Episode 26: Struggles, Strategy, and Staying True to the Mission

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Hey Cupply Fit fam, welcome to another episode of the Cupply Fit podcast.

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We are Curt and Deanna Mangum II, your hosts, and we are so excited to get into part two of the Cupply Fit story.

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There's so much more to unpack here.

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I know we've been talking about this since the last episode dropped off.

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There's so much that we've gone through, overcome and we gave them a lot of the I would say, the valleys.

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Yes.

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Not a lot of the peaks on the last episode.

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Yeah, well, that's what it was.

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I mean, when you're first starting a business, you may have some more valleys and trials and tribulations than you do those peaks but now we're going to get into some of those, so we're very excited about it.

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So we left off the last episode talking about selling potentially selling, I should say both of our rings to keep us afloat, to keep Cupply Fit going, and I was a little bit in tears the last episode not so many this time unless it's kind of happy tears.

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But in 2019, we were really putting in more of the sweat and social equity into Cupply Fit and building the brand.

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That was something that we didn't realize how valuable it was at the time.

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We just knew that we had to do it, but then also being a servant leader, having a mission-based business.

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So we were doing a lot of speaking engagements for at-risk youth youth just around the Valley, conferences as well that we were talking to Anything any of those speaking engagements that you enjoyed.

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Yeah, I loved all the speaking engagements and really what triggered me when you said the nonprofits and giving back was that Cupply Fit became a benefit corporation.

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Yes.

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And so at the time we weren't super well versed in like what is a benefit corporation?

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Are you an LLC?

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Are you?

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And I know you were very pivotal in that process of making it that we are a for profit business but we're also using our business as a force for good and that's the benefit corporation aspect and element and I think that led to so many open doors of us continuing to really sow where we want to grow.

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So we were pouring in in the community.

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I think back to the Academies of Math and Science, starting off in Chandler.

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I can giving back.

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Oh my gosh, it was incredible to help the youth right there at Chandler High School.

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So all of those examples really were a segue to what we do now and the bigger speaking engagements and really having a bigger platform.

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Yes, that's so true.

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And then because we did South by Southwest in 2019, the startup spotlight.

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We were one of the top 30 startups in the world at that time.

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That opportunity that, thank goodness, our friend Sierra pushed us to do.

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Shout out to the, to the Omegas, Omega.

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Sapphire Shout out to the Omega and the Omega Wise hey come on, we appreciate you so and that's just the power of friendship.

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Uh, for those that don't know, omega, sci-fi, fraternity incorporated.

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I'm a member, alpha theta chapter, which um celebrating, uh, charter day, so that's, that's something huge.

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Um, but I think about that because the friendship is so important and we're going to talk about that more on this episode is the relationships, the timing, and so that friendship, but also having put in that work right.

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So it wasn't that the fraternity or friendship was what got us the deal per se or got us into the door.

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It really was more so.

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The preparation, like the work that we put in, were there, and then you're connecting the dots and it's like, oh, you're here getting recognized as a top 30 startup at South by Southwest in Austin.

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Let me connect you with values is doing amazing work in the community with creators, with subject matter experts, and it truly opened a door to so many things that we've done in the past.

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You know four to five years.

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It really is just like it's still as amazing that it could start with just something as small as us being at South by Southwest, in the relationships yes, and to your point, that's how we got introduced to Values Partnerships, which they are an incredible organization.

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They are one of the largest social impact companies here in the United States.

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They are black owned as well, so working with them, they have a few clients.

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That's how we were able to get in contact with Walmart, and so when everyone always asks us is like, how are you guys become, you know, walmart influencers and Walmart health partners?

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This started back in 2019.

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It's so, when we talk about putting that time into your brand and putting that time into partnerships, we were able to really advance in 2019, although it was lowest of lows I mean we're talking about on the financial side there was such an uptick when it came to the actual business side, the relationships we were building, that social equity that we were also building as well, that led to these incredible opportunities.

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And so that's when we started also working with Walmart.

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That projected us to be able to work with other clients that values also had at the time.

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But let's be honest, right, we are still financially struggling to some degree.

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So then it came down to okay, we either both have to get the steady Freddy right, the the steady paycheck what is it?

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what's a steady Freddy?

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What's a steady Freddy?

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right the steady paycheck coming in.

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What's a steady Freddie?

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It's a J-O-B Word of the day.

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We just watched Friday Word of the day is J-O-B.

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Job, Job.

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But no, that's real.

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And it's so interesting that you say that too, because what I thought about was in that moment I realized that I had to swallow my pride of by me reaching out and saying, hey, I'm looking for a new opportunity.

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It was really both of us right, Because we were open on whoever ended up getting the right opportunity.

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Like we're going to keep Cup Leafet alive, but it's got to come to the point where this is going simultaneously as some checks is coming in, right, Like we've got to get both things going right.

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We have to get some benefits.

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Like those were all like things that were super important, because you don't want, you know, at the gym you don't want to be deciding if you're going to play basketball or not, and it's based on if you've got the benefits.

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Cause, like man, if I, if an Achilles or something gets pulled out here, don't want to be in a situation where I can't go to urgent care.

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Right, it gets real real, so getting the benefits.

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But what happened?

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And I just think back to and this is for anybody that's in that moment right now where maybe you have a business, maybe you have something that you're working on, it is okay to ask for help.

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So I go back to that moment.

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I'm like man, we're struggling.

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Okay, we've got our 15 RFPs out potential, but the you know, the sales cycle is six, you know, six months on some of these things in healthcare and corporate wellness, being able to put the fillers out and post it on LinkedIn.

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Hey, looking for new opportunities.

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And I was, I didn't post.

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And what held me back from posting before that was I felt like by me saying that I'm looking for new opportunities was me signaling that Cupply Fit is failing, when in reality, we're not failing, we're learning, learning, we're growing.

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We're also bootstrapping and doing it with no funding, literally ourselves.

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So that's a whole nother like lift and and um you know kind of battle that we're climbing.

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So, with that being said, I just I felt like it was the perfect timing and then the doors opened, through relationships with coupley fit, to be able to get connected to ISSA, the international sports sciences association, and it wasn't like I came in as the vice president, like I am now, like that was five and a half years ago.

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I literally came in on inside sales hungry, like when I say starving I, you know, I love Les Brown not literally, but not literally starving, but like Les Brown's, like you got to hungry, and more so in your mindset and your mentality that, like I, literally have to put food on the table whatever it takes.

