[SPEAKER_01]: You're most sophisticated events.

16:12.877 --> 16:14.797
[SPEAKER_01]: Like Monique, you are your own entity.

16:14.837 --> 16:23.660
[SPEAKER_01]: Even though she's my project manager because anybody that else I help, she's so much like what I used to run businesses, I let her run all of it now.

16:23.700 --> 16:24.780
[SPEAKER_01]: Like just go with it.

16:24.840 --> 16:26.361
[SPEAKER_01]: I can't deal with those events no more.

16:27.121 --> 16:31.564
[SPEAKER_01]: I know how to throw a main party, but that'll mean I should, just because I can, doesn't mean I should.

16:32.085 --> 16:38.249
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, doing that, it's been freeing for me to go with my son and spend time like you.

16:38.329 --> 16:39.730
[SPEAKER_01]: I love creating videos.

16:39.790 --> 16:41.031
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I do it naturally.

16:41.071 --> 16:49.036
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll go somewhere and this video, somebody else help, you know, like, it might be a photographer doing something and I'll start video and then send it to him.

16:49.156 --> 16:53.698
[SPEAKER_01]: And they're like, oh my God, this is the greatest thing ever, because you don't get content of yourself working.

16:54.538 --> 16:59.760
[SPEAKER_01]: And so it just becomes natural to me, because I love making sure people are seeing known and remembered it.

16:59.980 --> 17:10.964
[SPEAKER_01]: And so as I pivoted into that creator spot, that's when I realized gay real need to be in it too, to get him off the couch.

17:11.124 --> 17:15.365
[SPEAKER_01]: So I needed that help, right when you started your LLC.

17:15.425 --> 17:17.506
[SPEAKER_00]: So I was like, like, that I could help.

17:18.346 --> 17:35.142
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's not, you know, I don't have a crazy following or anything over there, but it is just my feel good project and and that's all it is also I think I needed those videos to be in one place because the audience at once those videos are separate from who wants to see my case equal mom stuff.

17:35.342 --> 17:35.562
[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

17:35.582 --> 17:44.246
[SPEAKER_00]: So, you know, not every day Kansas City moms are going to know need to know how to pitch to a business, but you know, but no, I get that.

17:44.266 --> 17:49.189
[SPEAKER_01]: That's why there's knowledge networking and you know, I have Kathy Coates events and I have knowledge networking.

17:49.209 --> 17:53.871
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's very smart you did it that way because like you said it doesn't speak to that audience.

17:54.191 --> 17:56.473
[SPEAKER_01]: And so, there for a minute, I was like, what am I going to do?

17:56.633 --> 18:09.484
[SPEAKER_01]: I am like leading and coaching businesses and helping them to make sure they're having traffic come through their door by making events at their place or, you know, by getting influencers to come like, I go in and literally do strategy now.

18:09.865 --> 18:15.109
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I'll go into a business that you'll go work for and say, okay, let's find ways to get people in your door.

18:15.249 --> 18:15.469
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

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[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I know Casey Cuomo.

18:17.691 --> 18:19.533
[SPEAKER_01]: I got a friend here, you know.

18:19.813 --> 18:33.424
[SPEAKER_01]: I know another one, you know, I think they'll be great for your brand, you know, I think you should bring a man and have like a little party like we could do a chief tonight or a bingo night or have a networking event here or very soon in October.

18:33.464 --> 18:45.073
[SPEAKER_01]: We're going to do a murder mystery pop up shopping event at May's tavern and so we'll be just about six or eight vendors popped up not a lot because they have a little back parking.

18:45.973 --> 18:50.195
[SPEAKER_01]: and as cool outside now, you know, because we're continuing to the fall, I'm so happy.

18:50.295 --> 19:00.960
[SPEAKER_01]: But those things bring traffic in, you know, and so those are the things and I'm always like, guys, I know you, you may not see it, but it's worth paying for some creators to come in.

