December 3, 2024 • 28 mins
Ever feel like you're constantly juggling challenges without a positive mindset to ground you? Join us, Zach Jones and Brook Gratia, as we share how transforming our headspace with positive content and meditative practices like binaural beats has helped us tackle obstacles with resilience. We share personal anecdotes and offer practical tips to maintain an optimistic attitude, crucial for effective leadership and personal growth. By tuning into motivational podcasts, audiobooks, and inspirational social media snippets, discover how you can shift your perspective and approach challenges with renewed energy.
We also open up about the essential role of self-care in maintaining mental health, exploring unique metaphors and activities that highlight the balance necessary for well-being. Think of yourself as a sponge, absorbing and releasing energy, while we explore the impact of technology on stress and sleep. From minimizing screen time before bed to indulging in hobbies like playing the guitar or enjoying a round of golf, we emphasize the importance of finding personal spaces that offer relaxation and stress relief. These practices help refresh the mind, offering a sanctuary from the hustle of everyday responsibilities.
Lastly, we reflect on the power of creative expression and "me time" in avoiding burnout and sustaining creativity. By sharing my journey of shifting music from a professional endeavor to a personal passion, I highlight the significance of having hobbies that fuel joy without pressure. Recognizing the challenges of balancing family and work, we underscore the necessity of early morning routines for personal growth. Whether it's reading, exercising, or simply enjoying quiet time, prioritizing "me time" is not just a luxury; it's a vital part of maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life. Allow us to inspire you to embrace self-care, paving the way for greater personal and professional success.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Hello and welcome to the Owner's Odyssey, the podcast
where we delve deep into thetransformative stories of
courageous business owners whohave embarked on an
extraordinary adventure.
I'm Zach Jones and I'm BrookeGattia.
We're here to explore the reallife experiences of
entrepreneurs.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Each episode, we'll embark on a quest to uncover the
trials, triumphs andtransformations of remarkable
individuals who dared to answerthe call of entrepreneurship.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Like all adventurers, our guests have faced their
fair share of challenges,vanquished formidable foes and
braved the unknown.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a
seasoned business owner orsimply an avid listener hungry
for captivating stories.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
The Owner's Odyssey is here to help you level up.
So join us as we embark on thisepic expedition.
This is the Owner's Odyssey.
Let's start our adventure.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
So we wanted to have a few conversations where it
wasn't us talking to someoneabout their journey and going
through all of the ups and downsand the inspiration and the
discouragements to have, becausethat conversation just takes a
little.
It should take a space to hearpeople's stories.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
More of a deep dive.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, and maybe just have a few babblings about just
various different topics that wethink might be helpful as a
business owner, as a leader, asa parent, as a teacher, as a
person in life.
(01:46):
And I think one of them, andthe primary one that I say to a
lot of people, is that yourheadspace as a leader is a huge
dynamic, and it's a really harddynamic because you carry a lot
of things and it can getexhausting.
But if your headspace as youwalk in the door is this is
(02:11):
going to be just a mess likelyit's going to be just a mess.
And if you walk in and you'relike, okay, I got this, we can
get through this, you start tostep in such a manner as to got
this and you can kind of keepmoving and when a roadblock hits
, you don't go.
Hmm, I'm just going to sit hereand cry a little bit about it,
(02:33):
Even if you're not a crier, um,but I'm gonna, I'm gonna pause,
I'm going to look at this and gookay.
So if I just take a few stepsover here, I'm around this
roadblock and that is allheadspace and it's kind of where
you are with that.
And so I thought I'd talkthrough a few of my little tips
and tricks.
I think I talked a little bitabout this in our first podcast
(02:56):
that we walked through that Ihit a spot where I was just
really in a bad, bad headspaceand I found a few things helped
for me.
One is to listen to otherpodcasts or read other people's
journeys.
There's something about someonesaying something that you're
(03:20):
like, oh, that might get findinginspiration from someplace.
I think that's why people go tothis is not a true statement.
I think that's part of what ishelpful about church sometimes,
when people listen to, each weeksomeone get up there and speak
about something, it's aninspiration.
I think that's why people likeTED Talks too, like they're a
(03:42):
little quick or they're reallylong, thought patterns that are
like oh huh, like that'sactually really helpful.
So I know, for me it's reallyhelpful to have like inspiration
pieces and it's usually audiobooks, even if they're like have
(04:02):
nothing to do with business,but somehow or another
somebody's journey, a podcast, aquick little snippet on a I'm
an Instagram person, not a TikTOK person, but you know they
all flow together and you know alittle snippet out there.
That kind of helps with it.
But for me, if I'm findingmyself in a slump, one of the
(04:24):
best things for me to do is, asI'm driving, make sure I'm not
silent and I'm like listening tosomething in that headspace.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
So um, sometimes you can.
You can hear the same thingfrom a different source and get
a different output.
Or even reading a book.
You can read a book three timesand get totally different
things out of it because youjust are in a different
headspace.
Yeah, or you're ready toreceive it at that point.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah, yes, they talk about that happens a lot for
people where you're like you.
Someone told me this a milliontimes and now I finally can hear
it and it like connects for me.
Um.
I have no idea what gets you toa point where sometimes it's
just a tone that they use to saysomething or like or as a
parent, stop doing that.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Eventually they stopped doing it.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
I had a teacher at one point recommend a
Shakespeare professor say likeread this every two years and
time you read it, it'll becompletely different, like just
based on like the way thatshakespeare writes is so maybe
that's why people loveshakespeare so much.