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So I got a job on inside sales and I'm, you know, education advisor and I'm literally doing phone sales at the time helping people figure out what certifications they wanted, and it was just a grind, but it was like low base salary at the time.

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You can get started, but it's high commission or like unlimited potential, but you got to put the hours in, you have to put the time in and I literally.

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That was a pivotal moment too in our journey, but I was learning so much in that process.

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Yes, and I remember that.

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Do you remember when we sat down and it's?

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It's funny now, but it was not funny then, it's not funny then.

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So if you've been listening to the past couple of episodes, I've been talking about how I am the budgeter, I am the planner, I am the one that is in charge of our finances as well.

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So I remember we have a whiteboard in our office and I'm writing down essentially how long it's going to take for us to be able to dig ourselves out of the hole that we were in.

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Out of the hole means out of debt, Like yeah because it was all numbers.

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It was all numbers, it's all numbers, and I'm working through it, I'm showing him.

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I know too that you're also day to day, so I'm trying to keep it so that it's not so overwhelming.

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I was overwhelmed, y'all.

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You were overwhelmed.

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You were overwhelmed, but I feel like it did give us a great opportunity to say, okay, at this month mark, this is when we're going to break even.

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This is then how we're going to start hitting our profit margins.

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Now don't get me wrong At the same time you're on ISSA.

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I was taking the time to almost kind of rebrand a little bit of what we were doing on social media because, thankfully, in 2019, we were able to build our Instagram page to 20,000 followers.

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So the page that you see now with the two T's is our second page.

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We'll talk a little bit more about that when it comes to the year 2020.

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But we built our page up and that's also another.

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That was another indicator for Walmart to work with us too, because we had the social media following.

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We had the community for gosh three years at that time that we've been building and slowly building throughout the time, and so I remember saying to you I'm so proud of you, I appreciate you so much.

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You are, you know, thank you for going to work for us, all of those things, because it was a grind.

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I remember you.

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I mean talk about what, not necessarily a day in the life, but how early you were waking up.

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You're going into the office with your manager, You're sometimes it's 12, you know 13 hour days and how we worked also together during that time.

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And then also we're still building Cupply Fit on the side, and that was still one of my main focuses while I was also looking for part-time.

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Yeah, no, that was real, that was real.

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And to think about the journey.

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So you go through the journey of like we talked about the pawn shop, the selling of the things, the whiteboard of this is what we need to get out of debt.

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This is like the hole that we're in.

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Thinking about man, credit score dropped, you had all of these things.

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It was just like the epitome of like the struggle is real, but now it's like there's an opportunity, what are we going to do with it?

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And so looking at that light at the end of the tunnel, but it was like there's a, it's a, it's literally unlimited upside, but you just got to put the work in and you decide where, where it falls.

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And so I remember I sold, we had two cars.

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We had your car, we had my car, I sold my car and so now I have this job, but it's a 45 minute commute really 55 minutes if it's in traffic each way.

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So I'm like man, that's two hours in a car.

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I sold my car.

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We're down to a one car household.

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If I drive and take the car to work, he's without a car all day.

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So I'm thinking about this and we're like man, I got my first day in the office.

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I'm like man, is anybody in the East Valley?

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I can carpool with Like and my manager Shout out man, Shout out to Ben, Shout out to Ben, Ben for the win.

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Ben's like man, I'll pick you up.

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Only catch, I open the office at like 5 45 am so I can carpool with you.

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But I just got to pick you up at like 5, 30, 5, 20 am.

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I was like no question, no question, I'm in because also it's saving on gas.

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So that there were so many factors when I first started the job didn't have the gas money to get to work.

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So the reality was it's not even just about like driving the car to work, it's like literally the gas to get back.

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And so you go through that grind of getting to the office at five 45, you're on the phones and I'm making 200 dials a day.

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200 outbound people are hanging up on me, People, some people cussing me out, but some people are super passionate about like.

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I want to get certified, help me believe in the journey and the dream.

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And I'm like oh, let me tell you my experience starting off as a trainer and going back to coming home from college and working out in fitness and it was really this full circle moment.

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But also you mentioned a 20,000 followers.

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We started off and I'm an inside sales but the CEO of the company recognized in our interview.

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I saw you guys on YouTube, I saw your journey at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and you guys, with this thing I'm from Austin You're going to be the first like influencer for ISSA that's going to be promoting.

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You're going to be an employee.

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You're going to be like a employee player, like you're an influencer and an employee.

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And I was like we're in like let's, and so it opened.

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So so many doors.

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But I say that grind to your point.

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It's.

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You're there at 5 30, I'm making 200 dials a day.

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The day doesn't end at like three or whenever your eight hours is up, because you're carpooling with the manager.

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So you know the old school.

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You leave when your ride leaves, okay, so I'm looking for the ride by the door, like when are you leaving?

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So sometimes it's 3 30, it's four o'clock, then it's commission-based, so you're making appointments and you're waiting for people to call you back.

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I'm closing deals, laptops up in the car ride to and from work, Like I'm hooked up to his Bluetooth or his hotspot like deals, but we were able to really see the fruits of our labor.

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When you start seeing $10,000 checks drop in a month or different things from the commission hitting back then of like oh, you know, you put up, you know 130,000 in sales or set the company record, Like there's a lot of commission that can be made, but staying humble in that moment because it was crazy.

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But some of those big commission checks would drop in and literally the entire check.

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I had to tell you that.

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You're like baby, you work so hard and I'd love to be able to like we can go out to eat or go do something.

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It's like this entire check is gone towards what's already owed debt, like kind of like back pay different things that were just waiting for this time.

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But I just I think back to that and I'm so grateful because it was a grind, but it does tell you that you can overcome and that with faith over fear, like faith plus works because you can believe, you can have the faith that you'll get an opportunity, but you have to put in the work once an opportunity comes.

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And I remember just like, okay, well, I have to be in a supportive role for him, but then I also need to help.

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This is like I had to build you up too, because there are you.

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You know, over time there were some other nuances behind the scenes that a lot of people don't know about, and we may eventually talk about that, which led into you, uh, losing confidence in yourself, losing confidence and, I think, what you were able to do.

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But I always told you, even through those trials and tribulations, not only do I believe in you, I know that you can do anything that you set your mind to.

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I knew that if you set your mind to it, that you were going to complete it and I said, okay, so what can I do to help support you?

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So I'd make sure all your meals would prep.

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I'd make sure that you would have extra snacks, cause you get a little hangry sometimes.

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I'd make sure that you would have, you know, um, not not your call sheet, but I made a graph for you that included you found the daily like the daily agenda of.