19:01.000 --> 19:06.902
[SPEAKER_01]: They create great content and it reaches an audience that you're not going to be able to reach.

19:07.082 --> 19:09.283
[SPEAKER_00]: And they have the vision and they have the audience.

19:09.443 --> 19:12.785
[SPEAKER_00]: And especially if you're choosing the right creator for your niche,

19:13.405 --> 19:17.408
[SPEAKER_00]: Then they're going to already have the audience that wants to see those videos anyways.

19:17.789 --> 19:17.989
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.

19:18.169 --> 19:18.369
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.

19:18.489 --> 19:23.113
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's where, you know, it's so important to me because I'm like, okay, this crater is the right one for you.

19:23.133 --> 19:24.594
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, you're right, picking the right one.

19:24.614 --> 19:29.298
[SPEAKER_01]: It's the same as if you were to pick someone to come in and you know, work with your brand.

19:29.318 --> 19:31.439
[SPEAKER_01]: You want to make sure they understand, you know?

19:31.619 --> 19:35.282
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think that is a great point that you're saying.

19:36.463 --> 19:56.210
[SPEAKER_00]: that's what I do you know with that is to make sure that they are picking the right creator like I'm on here yeah and that's my feelings won't be hurt if you don't choose me for all the businesses you know I'm not gonna be the right fit for everybody but if it caters to top their moms in the Kansas City metro and you didn't choose me my feelings would be

19:58.006 --> 20:04.569
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I'd expect you to come smack me and like Kathy, you're the first person I say.

20:06.710 --> 20:15.373
[SPEAKER_01]: Being within that niche and that's why, you know, having those two channels works, you know, because knowledge networking insider is where I speak to you guys, the business.

20:15.493 --> 20:15.753
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

20:15.873 --> 20:22.796
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, you know, this is where, you know, I can come help you or, you know, this is where our next networking event is or the next.

20:23.116 --> 20:26.077
[SPEAKER_01]: I am building a preferred vendor list.

20:26.357 --> 20:29.999
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I have a whole group where it's my preferred vendor list.

20:30.019 --> 20:38.502
[SPEAKER_01]: So that when I go into a business that we do pop up shopping, then we know a little more about those vendors, that you know that they are ones that will share.

20:38.622 --> 20:47.150
[SPEAKER_01]: because it's important, you can't just bring somebody into a group that just shows up, and they don't, because it's all about sharing our audience and cross-promoting.

20:47.250 --> 20:48.190
[SPEAKER_01]: We might need photographers.

20:48.210 --> 20:50.372
[SPEAKER_01]: We might need someone to come in and decorate the building.

20:50.813 --> 20:58.139
[SPEAKER_01]: So I need the ones that I know that are gonna show up, do a good job, see the vision, and can go within my brand.

20:58.459 --> 21:00.201
[SPEAKER_01]: And they're gonna still represent their brand.

21:00.241 --> 21:01.082
[SPEAKER_01]: It's all about them.

21:01.362 --> 21:03.845
[SPEAKER_00]: but also promoting the event on their own socials.

21:03.905 --> 21:11.713
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like wanting people to come out and not just their to decorate because it's their job, but they're to decorate because they're excited to be there and work with you.

21:11.853 --> 21:12.954
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, exactly.

21:13.155 --> 21:13.595
[SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.

21:13.635 --> 21:15.857
[SPEAKER_00]: So if you know any of those, you can send my way to me.

21:16.338 --> 21:18.399
[SPEAKER_01]: Because we want to help these small businesses.

21:18.519 --> 21:21.521
[SPEAKER_01]: I know your heart's the same when you go to do these.

21:21.661 --> 21:29.606
[SPEAKER_01]: And I don't, if it means go and have dinner there and shout them out, or they hire me to come in or they hire me to come in to be a strategist, it doesn't matter.

21:30.146 --> 21:33.968
[SPEAKER_01]: My main goal is to make sure these businesses stay thriving.