I've never it's literally hejust puts out like the skeleton
of a narrative and it can applyto any time period, it could
could apply to any place andwhen you, you know, understand
(05:46):
it and kind of follow thatnarrative, like when you go back
to it later, you see things andcompletely different lines hit
you in completely different ways, but it always has some kind of
you know churning relevance andit's you know kind of just made
me think of that.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, another thing I do.
I don't know you were the onewho actually you being Paul,
that's who I'm pointing to, Ithink brought this on.
So I'm very much on tomeditative things and I'm not a
big like yoga zany person, but Ilove my spas and I love the
(06:28):
music.
But there is something to 10minutes.
Put the do not disturb on time,like just put some sort of
music in my brain and justbreathe.
And then I ran into.
I feel like it was you, paul,that I was talking to you by,
nor by no neural beats.
(06:49):
Thank you okay I'm so butcheringenglish language.
There you go, um, which is thelike.
There's a tone that happens andit you have to have headphones
on.
Also realize this, as I'm kindof going through it.
So if I'm sitting and I likeit's a work day, I got to get
stuff done, but I am like ampedor I don't have energy to do
(07:10):
what I need to do, I willliterally put these on and they
have like study ones.
They have also ones wherethey're like help you fall
asleep.
Probably should not do thatwhile you're trying to work.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
However, or drive.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
But on a day that I'm like I just need to like plug
through this, I will literallyput that in and it's amazing
like how much just this liketone going and like just calms
my head space and do you knowhow that?
No, I have no.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
No, so please, you are this we can probably bat
this back and forth a bit.
So, binaural, breaking it downby two oral, two frequencies is
what's happening.
So you need headphones or youneed stereo that have two
different tones.
Yeah, you need a very, verystereo setup of some kind so
(08:01):
that you can have one frequencyplaying through one ear and
another frequency playingthrough another ear and what's
happening on a cognitive levelis your brain, the two sides of
your brain, are both trying tointerpret these different things
and through that you have thesedifferent kinds of energy
(08:27):
effects.
So there are literal, specificfrequencies that people have
dialed out that are these arecalming frequencies, these are
frequencies that will you knowcreate aggression, or yeah, or
you know uh an elevated state ofsome kind.
So that's.
That's a little bit aboutwhat's going on.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yeah, yeah, nicely thought.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
I find them just the like breathing and that slowing
down kind of aspect.
Um, it's very helpful whenyou're yeah, you're just you
almost can't think straight, youcan't see straight, Um, and you
don't really have a whole lotof time to sit down or like do
(09:14):
something else.
Um, so I can kind of put thoseon and kind of keep moving.
Um, I also, when I do have time, we'll put something on and
just close my eyes and breathefor 10 minutes because I'm
trying to do that meditativeside of things or listen to a
meditative person who actuallywalks you through.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
I think prayer and meditation are very similar.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Yes, exactly yes.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
For people that are religiously inclined.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
It's that like all right, I'm going to process, I'm
going to release, I'm going tofocus on and whether it's
releasing to God, releasing tothe world and just out of you
and there is some power in thatheadspace, move on that too.
Yeah no, I totally agree withyou on that side of things.
(10:00):
Yeah, no, I totally agree withyou on that yeah.
Diet of things.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
I think it's a Sikhi concept, but it's something that
is a religious concept, thatwhen you pray, you don't pray
for things, or what is it?
You pray for virtues.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
So like you don't pray that, like Give me this cup
of tea tomorrow, right, anddon't pray like that your
illness is gone tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
You pray for the strength to endure whatever that
is, and I find that that'sactually a helpful meditative
space too, which obviouslyyou're trying to get rid of all
thought when you're meditating.
But, if you are having athought pattern, which you kind
of always are on some level,that's a helpful kind of safe,
(10:47):
neutral space to sit incognitively of like what
qualities do I want to embody?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
today.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
And you know how am I ?
Going to exercise that.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Which goes right along to part of not only your
brain, is how your bodymanifests all of the stuff
that's going on and that it'sreally good to move your body,
however that looks like.
And so if that's a like you'rea workout person, who you're?
(11:19):
Like I need to go and run andlift weights and like I just I
think there is something to okay, I've calmed my brain and I'm
like I'm getting it all.
Like you you're, you're meantto move, and if you don't move
and you just sit there, yourbody just pulls it all in and
it's just not not helpful.
I'm not, obviously, obviously ascientist or have any like
(11:40):
knowledge.
I mean my phrase is right herea scientist or have any like
knowledge.
I mean my phrase is right hereDr Brooke, yes, babbling Brooke
here, um, but like walking ishuge for me.
Or riding a bike, like I don'twant to run, I would do swimming
too, but that takes a lot toput a bathing suit on and like
get there and like it's a, it'sa whole thing, um, but I
struggle to commit to pool germs.
(12:01):
Oh, I don't mind pool germs, Ican do pool germs.
I love to go under the waterand just be like oh, I can just
feel this like movement aroundto me.
I don't think about the poolgerms, because you know what?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
There's germs everywhere?
Yeah, there are, and you'reright.
You're right in this instance,but I do struggle.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
You are not the first person I know who's like not
going with you, with your kids,to the pool, because do you see
how many children are in there?
Speaker 2 (12:23):
you know what they're doing in that pool um, but yeah
, the french word.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Maybe you just need to be out in nature a week and
there's fish and all of thatstuff in there um, but yeah,
walking and biking are huge forme.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
On good, I remember when I first bought my electric
bike to bike down the Monon um,and it's a 40 minute bike ride
to get from my house to here, soit's not bad.