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like this is the day I write Bible verses at the top for you to different Bible verses, just to help you stay motivated and keep going.

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We would talk to each other while you're on break.

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Hey, how's it going?

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What's going on?

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Are you?

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How are you feeling about it?

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That was one thing I was very adamant about is okay, I need to make sure that I'm pouring into you, and that's also just quickly going back to a relationship piece, there's going to be times where maybe somebody in the relationship needs more of you and needs you to pour into them more because of whatever they may be going through, and vice versa.

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And that's the point of a relationship, and we mentioned that even in episode one, where we said relationships are not 50-50 all the time, and most of the time they're not.

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Most of the time somebody else is giving more than they're receiving, or vice versa, and so I remember that also happening.

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But I quickly want to just point out that I'm sure some people are thinking well, why didn't you just you know go to your local bank and just get a business loan?

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Or why didn't you just you know find another funding opportunity?

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And in 2019, we went to a leadership conference, a CEO leadership conference, and we were sitting at a round table with multiple CEOs from around the Valley and even some that were flew in for this conference.

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I'm the only female at this entire table, which is the story of my life in this sense, but as we were listening to people's story, we which is the story of my life in this sense, but as we were listening to people's story, we're hearing the amount of people that are saying that they gave up equity in order to receive funding and they were saying, gosh, I wasn't able to make the moves that I wanted to.

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I wasn't able to.

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I always had to, uh, essentially, have somebody that I answered to.

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And then there was one gentleman, do you remember?

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There was one gentleman who owned 100% of his company and the way that everybody was almost gawking at him unicorn, you're a unicorn.

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And they said if you have 100% of your company, you can do whatever you want.

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Do you know how much I would wish and love to be in your position to not have to have a partner that I answer to, because I needed funding within my first three years.

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So we were taking that into account, as we were kind of going through our struggles and saying to ourselves okay, do we run this pilot, which we did prove Swan.

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We had a gentleman that was going to invest a million dollars into us and you can't just gloss.

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So you can't just gloss over in the same, in the same sit-down roundtable that we got the feedback not to give up equity.

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We also have someone that basically is like hey seven figures, a million dollars.

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Would you guys how much equity?

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This is how much I believe in it, how much equity.

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Are you willing to give up?

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And we're like none.

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None.

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Right now, because we don't want to do that.

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We want to be able to determine, and we've had so many pivots to your point where, if we would have had given up equity or gone to the bank and gotten another, because we did get, like you know, a small business owner and we'll get to some of the tips for small businesses and things that we learned, but it is going to take more time than you think.

00:18:08.115 --> 00:18:12.218
So you get a business, like you know, the bank gives you a line of credit, oh great.

00:18:12.218 --> 00:18:16.067
But now what happens when those checks are due every month?

00:18:16.067 --> 00:18:24.675
And now there's interest on that, and you're like, well, we're three months out from that contract, or we've got something happened personally and we had to use money over here contract, or we've got something happened personally and we had to use money over here.

00:18:24.696 --> 00:18:25.578
Now the business.

00:18:25.578 --> 00:18:47.724
So like there's all of these elements where it wasn't a situation where we just had, uh, you know, some soft cushion to fall back on, or you know, um, funding, right, and so those elements I mean it's a great call out and I I just want to mention because I think there's a lot of people, both, whether they're male, female right in the relationship that not, it's not always 50.

00:18:47.724 --> 00:18:48.948
50 is a great call out.

00:18:48.948 --> 00:18:52.421
Sometimes it is 80, 20 or 70, 30 or your 50.

00:18:52.480 --> 00:19:15.659
50 just looks different, and so you made a great call out because it was so valuable for me to have your support and you understanding that this is the time that I have to grind 100 like, because a lot of times what I typically see and you see this in athletics but you were an athlete as well but you'll see, the athlete that's maybe dating a non-athlete and they don't understand the grind, that's true.

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:22.702
Like you hear Kobe talk about the mama mentality and like he's got the early mornings, the late nights, the dog get like like three training a day.

00:19:22.702 --> 00:19:25.465
People are like why aren't you hanging out with me, like your partner's?

00:19:25.465 --> 00:19:26.266
Like why aren't you chilling?

00:19:26.266 --> 00:19:30.730
Like why aren't we just at, you know, at home or going to the movies or with me shooting in the gym?

00:19:30.730 --> 00:19:33.652
You weren't with me shooting in the gym, right, like all of those elements.

00:19:33.652 --> 00:19:41.718
So there's this balance of people want the success, they want to be like I want to be with a high achiever, but what comes with that?

00:19:41.758 --> 00:19:42.238
That's true.

00:19:42.518 --> 00:19:44.619
How am I willing to support a high achiever that's true.

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:52.349
How am I willing to also see like I'm a high achiever as well, and these are things that can help him win in this situation.

00:19:52.891 --> 00:19:54.223
Absolutely and to your point.

00:19:54.223 --> 00:20:06.951
I think that does go back to the athlete mentality, but that also goes back to our foundation and that's the foundation that we built even before we were married that, hey, there's going to be times that we do need to grind.

00:20:06.951 --> 00:20:07.676
We're both grinding.

00:20:07.676 --> 00:20:15.848
You were grinding in the airport at the time for your family business I was still in food and beverage, you know, working in two days, working 24 hours, and so it's just you're.

00:20:15.848 --> 00:20:22.849
You get used to a certain mindset, you get used to a certain grind where you know that this is the time it needs to happen.

00:20:22.849 --> 00:20:28.691
This will eventually slow down, but right now, this is where all hands on deck need to be here.

00:20:28.691 --> 00:20:33.271
So I appreciate you bringing that up because I think that does come full circle.

00:20:33.271 --> 00:20:34.942
But that is.

00:20:34.942 --> 00:20:42.310
I just wanted to touch on that piece of what we learned because people are, I'm sure are, thinking why don't you just go get some funding and things like that?

00:20:42.310 --> 00:20:43.743
So I just wanted to make sure I brought that up.

00:20:43.864 --> 00:20:52.705
And it always sounds easier to just like go get funding just go out and grab money and it doesn't have to pay that back.

00:20:52.705 --> 00:20:54.635
And then even on business loans, there's still going to be some sort of interest on that.

00:20:54.635 --> 00:21:08.557
So it's just you need to figure out what works best for you and what financial help works best for you, and then you know, move, move along that way, cause we know a lot of people too that also were fortunate enough to be able to have their, their family, help them out.

00:21:08.557 --> 00:21:15.482
And shout out to my mom, cause she sure did help us out and we appreciate her so much, but again, it's not to the extent of what we needed at that time.