21:34.529 --> 21:40.012
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm so tired of seeing these small businesses having to close their doors and their families just trying to live.

21:40.267 --> 21:48.955
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, because Kansas City has so many great businesses, so many local businesses, so many small restaurants that are amazing.

21:49.316 --> 21:51.678
[SPEAKER_01]: And I just want all of them to get shot and out.

21:51.818 --> 21:56.563
[SPEAKER_00]: I think, yeah, you know, I think it's important for us all to, you know, lean in and support them.

21:56.763 --> 22:03.185
[SPEAKER_01]: So as you're starting this new chapter and you're going into more of the teaching, where do you see that going?

22:03.285 --> 22:12.068
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think right now, my kiddo is she just started preschool two days a week and and for what I'm doing, I'm like maxed out.

22:12.308 --> 22:16.189
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I've got my two days where I'm like full time, really leaning in and

22:18.501 --> 22:39.216
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how much more I can take on until she's in school full time, but also a year ago she wasn't in school at all and we started with the one day and I grew a little and I'm like, you know what, I think we can add a second day and here we're with two, so maybe next semester we'll add a third day at preschool and it just depends on where I grow or how much child care I need.

22:39.616 --> 23:02.991
[SPEAKER_00]: But my goal is, by the time she's in kindergarten, she's three and a half, so we got about two more years, but when she's in kindergarten, I'd like to really be able to take on enough work that full time I can just go out and get my videos on and get my editing done at home and not have to wear a mat right now is interrupt my time with my family and the evenings to focus on editing.

23:03.572 --> 23:04.893
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's the goal.

23:05.153 --> 23:07.134
[SPEAKER_00]: I think to make it full time,

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[SPEAKER_00]: but to still be a full-time mom when I can't be.

23:12.118 --> 23:23.789
[SPEAKER_01]: And I love that you say that because it is so important because as a mom who's all my kids are grown now and having kids, I look back to when I would say, man, I think it just all does tie their shoes.

23:24.970 --> 23:28.553
[SPEAKER_01]: It's just like to now I'm like, I take that back.

23:28.833 --> 23:35.915
[SPEAKER_01]: How many times was it not important that the house needed to really be cleaned if I wanted to sit down and read the book they want to meet or need to own you know to mean.

23:36.536 --> 23:42.337
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I love that to say that because that's so important that our family comes first.

23:42.397 --> 23:49.620
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I don't want my kiddo to see me on my phone as much and she knows my phone's my job and that's you know.

23:50.180 --> 23:55.762
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm at peace with that but I don't want her to ever question like well as my mom care about what we're doing because she's on

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[SPEAKER_00]: There's a difference between me sitting there and editing because when you edit, she didn't know what I'm doing.

24:01.325 --> 24:16.235
[SPEAKER_00]: It totally just looks like I'm scrolling, but I'm not like the way swear I'm working, I'm like, I don't want her to have to see me edit because I want to be able to be in a place where I can just do that as a full-time job when she's at school and then the things are back to family time again.

24:16.515 --> 24:20.898
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, it was so cool about that is that's nationally going to happen because like she's three.

24:21.558 --> 24:23.181
[SPEAKER_01]: And then she's going into preschool.

24:23.221 --> 24:24.523
[SPEAKER_01]: No, we can't regard like you said.

24:24.563 --> 24:26.065
[SPEAKER_01]: And then you'll have the whole day.

24:26.205 --> 24:27.627
[SPEAKER_01]: And then the summer's will be cool.

24:27.667 --> 24:28.509
[SPEAKER_01]: I could see it now.

24:28.729 --> 24:31.633
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's why it's about the cool stuff that happened.

24:31.673 --> 24:33.075
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe we'll travel during the summer.

24:33.175 --> 24:35.779
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, we did our first work.

24:36.440 --> 24:41.265
[SPEAKER_00]: travel trip recently and I never thought I'd do any travel content.

24:41.285 --> 24:45.490
[SPEAKER_00]: We don't travel much but I'm like, hey, if I can do it for work though, why not?