It's 20 minutes to drive it, soreally sometimes 40 minutes to
drive it, depending on traffic,but so it's really easy.
But, like the first time I didit, I literally got down to a
coffee shop right down thestreet to stop and get a coffee
(13:00):
and I just wanted to cry likebecause 40 minutes of, and it's
not hard, I had an electric bike, I'm just moving, I'm just I
wasn't out of breath, I wasn'tanything, but by the time I got
to the end, I'm like I just wow,like moving your body releases
so much energy to then be ableto sit down, and so then I would
pull out my book and write downthrough I'm just going to write
(13:23):
out thought patterns Like Ialmost could process things a
heck of a lot more because Icould actually engage my body in
that space of things.
And I think we all know thattoo.
Sometimes we just need this iswhy I listen to podcasts.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Sometimes I'm like, oh yeah, I need to do that, like
I forgot how powerful that isis of just move your body I had
a trainer at one point, and Idon't know how scientific this
analogy is, but he would alwaysjust say your body is a sponge.
And then, like have you kind ofconceptualize that?
(14:00):
And it's like if you were asponge, like would your sponge
be full of like pizza water, orlike would it be full of gunk or
would it be full of you know,clean things?
And like have you wrung thesponge out?
Like you have to get a spongehas to get rid of the things in
it and it has to take new thingsin.
(14:21):
If you're not taking in theright things or not taking in
anything, the sponge gets dry.
So there's all of these waysand you really can just kind of
like okay if I'm a sponge.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, it's amazing what visualization does.
How is my sponge doing yeah.
I always like when I go to thesemeditative things and they're
like what color are you?
Right now I'm like I don't knowwhat the heck is color Like.
Are you kidding me?
So I'm not always this likewoo-woo-y type like thing, but
there is some analogy.
I love that.
Like you're a sponge, like whatare you bringing in?
(14:54):
And if we wrong, you like.
And they talk a lot right nowabout cortisol, like oh, maybe
it's because I'm getting olderand your body is changing and
you can't lose weight and all ofthose things and they're like
what's your cortisone level?
Like, what's your stress level?
Yeah, cortisol.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
My aunt was actually talking to me because she's big
into like the healthy stuff.
And she said her doctor liketook a test and was like, yeah,
it's sky high.
And then said to her do youlook at your iPad before you go
to bed?
She was like, well, yeah, nope,put it down an hour before you
go to bed, cause you won't sleepand you're not sleeping and
that's why and I'm like, yeah, Idon't, I don't.
(15:32):
Well, I'm doing better at notlooking at technology right
before I go to bed.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
But um, yeah, we sleep with the TV on and it's
awful, wow, yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Maybe that could help your anxiety level if you
actually got sleep without a TV.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Yeah, I shut it off sometimes, but we definitely go
to sleep to it.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I cannot do that.
That would I would be.
I remember doing that when Iwas in college or something.
We went to a hotel and therewas a bunch of us girls and one
of the girls couldn't sleepwithout a tv on and I was busy
because I can't sleep with it onand I'm like what the hell is
like turn it off, we're sleeping.
I'm like put white noise on orsomething like which.
(16:14):
I think that's ultimately howwe're using it, so we should
just move to something like awhite noise maker or whatever,
but like some binaural beats,like a student and like go to
sleep with them.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Um yeah, that was my wife.
She had the tv on and she'dfall asleep with a remote on her
and she'd be fast asleep andI'd be waking up going what the
hell the tv's on so I then Ithen said to her so what time do
you think is a reasonable timeto go to sleep?
You know, she told me a time Iput a timer behind this armoire
(16:48):
that the TV was in and she gotup.
Well, that woke me up becauseshe was then trying to turn the
power on, but that one night,and then after that it was no TV
in the bedroom.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, we don't have a TV in the bedroom.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Technology didn't allow it early on.
Nowadays it got no.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
TV in the bedroom.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Yeah, we don't have a TV in the bedroom.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Technology didn't allow it early on.
Nowadays it yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Yeah, got used to it, right.
Yeah, that's not good for you.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
No, it's technology is keeps you stimulated side of
of things.
But, what are other things youguys do for your brain, for your
head space?
I also read books.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yeah, they can't be business books.
My favorite is First Light.
Sunday morning I go and playnine holes of golf I walk.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
What is it?
So?
It's the movement.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
It's the movement.
I love golf when I'm playing.
Well, yeah, I love golf, goodor bad.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
Just get out there with a couple of guys and it's
the ambience of you know Bestway to ruin a good walk right.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Absolutely Follow that little white ball, but
you're playing.
Well, there's the smack,involvement, or the sledging,
the golf version of that.
And just getting up first thing, doing it an hour and a half
later literally started at 7yesterday, 8.30, I was back home
and it was just enough exercisejust to keep me going moving.
(18:16):
You know up early anyway, sowhy not just fill it with some
exercise of some description?
And you know, do that everySunday and just have done for
years now.
It's just my solitude, you know, because I carry, so I walk
straight to the ball.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
All by yourself.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
All by.
Yeah, so if they're over theleft I'll help them find the
ball, but it's just, my thing iscarry and just take the line
that I last saw the ball, soI'll come by it.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
I'll always find my ball, that's good, yeah, my
other half has started to pickup the guitar.
Oh nice, like a very stressfuljob and lots of things going on
and actually doing open micstuff, nothing to do with work,
nothing to do with toddler kidsor preschool kids, all just own
(19:13):
headspace.
Fantastic, and I think that'swhat you're saying too of.