00:21:15.482 --> 00:21:17.586
And so it's just figuring it out.

00:21:17.665 --> 00:21:22.171
And I also want to preface to you in 2019, I was 28, you're 29.

00:21:22.171 --> 00:21:39.631
So we're still this is before 30 and we're going through some very, not only serious, but then also the the trials and tribulations for being I would say, that's young, for being that young and having to make such hard decisions.

00:21:39.631 --> 00:21:47.364
That young, that's really prepared us, as we're 34 now, to be able to make the hard decisions, and they get easier.

00:21:47.364 --> 00:21:53.707
The more that you can make the hard decisions, the more that you can critically think through them.

00:21:53.707 --> 00:22:01.385
And then, if you have, you know, mentors or people that are there to support you bounce ideas off of them as well.

00:22:01.385 --> 00:22:05.553
The hard decisions get easier, and that's in business, but then also for us.

00:22:05.553 --> 00:22:06.855
That was in our relationship as well.

00:22:06.855 --> 00:22:08.586
They're going to get easier through time.

00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:10.266
Yeah, I love that you mentioned that too.

00:22:10.266 --> 00:22:23.711
And just to touch on something that you said, that it kind of brought me back because we talked about this recently when it comes to that confidence element, because that was a big thing for me at that time where the confidence was shaken in a couple of areas.

00:22:23.711 --> 00:22:26.182
For me, one was I had always identified as an athlete.

00:22:26.182 --> 00:22:34.940
I've been a athlete, a football player, from six, seven years old, all the way until finishing college, supposed to go to the pros in the league, all of these things.

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:37.367
And now that identity is like changed.

00:22:37.367 --> 00:22:38.833
So that's one shift, all right.

00:22:38.833 --> 00:22:50.721
And then I go into the family business and I'm working with the family in the airport, helping them grow, and I knew that wasn't like, that wasn't my journey and my path and I love being able to support and help.

00:22:50.721 --> 00:22:54.480
But I knew food and beverage wasn't something that I was passionate about, like health and wellness.

00:22:54.480 --> 00:23:04.291
But it's also different with, especially with family, because the a lot, especially other generations right, I'm thinking about our parents, right.

00:23:04.311 --> 00:23:05.478
Yeah, baby memories, grandparents, yeah.

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:09.906
The idea was you get a job, you stay at that job for sometimes 40 years.

00:23:09.906 --> 00:23:10.621
Yes, like you.

00:23:10.621 --> 00:23:13.061
Literally, you get you a good job and you stay there for 40 years.

00:23:13.061 --> 00:23:15.269
You were just talking to my mom about this yesterday 40 years right.

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:18.602
She said I work like a dog Work like a man, work like a dog.

00:23:18.622 --> 00:23:22.006
You, some people, your grandfather worked there 35 years, never missed a day.

00:23:22.086 --> 00:23:22.906
Never missed a day.

00:23:22.926 --> 00:23:26.830
So there's like these experiences, and then also the previous generations.

00:23:26.830 --> 00:23:28.613
It wasn't about what you're passionate about.

00:23:28.673 --> 00:23:38.445
No, what you want to do, no, what you love, no, no, it's about work what's available, what's available, what's open, who's hiring, j-o-b.

00:23:38.445 --> 00:23:48.496
And so there's this different shift where you can align and that's what people are selling it on social media of align your passion with your purpose, make all of this money in your passion.

00:23:48.496 --> 00:23:56.909
But the reality is it's a yes, and Because there is a way to find both, and I feel like we're so grateful because we've been able to find that.

00:23:56.909 --> 00:24:08.055
But we went through a lot of things that we realized were not our passion, whether that was like live personal training or group training, running a gym, doing meal plans and meal delivery right, doing customer service.

00:24:08.055 --> 00:24:10.799
We were like this is not it.

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:18.480
So being able to see the things you don't want to do, financial services there was a time where my family was like no, kurt, you need to be a financial advisor, like that's it.

00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:18.981
That's it.

00:24:19.001 --> 00:24:24.136
They told, they told you if, like he, basically he's going to miss his calling right now if he doesn't go this route.

00:24:24.136 --> 00:24:29.392
And I'm like you guys, I did the like the day in the life, I did the tour I just I don't want one.

00:24:29.392 --> 00:24:31.880
I'm not that interested in like the math math.

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:37.833
Like I like the numbers of, like the dollars and cents, but the math math, like that was one.

00:24:37.833 --> 00:24:44.733
But then, secondly, the first thing that they were saying was like oh, you want to be a financial advisor, you're going to need to call all the people that you know and ask them for money.

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:49.347
Wait, I don't know what I'm doing yet and I got to call everybody I know and ask them for money.

00:24:49.347 --> 00:24:51.866
I don't want people ignoring my phone calls.

00:24:51.866 --> 00:25:07.455
So, like I just already knew that wasn't for me, but it's just, it's that identity to your point of if I'm not doing the food and beverage, the family business, if I'm not doing financial services and that's what you think I need to do If I'm not doing the NFL my gosh, what am I doing?

00:25:07.455 --> 00:25:09.217
What is my passion and my purpose?

00:25:09.217 --> 00:25:13.138
And I knew it was fitness and we were going down this path of couple of fit.

00:25:13.138 --> 00:25:20.034
But finding that like passion and purpose, where those roads meet, was really the journey that we were on.

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.142
We fell into it.

00:25:21.142 --> 00:25:29.983
So that's why, also, you're hearing that we are going through a few pivots throughout our journey, because we never set out to do this in the first place per se it was.

00:25:29.983 --> 00:25:35.744
It looked a little bit different, and so, and then also realizing that, oh, this is more mission-based as well.

00:25:35.744 --> 00:25:42.046
So if you are more mission-based, it's not always about the dollars and cents, but realizing that a business is dollars and cents.

00:25:42.046 --> 00:25:47.434
There has to be, you have to have again that purpose, passion, but then there's finances too.

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:53.392
You know you can't be naive to the fact that that you have to have some sort of capital, that rent is due, that rent is going to be due.

00:25:54.213 --> 00:25:58.271
Okay, so now let's jump into 2020.

00:25:58.271 --> 00:26:01.367
So, as we know, this is COVID year.

00:26:01.367 --> 00:26:03.827
This is tough for everybody.

00:26:03.827 --> 00:26:05.465
You know, people were microwaving their mail.

00:26:05.465 --> 00:26:06.702
It was really.