24:45.570 --> 24:46.330
[SPEAKER_00]: Why not?

24:46.411 --> 24:47.552
[SPEAKER_00]: It was a thing Louis trip.

24:47.592 --> 24:48.433
[SPEAKER_00]: It was incredible.

24:48.453 --> 24:52.337
[SPEAKER_00]: We had so much fun and now I'm like, this opens up so much more.

24:52.617 --> 24:54.658
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, she's definitely going to be a spoiled teenage.

24:54.778 --> 24:55.178
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yeah.

24:55.198 --> 24:57.460
[SPEAKER_00]: Because she'll be going all over the place.

24:57.720 --> 24:59.120
[SPEAKER_00]: She's a spoiled three-year-old.

24:59.181 --> 24:59.741
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

25:01.322 --> 25:06.244
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, like, as long as she says as long as I can bring some friends right now, that's a goal.

25:06.424 --> 25:07.145
[SPEAKER_00]: That's a goal.

25:07.365 --> 25:12.768
[SPEAKER_01]: Turing, thank you so much for sharing your story, reminding us just how powerful community can be.

25:13.268 --> 25:16.530
[SPEAKER_01]: Tell us where can everyone follow you?

25:17.250 --> 25:29.157
[SPEAKER_00]: So if you are a local Kansas City mom looking for things to do with your family or some fun styling tips for moms or how to save on local events, follow me at Casey Cool Mom.

25:29.678 --> 25:38.323
[SPEAKER_00]: But if you are a brand new starting out or wanting to start out content creator, give me a follow at Cool Media LLC both over on Instagram.

25:38.843 --> 25:39.203
[SPEAKER_01]: Awesome.

25:39.263 --> 25:42.866
[SPEAKER_01]: And you also have a mom's group that meets together as well, right?

25:42.886 --> 25:43.246
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.

25:43.286 --> 25:43.647
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

25:43.667 --> 25:47.830
[SPEAKER_00]: A few of my girlfriends that I've just met through doing content creation.

25:47.850 --> 25:50.612
[SPEAKER_00]: And I have started a little group called Mom's Meet Casey.

25:51.052 --> 25:55.936
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll post more about our local meetups that are always free over on my Casey cool mom page.

25:56.416 --> 25:56.776
[SPEAKER_01]: Awesome.

25:56.796 --> 25:57.557
[SPEAKER_01]: That'll be great.

25:57.617 --> 25:59.758
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, thank you so much for joining us.

26:00.278 --> 26:02.940
[SPEAKER_01]: And I want to leave everyone with a thought today.

26:03.580 --> 26:05.802
[SPEAKER_01]: Who's door can you help open?

26:06.442 --> 26:08.383
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe someone opened a door for you.

26:08.863 --> 26:10.744
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe someone shared what they knew.

26:11.025 --> 26:16.088
[SPEAKER_01]: Invited you into a room, made an introduction, or simply showed up and supported you.

26:17.008 --> 26:19.369
[SPEAKER_01]: but what happens when it becomes your turn?

26:19.969 --> 26:23.271
[SPEAKER_01]: Your experience could be the encouragement someone needs.

26:23.591 --> 26:32.255
[SPEAKER_01]: Your connection could be their open door, and something as simple as showing up for someone could be the beginning of a relationship that changes both of your lives.

26:32.615 --> 26:43.160
[SPEAKER_01]: We weren't created to do life alone, so find your people, find your tribe, build those relationships, share what you know, and when you have the opportunity

26:45.341 --> 26:52.093
[SPEAKER_01]: because you never know how one connection, one introduction, or one act of support might change someone's world.

26:52.494 --> 27:01.890
[SPEAKER_01]: Until next time, walk in your purpose, keep leading with love, never forget that what may feel small to you could mean everything to someone else.

27:02.691 --> 27:04.234
[SPEAKER_01]: Go and be a life changer.