You've got to find sometimesyour refreshing thing that
doesn't have to do witheverything else.
So I just said, mine is bookstoo, but that's playing the
guitar, which I can't do.
I'm sorry.
I tried it once.
I'm really not good at it.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Here's another thought that Brooks books.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Brooks books.
There you go.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Yeah.
So I would bet you are a littlebit on the music side too.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Like, if you need to like, yeah, I would bet you are
a little bit on the music sidetoo, like if you need to like.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
Yeah, so I it's interesting because music is
something that is kind of aninteresting conversation in
general, but like music issomething that I've kind of made
the cross over the thresholdinto, like I am a musical
professional, so in a way, likeit's work.
Yeah, it used to be somethingthat I would do as a release.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
And now.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
I find that I am doing that a little bit more
because I've slowed down on themusical side.
So I, you know, this past yearhave kind of made a promise to
myself of like just makewhatever you want to make, like
stop trying to make the nextrecord and just enjoy it.
Make whatever kind of noisescome out of you.
(20:33):
You know kind of thing it mightbe a screen.
Yeah, Like any.
You know, if it's a metal song,like play metal, if it's a
country song, then like make acountry song.
But don't you know, try to likesit in a specific box or have a
target in that way, and sinceI've pulled back in that regard,
like it does feel a little bitmore like play, yeah, yeah uh,
(20:56):
but interestingly enough, likewhen I wasn't in that space and
very much was taking itseriously, I would move to
visual art and paint or I reallylike painting with like spray
paint kind of you know streetart type stuff, some of your
work around, yeah, tagged all ofcaramel, of course, um, but no.
(21:19):
So you know doing, doingsomething where you are allowed
to be a novice or allowed to letgo of the rules or whatever the
second, you acknowledgesomething or accept the
responsibility of doingsomething competitively which
(21:40):
unfortunately, in anythingyou're trying to do
professionally is a competitionthe rules change, so I think
it's important to have pursuitsthat are not validated by being
the best or by being Enjoyment.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Yeah, yeah right.
It's inherently rewarding justto do what you're doing For your
satisfaction, not everyoneelse's Right, exactly.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
And then the other thing from just practices and
routine standpoint is I like toget up very early.
I'm up at 4.30 or 5 in themorning, but I don't start the
day until 8.30 or9 because thatfirst couple of hours Reading,
(22:28):
exercising, you know, firstcouple of hours reading,
exercising, you know, finishingup whatever, yeah, Like from the
night before.
Um, a lot of times it'll besomething like that where it's
like I know I was working onmusic in tonight.
That music will be stuck in myhead the entire time I'm
sleeping and then I'll, you know, be ready to get up and kind of
do another chunk of it orsomething.
So, uh, having those hours thatI know have no to-do list
(22:52):
outside of them, you know, andmost of the world is not moving
yet, it helps as well, Likewhich is really wonderful if you
don't have a, sorry a family ofchildren who require a little
bit more attention, who justhappened to wake you up seven
times in the middle of the nightand you
Speaker 3 (23:11):
or like creating that space and cultivating that,
whether it's having friends youcan dump on and say, hey, can
you take my kids for a littlebit?
(23:32):
Or you coordinate that withyour other half, um, you know,
and hopefully you have anotherhalf to like.
Some people don't like and soit, but it still is super
important to figure out how do Igive myself rejuvenation space
and what does that look like forme?
And recognizing the power ofand even if you have kids like
(23:56):
this is the other thing.
When you're super stressed andyou have all of these things and
your kids are coming at you,you're all of a sudden yelling
at them instead of leading themNot trying to problem-solving.
Yeah, and that's not what youwant either, and some amount of
kids are going to drive youabsolutely bonkers and you're
going to love them in the exactsame moment.
(24:16):
But, yeah, like creating spacefor yourself and cultivating
that is is huge to the nextsteps for being a business owner
or a leader or organizationaldevelopment person, of sitting
down and thinking through thingsand dealing with the stresses
(24:39):
that come If you, if you haven'thad enough space to detox, you
just aren't going, you're goingto make even sillier mistakes,
right, because you're going withyour gut feeling.
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
In the same vein of what we were talking about
earlier.
You need to create space.
Me time is another one of thosethings that you are going to
take.
There's a math problem going onin your life and certain energy
is required to put out whatyou're putting out.
So you can either find thosespaces to isolate that and
(25:17):
dedicate to that, or you can seethat need seep through the
other moments in your life whereyou're depleted and you're
taking more than is than youknow is appropriate.
Because you have to take those.
You know you're takingunplanned me time rather than
the like.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Your body will shut you down if you don't right get
yourself and I mean I used towait tables, I tables.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
I've seen people that are paycheck to paycheck
absolutely need today's money tocome through.
Go tell a table off and flip aplate or whatever, and leave the
restaurant with no plan,because that's what happens when
you're working 14 hours a daywith no breaks and you're
(26:03):
completely on empty Something isgoing to give yeah and no
breaks and you're completely onempty.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
You something is going to give, yeah, yeah, and
it's not.
That's hard, and it's a it'shumanity and it's the it's.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
It's both beautiful and the hard part of humanity,
Right when you're working, whenyou're dealing with things like
that, you're dealing with yourconscious brain, which is very
slow by comparison to yoursubconscious brain.
Conscious brain is what 15 ofyour capacity yeah, they do.
That is a big talk within themedical world and then 85 is the
(26:37):
subconscious brain, and that'swhere you get in the zone where
you do things you don't want toright, or you're capable of
doing things that you didn'tthink you were able to, that's
true yeah, you know, look at theuh, I always go back to tiger
woods for golf.
you know that guy just couldzone everything out and had done
(26:59):
so much practice.