00:26:06.702 --> 00:26:08.428
We didn't know what was going on.

00:26:08.448 --> 00:26:08.930
Times were strange.

00:26:08.930 --> 00:26:10.605
Couldn't get toilet paper, paper towels.

00:26:10.767 --> 00:26:14.810
Come on, we're remembering like, oh, this is only going to maybe last three months, maybe six months.

00:26:14.810 --> 00:26:22.468
Then it gets longer and longer, and it was something that we nobody was prepared for, and nor were we.

00:26:22.468 --> 00:26:32.192
And then again, coming from 2019, we were already having a kind of a struggle year and then heading into 2020, where now the entire world is struggling.

00:26:32.192 --> 00:26:34.584
That was something that we always say.

00:26:34.584 --> 00:26:43.645
We feel like our COVID year was 2019, because that's where we had, like, our biggest struggles, that's where we had the true trials and tribulations were coming through.

00:26:43.645 --> 00:26:47.633
But in 2020, we were actually well.

00:26:47.633 --> 00:26:53.913
First and foremost, our 20K page was hacked on Instagram in March.

00:26:53.913 --> 00:27:06.730
We were receiving extortion emails and a lot of other social media influencers or people that were on social media that had larger followings were saying the same thing and saying hey, make sure you protect your account.

00:27:06.730 --> 00:27:16.359
Two-step authentication that people are coming out here to hack in and try to get the money from you yeah, and to your point with the two.

00:27:16.401 --> 00:27:17.865
So when people talk about like what is that?

00:27:17.865 --> 00:27:22.773
Like what's the scam for social media or for hacking, if you think about it, your business is on your business.

00:27:22.795 --> 00:27:23.940
Your business is your social media.

00:27:24.161 --> 00:27:31.589
That was one of the main reasons walmart wanted to work with us someone then gets into your account, they change the phone number and the email, so now you can't recover it.

00:27:31.589 --> 00:27:42.310
And now they're reaching out to you basically saying I've got your account and if you want it back it's going to be x amount correct, thousands of dollars, whatever it is and in bitcoin, so you can't even like trace them.

00:27:42.631 --> 00:27:44.275
They're messaging you from another country.

00:27:44.275 --> 00:27:46.439
It's like russia or somewhere, and we don't know if that germany.

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.682
We don't know if they were actually there.

00:27:47.682 --> 00:27:54.469
So it was a really crazy experience and you're asking yourself the question of and also, we just got done talking about financially man page is hacked.

00:27:54.469 --> 00:28:04.411
We're not financially in a situation where we can run the risk of giving somebody money that we don't have to get our, thankfully, but we couldn't run the risk of it not being traceable.

00:28:04.451 --> 00:28:06.913
Them just saying thank you, appreciate it or give me more money.

00:28:06.913 --> 00:28:07.615
Correct.

00:28:08.255 --> 00:28:09.221
Correct, so scary it was.

00:28:09.221 --> 00:28:17.805
It was scary times as far as that goes, and I know we had to ask ourselves the question of like man, you grow to this level and you've done all of this work, do we start over?

00:28:17.805 --> 00:28:18.782
Do we?

00:28:18.782 --> 00:28:20.428
Do we just say no more Instagram?

00:28:20.428 --> 00:28:26.843
We just say no more Instagram like it was.

00:28:26.843 --> 00:28:41.248
It was really devastating, yeah, um, and it also was such a shift timeline wise, because, like for ISSA, me going into work ended up being a situation where everybody's now working remotely because of the pandemic, so I'm not going into the office, which was a whole nother just thing that we had to adapt to yes, that's so true.

00:28:41.729 --> 00:28:51.365
And then you know, during this time too it was in June where we had the unfortunate murder of George Floyd.

00:28:51.645 --> 00:28:52.086
Tragically.

00:28:52.207 --> 00:29:02.064
It was tragic, but what we saw was that there was a the the tap into the empathy that was around the world, because we were all going through the same thing at the same time with COVID.

00:29:02.064 --> 00:29:06.133
But then we're also seeing what is happening to this black man as well.

00:29:06.133 --> 00:29:18.453
And so that's when our phones started ringing off the hook for DEI initiatives hey, what can we do in our space to be able to help the Black Lives Matter movement?

00:29:18.453 --> 00:29:29.513
So we were getting calls from the city of Phoenix, from the city of Tempe, from Pinterest, from Walmart, from these really large brands, asking us our opinion on what we should do for the community.

00:29:29.513 --> 00:29:30.762
I know Walmart.

00:29:30.782 --> 00:29:34.375
At that time, too, we were also in a like a series.

00:29:34.375 --> 00:29:35.200
Do you remember that?

00:29:35.200 --> 00:30:05.580
We were in a series and we were talking to multiple SVPs within Walmart in the community engagement, finances, social impacts and I think there was one more health and wellness and we are able to just be a sounding board but then also give our kind of subject matter expert opinions on hey, not only is this what's happening in the community, but then this is also what are some changes that can be made as you guys move forward and continue with this um hopefully, initiative.

00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:20.361
Now we know and we're not naive to what has been happening in the media now with walmart and the and I think there's negative pressure around dei as a whole as a whole right now, and I think there's also a level of and I don't mean to cut you off, but there's a level of confusion around what.

00:30:20.662 --> 00:30:21.823
What are, what are people talking?

00:30:21.863 --> 00:30:22.724
what are people talking about?

00:30:22.744 --> 00:30:25.607
when they say they're scaling back DEI.

00:30:25.848 --> 00:30:27.550
And then, what is DEI?

00:30:27.550 --> 00:30:30.654
What is diversity, equity and inclusion?

00:30:30.694 --> 00:30:31.115
What is it?

00:30:31.115 --> 00:30:31.695
And then who?

00:30:32.702 --> 00:30:33.945
all falls under that category.

00:30:33.945 --> 00:30:36.031
Who falls under that category?

00:30:36.031 --> 00:30:46.820
So that was something that actually was a catalyst for us to be able to get into more dei opportunities and that was something for us.

00:30:46.820 --> 00:31:04.667
We didn't again, we weren't expecting, with coupley fit, to be kind of in this space in the way that we were, but it was another little pivot for us that we said, okay, well, if we are a trusted voice in this space, then we have to use our voice, and that's what you're hearing over and over as we start.

00:31:04.667 --> 00:31:10.763
Cupply Fit is we've always been able to wanted to be able to use our voice, also one of the reasons we started the podcast.

00:31:10.763 --> 00:31:14.721
We want to be able to use our voices as a force for good as well as our business.

00:31:14.721 --> 00:31:19.170
But it was interesting and also people were asking us to be on their podcasts.

00:31:19.170 --> 00:31:20.192
Can you be on our pod?

00:31:20.192 --> 00:31:26.729
We'd love to be able to talk more about how you guys, also as black owners, are affected and just moving forward in that sense.

00:31:27.080 --> 00:31:46.884
And the representation was important too, because when you think about George Floyd and the situation of not only him being murdered but the I can't breathe and people being able to see it, and see it from the landscape of, that could be my brother, that could be my father not taking race out of it not his race, or did he commit a crime?

00:31:47.125 --> 00:31:47.705
What did he do?

00:31:47.705 --> 00:31:52.304
It's just like, hey, that's a human being, how do we find a way to help and serve Right?

00:31:52.304 --> 00:31:57.361
And that aspect I think was was so eye opening for so many people.

00:31:57.361 --> 00:32:01.769
But it kind of opened up some of the conversations of, well, what can we do?

00:32:01.769 --> 00:32:11.586
Do a little bit differently as far as the approach, and I'm just grateful that we were able to use our relationships and things in the community to also raise awareness as well.

00:32:11.645 --> 00:32:18.770
I mean, one of the big things that I think back to in that time really grateful for our partners at State 48, being able to collaborate with them.

00:32:18.871 --> 00:32:37.048
We had the with Black Luster, the black owned clothing company that's also arizona base, doing a collaborative t-shirt to be able to raise awareness, raise funds for some community organizations, but raise awareness about unity, because that was what our big takeaway was and we want to unite.

00:32:37.048 --> 00:32:40.980
How do we unite the people and bring people together versus creating more division?

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:44.951
We don't need division between races and the police or different people in the police.

00:32:44.951 --> 00:33:07.445
We need unity amongst everybody so that we can come to a place where we're all here uplifting each other, uplifting the community, making it safer and better for all of the members right of the community and, I think, having that mindset and then having the timing where people are asking the questions of what can be done, what can we do, how do I become an ally and what does allyship look like?

00:33:07.445 --> 00:33:10.448
And I think that was something that was really big in 2020.

00:33:10.448 --> 00:33:11.250
And everybody's at home.

00:33:11.250 --> 00:33:16.205
So there's also like this time to think about it in process versus we're back on the move.

00:33:16.306 --> 00:33:17.048
I'm back at work.

00:33:17.108 --> 00:33:17.770
I'm back on the road.

00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.181
I'm worried about what's going on in my life.

00:33:19.181 --> 00:33:20.961
I'm not worried about what's going on in your life.

00:33:20.961 --> 00:33:21.442
Correct.

00:33:21.442 --> 00:33:35.809
That led into not even maybe two months after that, we were fortunate enough to be on the Scottsdale Health Magazine cover, but just to give some quick insight on that, we went to a conference in 2019.

00:33:35.809 --> 00:33:54.833
Again, no, I'm talking about we had one tank of gas for probably two weeks and we had to go from Chandler to Scottsdale, scottsdale to Chandler twice and I remember thinking like, oh my gosh, this is going to take half a tank just to be able to do this, but it led into this opportunity.

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:59.128
I also vividly remember coming to the conference with a lunch packed.

00:33:59.288 --> 00:33:59.971
Oh, we had a lunch packed.

00:33:59.990 --> 00:34:03.726
People thought we were like bodybuilders and it's like no, this isn't a bodybuilder lunch.

00:34:03.726 --> 00:34:05.711
We don't have the money to grab lunch while we're here.

00:34:05.711 --> 00:34:07.685
So I remember packing a lunch?

00:34:07.726 --> 00:34:10.306
Yes, and we didn't have the money for the conference.

00:34:10.306 --> 00:34:12.121
So we got, we won.

00:34:12.121 --> 00:34:16.224
Shout out to Nicole Meiden, nicole Meiden, magic Meiden, magic Meiden.

00:34:16.224 --> 00:34:24.030
So we went to her workshop and we actually won, won tickets to the Fitposium conference which was in Scottsdale.

00:34:24.030 --> 00:34:38.106
And so, knowing us and that's one thing that I just I look back to and so many people don't know how to smile through it all and be grateful through it all, because if we would have showed up and act like our finances were, we would have never gotten an opportunity.

00:34:38.106 --> 00:34:43.148
If we would have showed up like we're you know we're broken, struggling, and you know, right now we don't.

00:34:43.148 --> 00:34:43.311
You know we're.

00:34:43.311 --> 00:34:44.672
You know we're broke and struggling and you know, right now we don't.

00:34:44.672 --> 00:34:47.927
You know, we're trying to stay optimistic like people, they, they.

00:34:47.927 --> 00:34:51.206
If people see that then they're not like, oh, that's somebody I want to give an opportunity to.

00:34:51.206 --> 00:34:58.492
But we showed up with our passion, with our enthusiasm, with all the work and that's all we have that's all we have.

00:34:58.512 --> 00:35:02.885
That's all we have right now, uh, but we showed up with that and we literally the.

00:35:02.885 --> 00:35:04.407
It was the last interview.

00:35:04.407 --> 00:35:12.130
So the format of the conference ton of value and information, but the ending was like you got a chance to meet with different editors from different magazines.

00:35:12.150 --> 00:35:13.054
Magazines, podcasts.

00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:15.335
About your story, about your journey, about what you.

00:35:15.356 --> 00:35:15.840
You're pitching yourself.

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.923
You're literally pitching yourself.

00:35:16.923 --> 00:35:20.280
At the end of this conference, it was like Shape Magazine.

00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:21.242
Men's Health Magazine.

00:35:21.262 --> 00:35:21.963
Women's Health.

00:35:22.322 --> 00:35:31.030
There were some really big names there and our last stop was Scottsdale Health Magazine and they almost told us no, but they were like you know what, we'll take you guys.

00:35:31.030 --> 00:35:38.277
And again, shout out to Nicole Meiden, because we were asking her, nicole, what should we wear, what should we say, how should we pitch ourselves?

00:35:38.277 --> 00:35:46.505
And she was the main catalyst for us being able to get that magazine because of her expertise.

00:35:46.505 --> 00:35:52.163
Please check out her, her book you are worthy and it's all about pr and making sure that you know that you're worthy of pr.

00:35:52.163 --> 00:35:53.505
Just a quick shout out to her.

00:35:53.505 --> 00:36:01.110
And we didn't think anything of it, I mean, for months no instant gratification no instant gratification like did we get it?