You know, michael jordan, thesame, just the their ability is
to do what they had to do, and Ithink they were working with
their subconscious brain, nottheir conscious, I think that
plays into that Will Smithbrick-by-brick story just the
idea that you're intimidated bycreating a huge brick wall.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
But the reality of it is that if you can isolate your
thinking or even shut yourbrain off and allow the muscle
memory process of laying a brickperfectly to be your only
consideration, then you willlook up one day and it will be
done.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
Well, this is our fun little quick convo we thought
we'd do, but it's all aboutheadspace and that it's really
important.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
We hope it has improved yours.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Exactly.
Thank you, bye.
Hello and welcome to the Owner's Odyssey, the podcast
where we delve deep into thetransformative stories of
courageous business owners whohave embarked on an
extraordinary adventure.
I'm Zach Jones and I'm BrookeGattia.
We're here to explore the reallife experiences of
entrepreneurs.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Each episode, we'll embark on a quest to uncover the
trials, triumphs andtransformations of remarkable
individuals who dared to answerthe call of entrepreneurship.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Like all adventurers, our guests have faced their
fair share of challenges,vanquished formidable foes and
braved the unknown.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a
seasoned business owner orsimply an avid listener hungry
for captivating stories.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
The Owner's Odyssey is here to help you level up.
So join us as we embark on thisepic expedition.
This is the Owner's Odyssey.
Let's start our adventure.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
So we wanted to have a few conversations where it
wasn't us talking to someoneabout their journey and going
through all of the ups and downsand the inspiration and the
discouragements to have, becausethat conversation just takes a
little.
It should take a space to hearpeople's stories.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
More of a deep dive.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, and maybe just have a few babblings about just
various different topics that wethink might be helpful as a
business owner, as a leader, asa parent, as a teacher, as a
person in life.
(01:46):
And I think one of them, andthe primary one that I say to a
lot of people, is that yourheadspace as a leader is a huge
dynamic, and it's a really harddynamic because you carry a lot
of things and it can getexhausting.
But if your headspace as youwalk in the door is this is
(02:11):
going to be just a mess likelyit's going to be just a mess.
And if you walk in and you'relike, okay, I got this, we can
get through this, you start tostep in such a manner as to got
this and you can kind of keepmoving and when a roadblock hits
, you don't go.
Hmm, I'm just going to sit hereand cry a little bit about it,
(02:33):
Even if you're not a crier, um,but I'm gonna, I'm gonna pause,
I'm going to look at this and gookay.
So if I just take a few stepsover here, I'm around this
roadblock and that is allheadspace and it's kind of where
you are with that.
And so I thought I'd talkthrough a few of my little tips
and tricks.
I think I talked a little bitabout this in our first podcast
(02:56):
that we walked through that Ihit a spot where I was just
really in a bad, bad headspaceand I found a few things helped
for me.
One is to listen to otherpodcasts or read other people's
journeys.
There's something about someonesaying something that you're
(03:20):
like, oh, that might get findinginspiration from someplace.
I think that's why people go tothis is not a true statement.
I think that's part of what ishelpful about church sometimes,
when people listen to, each weeksomeone get up there and speak
about something, it's aninspiration.
I think that's why people likeTED Talks too, like they're a
(03:42):
little quick or they're reallylong, thought patterns that are
like oh huh, like that'sactually really helpful.
So I know, for me it's reallyhelpful to have like inspiration
pieces and it's usually audiobooks, even if they're like have
(04:02):
nothing to do with business,but somehow or another
somebody's journey, a podcast, aquick little snippet on a I'm
an Instagram person, not a TikTOK person, but you know they
all flow together and you know alittle snippet out there.
That kind of helps with it.
But for me, if I'm findingmyself in a slump, one of the
(04:24):
best things for me to do is, asI'm driving, make sure I'm not
silent and I'm like listening tosomething in that headspace.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
So um, sometimes you can.
You can hear the same thingfrom a different source and get
a different output.
Or even reading a book.
You can read a book three timesand get totally different
things out of it because youjust are in a different
headspace.
Yeah, or you're ready toreceive it at that point.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah, yes, they talk about that happens a lot for
people where you're like you.
Someone told me this a milliontimes and now I finally can hear
it and it like connects for me.
Um.
I have no idea what gets you toa point where sometimes it's
just a tone that they use to saysomething or like or as a
parent, stop doing that.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Eventually they stopped doing it.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
I had a teacher at one point recommend a
Shakespeare professor say likeread this every two years and
time you read it, it'll becompletely different, like just
based on like the way thatshakespeare writes is so maybe
that's why people loveshakespeare so much.
I've never it's literally hejust puts out like the skeleton
of a narrative and it can applyto any time period, it could
could apply to any place andwhen you, you know, understand
(05:46):
it and kind of follow thatnarrative, like when you go back
to it later, you see things andcompletely different lines hit
you in completely different ways, but it always has some kind of
you know churning relevance andit's you know kind of just made
me think of that.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, another thing I do.
I don't know you were the onewho actually you being Paul,
that's who I'm pointing to, Ithink brought this on.
So I'm very much on tomeditative things and I'm not a
big like yoga zany person, but Ilove my spas and I love the
(06:28):
music.
But there is something to 10minutes.
Put the do not disturb on time,like just put some sort of
music in my brain and justbreathe.
And then I ran into.
I feel like it was you, paul,that I was talking to you by,
nor by no neural beats.
(06:49):
Thank you okay I'm so butcheringenglish language.
There you go, um, which is thelike.
There's a tone that happens andit you have to have headphones
on.
Also realize this, as I'm kindof going through it.
So if I'm sitting and I likeit's a work day, I got to get
stuff done, but I am like ampedor I don't have energy to do
(07:10):
what I need to do, I willliterally put these on and they
have like study ones.
They have also ones wherethey're like help you fall
asleep.
Probably should not do thatwhile you're trying to work.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
However, or drive.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
But on a day that I'm like I just need to like plug
through this, I will literallyput that in and it's amazing
like how much just this liketone going and like just calms
my head space and do you knowhow that?
No, I have no.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
No, so please, you are this we can probably bat
this back and forth a bit.
So, binaural, breaking it downby two oral, two frequencies is
what's happening.
So you need headphones or youneed stereo that have two
different tones.
Yeah, you need a very, verystereo setup of some kind so
(08:01):
that you can have one frequencyplaying through one ear and
another frequency playingthrough another ear and what's
happening on a cognitive levelis your brain, the two sides of
your brain, are both trying tointerpret these different things
and through that you have thesedifferent kinds of energy
(08:27):
effects.
So there are literal, specificfrequencies that people have
dialed out that are these arecalming frequencies, these are
frequencies that will you knowcreate aggression, or yeah, or
you know uh an elevated state ofsome kind.
So that's.
That's a little bit aboutwhat's going on.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yeah, yeah, nicely thought.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
I find them just the like breathing and that slowing
down kind of aspect.
Um, it's very helpful whenyou're yeah, you're just you
almost can't think straight, youcan't see straight, Um, and you
don't really have a whole lotof time to sit down or like do
(09:14):
something else.
Um, so I can kind of put thoseon and kind of keep moving.
Um, I also, when I do have time, we'll put something on and
just close my eyes and breathefor 10 minutes because I'm
trying to do that meditativeside of things or listen to a
meditative person who actuallywalks you through.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
I think prayer and meditation are very similar.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Yes, exactly yes.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
For people that are religiously inclined.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
It's that like all right, I'm going to process, I'm
going to release, I'm going tofocus on and whether it's
releasing to God, releasing tothe world and just out of you
and there is some power in thatheadspace, move on that too.
Yeah no, I totally agree withyou on that side of things.
(10:00):
Yeah, no, I totally agree withyou on that yeah.
Diet of things.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
I think it's a Sikhi concept, but it's something that
is a religious concept, thatwhen you pray, you don't pray
for things, or what is it?
You pray for virtues.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
So like you don't pray that, like Give me this cup
of tea tomorrow, right, anddon't pray like that your
illness is gone tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
You pray for the strength to endure whatever that
is, and I find that that'sactually a helpful meditative
space too, which obviouslyyou're trying to get rid of all
thought when you're meditating.
But, if you are having athought pattern, which you kind
of always are on some level,that's a helpful kind of safe,
(10:47):
neutral space to sit incognitively of like what
qualities do I want to embody?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
today.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
And you know how am I ?
Going to exercise that.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Which goes right along to part of not only your
brain, is how your bodymanifests all of the stuff
that's going on and that it'sreally good to move your body,
however that looks like.
And so if that's a like you'rea workout person, who you're?
(11:19):
Like I need to go and run andlift weights and like I just I
think there is something to okay, I've calmed my brain and I'm
like I'm getting it all.
Like you you're, you're meantto move, and if you don't move
and you just sit there, yourbody just pulls it all in and
it's just not not helpful.
I'm not, obviously, obviously ascientist or have any like
(11:40):
knowledge.
I mean my phrase is right herea scientist or have any like
knowledge.
I mean my phrase is right hereDr Brooke, yes, babbling Brooke
here, um, but like walking ishuge for me.
Or riding a bike, like I don'twant to run, I would do swimming
too, but that takes a lot toput a bathing suit on and like
get there and like it's a, it'sa whole thing, um, but I
struggle to commit to pool germs.
(12:01):
Oh, I don't mind pool germs, Ican do pool germs.
I love to go under the waterand just be like oh, I can just
feel this like movement aroundto me.
I don't think about the poolgerms, because you know what?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
There's germs everywhere?
Yeah, there are, and you'reright.
You're right in this instance,but I do struggle.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
You are not the first person I know who's like not
going with you, with your kids,to the pool, because do you see
how many children are in there?
Speaker 2 (12:23):
you know what they're doing in that pool um, but yeah
, the french word.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Maybe you just need to be out in nature a week and
there's fish and all of thatstuff in there um, but yeah,
walking and biking are huge forme.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
On good, I remember when I first bought my electric
bike to bike down the Monon um,and it's a 40 minute bike ride
to get from my house to here, soit's not bad.
It's 20 minutes to drive it, soreally sometimes 40 minutes to
drive it, depending on traffic,but so it's really easy.
But, like the first time I didit, I literally got down to a
coffee shop right down thestreet to stop and get a coffee
(13:00):
and I just wanted to cry likebecause 40 minutes of, and it's
not hard, I had an electric bike, I'm just moving, I'm just I
wasn't out of breath, I wasn'tanything, but by the time I got
to the end, I'm like I just wow,like moving your body releases
so much energy to then be ableto sit down, and so then I would
pull out my book and write downthrough I'm just going to write
(13:23):
out thought patterns Like Ialmost could process things a
heck of a lot more because Icould actually engage my body in
that space of things.
And I think we all know thattoo.