00:36:01.150 --> 00:36:03.369
yes, no, maybe and we weren't supposed to interview.

00:36:03.369 --> 00:36:04.157
We weren't supposed to interview.

00:36:04.157 --> 00:36:05.806
We weren't supposed to interview together.

00:36:05.806 --> 00:36:08.400
That was the other thing in this setup with the interviews.

00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:15.226
It was supposed to be only individuals well, yes, but they knew our brand, but they made, but that's just, they made an exception for literally an exception.

00:36:15.268 --> 00:36:18.463
But now we're both on the cover, which was just a whole thing of like whoa.

00:36:18.463 --> 00:36:29.496
It wasn't just one of us, it was both of us on the cover and it wasn't just like a cover, it was a cover in a four-page spread yeah in scott still health magazine, yeah, like whoa whoa.

00:36:29.958 --> 00:36:34.327
That was a catalyst on the media side for us to be able to.

00:36:34.327 --> 00:36:37.231
We took this, this magazine.

00:36:37.231 --> 00:36:41.708
I was essentially on a tour with all of the you know arizona networks out here and again.

00:36:41.708 --> 00:36:49.621
Another shout out to nicole might, and she's telling us what to wear, she's telling us what to say, how to set up our, our you know activations when we're there.

00:36:49.621 --> 00:36:54.932
And then we I remember we launched it on social media and again we lost our page.

00:36:54.932 --> 00:36:57.704
So we maybe at the time had like 3 000 followers.

00:36:57.704 --> 00:37:01.309
We just we were still building and we're still.

00:37:01.630 --> 00:37:08.923
People were coming out so strong supporting us, just saying this is where you guys are meant to be.

00:37:08.923 --> 00:37:10.416
This is incredible.

00:37:10.416 --> 00:37:14.201
It was a cover you know the cover and it's saying feeling better together.

00:37:14.201 --> 00:37:16.016
Shout out to Lynette Carrington.

00:37:16.016 --> 00:37:25.204
She wrote our article and she's writing things like power couple, and we were seeing our name not only on the cover but then in the four page spread.

00:37:25.204 --> 00:37:34.523
We were not only so grateful, but we were a little bit in shock too of just wow, this is a little.

00:37:34.523 --> 00:37:36.072
It's some of that hard work is paying off.

00:37:36.072 --> 00:37:40.349
It's kind of what it also came down to too, because we were working so hard.

00:37:40.349 --> 00:37:49.956
But when you start getting that type of recognition, it feels like, okay, we're on the right path and this is the journey that we're supposed to be on, no matter, it feels like, okay, we're on the right path and this is the journey that we're supposed to be on, no matter what it looks like.

00:37:49.956 --> 00:37:53.795
Just continue down that road, continue to persevere and be persistent.

00:37:54.416 --> 00:37:58.411
And that was incredible because that led to a lot of live media appearances.

00:37:58.411 --> 00:37:59.514
We were on Channel 3, az Family.

00:37:59.514 --> 00:38:02.898
We were on AZ Daily Mix with Brad Perry, three AZ family.

00:38:02.898 --> 00:38:06.003
We were on a AZ daily mix with Brad Perry.

00:38:06.003 --> 00:38:16.742
That was actually our first stop and we were talking about all things that couples can do together to feel better, and so it was just an incredible tour.

00:38:16.742 --> 00:38:34.038
That also led to other opportunities where channel three was reaching out to us about motivation Mondays and we were teaching people about exercises during COVID how you can these are the exercises you can do in your office chair and it was something that was just absolutely incredible to see ourselves also on live TV and people texting us after, like, were you just on live TV?

00:38:34.038 --> 00:38:35.201
Did I just see you on the news?

00:38:35.201 --> 00:38:36.552
We're like, yeah, that's us.

00:38:36.552 --> 00:38:37.815
So it was.

00:38:38.036 --> 00:39:10.202
It was a great way for those past, you know, three, four years of that hard work to see that in that type of recognition 100%, and I think what's what's so also so interesting during this time is that when people see the live TV, the cover of the magazine, all of these elements, it's almost like the, the success thing, like it was in our hands without being there yet Like we're feeling it, we're getting closer, but it wasn't like you're getting paid to be on live TV or you're making all this money just from that.

00:39:10.583 --> 00:39:18.117
We have other things that are opening doors and collaborations and partnerships from the visibility, but it's you have to be visible.

00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:34.036
And something that we really learned that this is for anybody out there, that's whether it's your business, sports, you've got to dominate your local market market if you're not the best on your team, how can you be the best in your city or the best in your state before you can be the best in the country or the world right?

00:39:34.036 --> 00:39:39.447
So like starting there and then continuing to grow and all the things we did in the community important.

00:39:39.447 --> 00:39:42.554
That's what made all of these elements and live tv.

00:39:42.554 --> 00:39:46.661
We were like it became natural and they're like oh my, you guys are supernatural up here on TV.

00:39:46.661 --> 00:39:53.369
We're like well, we've been speaking to schools and to organizations and nonprofits and then also our social media work right.

00:39:53.389 --> 00:40:19.402
Like we're we're collaborating with these large brands and we're posting that content on social media, and so now it's it's all of it was kind of coming together right, like it was the perfect storm in that sense, where everything was coming together and, interesting enough, though, in 2020, because we were getting that visibility yes, we were already working with cities and these larger brands, but that's when we truly started getting even more in-depth into the city of Tempe.

00:40:19.402 --> 00:40:21.989
That's when we started getting some of our modeling opportunities.

00:40:21.989 --> 00:40:23.554
It was started in 2020.

00:40:23.554 --> 00:41:09.583
And so, when people used text us and say I'm seeing you guys on a billboard, I see you guys in the magazine on the freeway and those things, that's coming from some of the modeling opportunities that we were able to get to, because, number one, it was a representation piece in 2020, where we may not have access to black couples Uh, it was also the, the piece that people have worked with us before, and one thing about us is we are again we're servant leaders, so we're always going to be in a position where we can be a passion partner and we want to try to help you, whether it is just you personally or you as a business, before we even ask for anything on our end, but people loved working with us so much that they would always say you guys are top of mind for this opportunity.

00:41:09.704 --> 00:41:21.726
I'm always thinking about you guys for anything that comes across my desk, so that's also how we were able to get into some of that modeling opportunity in 2020, which led into 2021 and 2022.

00:41:21.967 --> 00:41:25.494
Yeah, and it's funny you say that because people would say, like, how did you get into modeling?

00:41:25.494 --> 00:41:26.137
Like what happened?