Sometimes we just need this iswhy I listen to podcasts.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Sometimes I'm like, oh yeah, I need to do that, like
I forgot how powerful that isis of just move your body I had
a trainer at one point, and Idon't know how scientific this
analogy is, but he would alwaysjust say your body is a sponge.
And then, like have you kind ofconceptualize that?
(14:00):
And it's like if you were asponge, like would your sponge
be full of like pizza water, orlike would it be full of gunk or
would it be full of you know,clean things?
And like have you wrung thesponge out?
Like you have to get a spongehas to get rid of the things in
it and it has to take new thingsin.
(14:21):
If you're not taking in theright things or not taking in
anything, the sponge gets dry.
So there's all of these waysand you really can just kind of
like okay if I'm a sponge.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Yeah, it's amazing what visualization does.
How is my sponge doing yeah.
I always like when I go to thesemeditative things and they're
like what color are you?
Right now I'm like I don't knowwhat the heck is color Like.
Are you kidding me?
So I'm not always this likewoo-woo-y type like thing, but
there is some analogy.
I love that.
Like you're a sponge, like whatare you bringing in?
(14:54):
And if we wrong, you like.
And they talk a lot right nowabout cortisol, like oh, maybe
it's because I'm getting olderand your body is changing and
you can't lose weight and all ofthose things and they're like
what's your cortisone level?
Like, what's your stress level?
Yeah, cortisol.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
My aunt was actually talking to me because she's big
into like the healthy stuff.
And she said her doctor liketook a test and was like, yeah,
it's sky high.
And then said to her do youlook at your iPad before you go
to bed?
She was like, well, yeah, nope,put it down an hour before you
go to bed, cause you won't sleepand you're not sleeping and
that's why and I'm like, yeah, Idon't, I don't.
(15:32):
Well, I'm doing better at notlooking at technology right
before I go to bed.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
But um, yeah, we sleep with the TV on and it's
awful, wow, yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Maybe that could help your anxiety level if you
actually got sleep without a TV.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Yeah, I shut it off sometimes, but we definitely go
to sleep to it.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I cannot do that.
That would I would be.
I remember doing that when Iwas in college or something.
We went to a hotel and therewas a bunch of us girls and one
of the girls couldn't sleepwithout a tv on and I was busy
because I can't sleep with it onand I'm like what the hell is
like turn it off, we're sleeping.
I'm like put white noise on orsomething like which.
(16:14):
I think that's ultimately howwe're using it, so we should
just move to something like awhite noise maker or whatever,
but like some binaural beats,like a student and like go to
sleep with them.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Um yeah, that was my wife.
She had the tv on and she'dfall asleep with a remote on her
and she'd be fast asleep andI'd be waking up going what the
hell the tv's on so I then Ithen said to her so what time do
you think is a reasonable timeto go to sleep?
You know, she told me a time Iput a timer behind this armoire
(16:48):
that the TV was in and she gotup.
Well, that woke me up becauseshe was then trying to turn the
power on, but that one night,and then after that it was no TV
in the bedroom.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, we don't have a TV in the bedroom.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Technology didn't allow it early on.
Nowadays it got no.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
TV in the bedroom.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Yeah, we don't have a TV in the bedroom.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Technology didn't allow it early on.
Nowadays it yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Yeah, got used to it, right.
Yeah, that's not good for you.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
No, it's technology is keeps you stimulated side of
of things.
But, what are other things youguys do for your brain, for your
head space?
I also read books.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yeah, they can't be business books.
My favorite is First Light.
Sunday morning I go and playnine holes of golf I walk.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
What is it?
So?
It's the movement.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
It's the movement.
I love golf when I'm playing.
Well, yeah, I love golf, goodor bad.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
Just get out there with a couple of guys and it's
the ambience of you know Bestway to ruin a good walk right.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Absolutely Follow that little white ball, but
you're playing.
Well, there's the smack,involvement, or the sledging,
the golf version of that.
And just getting up first thing, doing it an hour and a half
later literally started at 7yesterday, 8.30, I was back home
and it was just enough exercisejust to keep me going moving.
(18:16):
You know up early anyway, sowhy not just fill it with some
exercise of some description?
And you know, do that everySunday and just have done for
years now.
It's just my solitude, you know, because I carry, so I walk
straight to the ball.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
All by yourself.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
All by.
Yeah, so if they're over theleft I'll help them find the
ball, but it's just, my thing iscarry and just take the line
that I last saw the ball, soI'll come by it.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
I'll always find my ball, that's good, yeah, my
other half has started to pickup the guitar.
Oh nice, like a very stressfuljob and lots of things going on
and actually doing open micstuff, nothing to do with work,
nothing to do with toddler kidsor preschool kids, all just own
(19:13):
headspace.
Fantastic, and I think that'swhat you're saying too of.
You've got to find sometimesyour refreshing thing that
doesn't have to do witheverything else.
So I just said, mine is bookstoo, but that's playing the
guitar, which I can't do.
I'm sorry.
I tried it once.
I'm really not good at it.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Here's another thought that Brooks books.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Brooks books.
There you go.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Yeah.
So I would bet you are a littlebit on the music side too.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Like, if you need to like, yeah, I would bet you are
a little bit on the music sidetoo, like if you need to like.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
Yeah, so I it's interesting because music is
something that is kind of aninteresting conversation in
general, but like music issomething that I've kind of made
the cross over the thresholdinto, like I am a musical
professional, so in a way, likeit's work.
Yeah, it used to be somethingthat I would do as a release.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
And now.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
I find that I am doing that a little bit more
because I've slowed down on themusical side.
So I, you know, this past yearhave kind of made a promise to
myself of like just makewhatever you want to make, like
stop trying to make the nextrecord and just enjoy it.
Make whatever kind of noisescome out of you.
(20:33):
You know kind of thing it mightbe a screen.
Yeah, Like any.
You know, if it's a metal song,like play metal, if it's a
country song, then like make acountry song.
But don't you know, try to likesit in a specific box or have a
target in that way, and sinceI've pulled back in that regard,
like it does feel a little bitmore like play, yeah, yeah uh,
(20:56):
but interestingly enough, likewhen I wasn't in that space and
very much was taking itseriously, I would move to
visual art and paint or I reallylike painting with like spray
paint kind of you know streetart type stuff, some of your
work around, yeah, tagged all ofcaramel, of course, um, but no.
(21:19):
So you know doing, doingsomething where you are allowed
to be a novice or allowed to letgo of the rules or whatever the
second, you acknowledgesomething or accept the
responsibility of doingsomething competitively which
(21:40):
unfortunately, in anythingyou're trying to do
professionally is a competitionthe rules change, so I think
it's important to have pursuitsthat are not validated by being
the best or by being Enjoyment.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Yeah, yeah right.
It's inherently rewarding justto do what you're doing For your
satisfaction, not everyoneelse's Right, exactly.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
And then the other thing from just practices and
routine standpoint is I like toget up very early.
I'm up at 4.30 or 5 in themorning, but I don't start the
day until 8.30 or9 because thatfirst couple of hours Reading,
(22:28):
exercising, you know, firstcouple of hours reading,
exercising, you know, finishingup whatever, yeah, Like from the
night before.
Um, a lot of times it'll besomething like that where it's
like I know I was working onmusic in tonight.
That music will be stuck in myhead the entire time I'm
sleeping and then I'll, you know, be ready to get up and kind of
do another chunk of it orsomething.
So, uh, having those hours thatI know have no to-do list
(22:52):
outside of them, you know, andmost of the world is not moving
yet, it helps as well, Likewhich is really wonderful if you
don't have a, sorry a family ofchildren who require a little
bit more attention, who justhappened to wake you up seven
times in the middle of the nightand you
Speaker 3 (23:11):
or like creating that space and cultivating that,
whether it's having friends youcan dump on and say, hey, can
you take my kids for a littlebit?
(23:32):
Or you coordinate that withyour other half, um, you know,
and hopefully you have anotherhalf to like.
Some people don't like and soit, but it still is super
important to figure out how do Igive myself rejuvenation space
and what does that look like forme?
And recognizing the power ofand even if you have kids like
(23:56):
this is the other thing.
When you're super stressed andyou have all of these things and
your kids are coming at you,you're all of a sudden yelling
at them instead of leading themNot trying to problem-solving.
Yeah, and that's not what youwant either, and some amount of
kids are going to drive youabsolutely bonkers and you're
going to love them in the exactsame moment.
(24:16):
But, yeah, like creating spacefor yourself and cultivating
that is is huge to the nextsteps for being a business owner
or a leader or organizationaldevelopment person, of sitting
down and thinking through thingsand dealing with the stresses
(24:39):
that come If you, if you haven'thad enough space to detox, you
just aren't going, you're goingto make even sillier mistakes,
right, because you're going withyour gut feeling.
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
In the same vein of what we were talking about
earlier.
You need to create space.
Me time is another one of thosethings that you are going to
take.
There's a math problem going onin your life and certain energy
is required to put out whatyou're putting out.
So you can either find thosespaces to isolate that and
(25:17):
dedicate to that, or you can seethat need seep through the
other moments in your life whereyou're depleted and you're
taking more than is than youknow is appropriate.
Because you have to take those.
You know you're takingunplanned me time rather than
the like.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Your body will shut you down if you don't right get
yourself and I mean I used towait tables, I tables.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
I've seen people that are paycheck to paycheck
absolutely need today's money tocome through.
Go tell a table off and flip aplate or whatever, and leave the
restaurant with no plan,because that's what happens when
you're working 14 hours a daywith no breaks and you're
(26:03):
completely on empty Something isgoing to give yeah and no
breaks and you're completely onempty.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
You something is going to give, yeah, yeah, and
it's not.
That's hard, and it's a it'shumanity and it's the it's.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
It's both beautiful and the hard part of humanity,
Right when you're working, whenyou're dealing with things like
that, you're dealing with yourconscious brain, which is very
slow by comparison to yoursubconscious brain.
Conscious brain is what 15 ofyour capacity yeah, they do.
That is a big talk within themedical world and then 85 is the
(26:37):
subconscious brain, and that'swhere you get in the zone where
you do things you don't want toright, or you're capable of
doing things that you didn'tthink you were able to, that's
true yeah, you know, look at theuh, I always go back to tiger
woods for golf.
you know that guy just couldzone everything out and had done
(26:59):
so much practice.
You know, michael jordan, thesame, just the their ability is
to do what they had to do, and Ithink they were working with
their subconscious brain, nottheir conscious, I think that
plays into that Will Smithbrick-by-brick story just the
idea that you're intimidated bycreating a huge brick wall.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
But the reality of it is that if you can isolate your
thinking or even shut yourbrain off and allow the muscle
memory process of laying a brickperfectly to be your only
consideration, then you willlook up one day and it will be
done.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
Well, this is our fun little quick convo we thought
we'd do, but it's all aboutheadspace and that it's really
important.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
We hope it has improved yours.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Exactly.
Thank you, bye.
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