00:41:26.137 --> 00:41:26.516
How did it?

00:41:26.516 --> 00:41:31.353
And to your point, with the relationships and also just showing up your authentic selves.

00:41:31.353 --> 00:41:34.702
Because you know, um shout out to JJ Jeff Johnson.

00:41:34.702 --> 00:41:42.396
He literally connected the dots of like I think he was doing either taxes or something for a company he's like they need, they're looking for.

00:41:43.159 --> 00:42:07.650
He was looking for two black creators to be able to model and to be able to go through that process, and so it was incredible to be able to get that open door and then that leading to us being, you know, on the cover of the city of Tempe's tourism guide, back-to-back years, like it's incredible to think of where it leveled up to, but it always reminds me of where God says if I can trust you with the small, then you can prove that you'll be ready for the much or for much.

00:42:07.650 --> 00:42:13.170
Something bigger and that's what I felt like our journey continued to do was you give us something small?

00:42:13.170 --> 00:42:13.833
We're going to prove that.

00:42:13.833 --> 00:42:24.074
We're going to not only treat it like this is the opportunity, but we're going to show ourselves as being ready, prepared, focused and it opened the door and being our authentic selves.

00:42:24.074 --> 00:42:25.557
Just open the door to more opportunities.

00:42:25.858 --> 00:42:26.260
Absolutely.

00:42:26.260 --> 00:42:26.380
So.

00:42:26.380 --> 00:42:32.059
I know we're coming up on the end of the episode, so we're going to kind of run through these past three or four, three or four years.

00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:33.471
I don't know, we might have to do part three.

00:42:33.471 --> 00:42:35.195
I don't know, part three Maybe.

00:42:35.715 --> 00:42:36.197
Oh my gosh.

00:42:36.197 --> 00:42:44.940
So 2021, 2022, that's really where you started seeing our partnerships go to the next level Because, again, we've already worked with them.

00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:53.793
They understand how we work, they know that we are, uh, we're tedious.

00:42:53.793 --> 00:42:54.253
We're also timely.

00:42:54.253 --> 00:43:18.161
We are also going to put our everything into every single piece of content that we create for somebody or that we are in, and so, as we were rebuilding our page that we lost in 2020, uh, we were still able to kind of model to help supplement, but then we started getting even more partnership opportunities because we are not your typical influencers and so, although people look at influencers as being you know, they are kind of getting a negative rap right now Cameras, everyone taking pictures.

00:43:18.329 --> 00:43:18.672
Cameras.

00:43:18.672 --> 00:43:19.797
I'm just taking pictures.

00:43:19.797 --> 00:43:25.878
We're going to do a whole episode about what it's like to be a content creator, because it is not for the weak.

00:43:25.878 --> 00:43:33.603
It is hard Although you see the end result, you're not seeing the time, the consistency, everything that goes into it.

00:43:33.603 --> 00:43:44.742
But we were able to work with partners like Hilton, omni, hotels and Resorts we were able to tap into again we're still working with the city of Phoenix, the city of Tempe.

00:43:44.742 --> 00:43:46.135
We went down to Tucson.

00:43:46.469 --> 00:44:23.914
We were really hitting all of the cities in arizona and that was something that helped us to be able to get even more visibility on coupley fit, but it did allow us to build within arizona, which is what you were talking about with dominating the local market yeah, I mean it's, it was the, but it was also timing and relationships and I love you know the saying your network is your net worth, because if you have someone that can refer you, so much of the business, even right now, today, I would have to say they say like 80% of your opportunities come from your network.

00:44:24.295 --> 00:44:28.541
But that's literally where people will tell us oh, we just got referred to you by so-and-so.

00:44:28.541 --> 00:44:30.364
Oh, tempe love working with you.

00:44:30.364 --> 00:44:31.576
They told us we had to work with you.

00:44:31.576 --> 00:44:40.260
We just went to the U S women's soccer suite, collaboration, all of those things, but it was because we had an incredible experience with Phoenix rising Right.

00:44:40.260 --> 00:44:45.056
So like there, it opens more doors when you have a great experience and you have those relationships.

00:44:45.056 --> 00:44:48.983
But that's so important is the timing in the relationships which have really led.

00:44:48.983 --> 00:44:53.539
It's kind of crazy now, but last year I mean the awards and different things were like it was crazy.

00:44:53.780 --> 00:44:56.273
Yes, exactly Anything else.

00:44:56.273 --> 00:44:58.407
2021, 2022, you can think of.

00:44:59.110 --> 00:45:03.849
There was a lot that we did, but it kind of fell under the collaborations partnerships.

00:45:03.849 --> 00:45:09.722
We did a lot more travel and different things with brands, but we still gave back to the community a lot too with the nonprofits.

00:45:09.869 --> 00:45:15.050
Correct and also, at that time, starting well, even back in 2020, through kind of 2022, 23,.

00:45:15.050 --> 00:45:17.380
We were also working with Fabulous Arizona.

00:45:17.380 --> 00:45:29.420
That was another opportunity for us where we were already within the community, and so we were working with Fab AZ and shout out to Cynthia Saucy she's an incredible female founder of that brand.

00:45:29.420 --> 00:45:50.943
But then that led into 2023, which now we're getting back into the rhythm of working with the brands that we've truly established ourselves with and that our first and foremost, our our one of our best partners we've worked with is Walmart, and that's when we were on basically a Walmart open call tour.

00:45:51.543 --> 00:45:53.246
US manufacturing US manufacturing.

00:45:53.329 --> 00:45:58.050
So if you want to give a little bit more background on the open call initiative that Walmart has, yeah, absolutely so.

00:45:58.070 --> 00:46:14.980
Walmart open call, which was a 10 year commitment to investing into locally made products, us made and produced from veterans minority business owners all over the US, but supporting those products and helping them get on their shelves inside of Walmart, almost like Shark Tank, but for Walmart and for Sam's Club.

00:46:14.980 --> 00:46:36.277
And so we were able to travel all across the country and spotlight the Walmart Open Call initiatives, the different founders, the incredible stories, the ideas, the brands, the innovative ideas, from um you know, chocolate made with dates that's healthier and sugar-free for you, to uh dude wipes and different like it's so much innovation that's happening.

00:46:36.297 --> 00:46:57.052
Oh, those are delicious, but it was incredible to be able to have these conversations, tell these stories and also be behind the camera a little bit more, because we were hosting panels and doing different things like that to drive awareness all across social media about the Walmart Open Call and also driving access to these opportunities that people always want to know, like how do I?

00:46:57.092 --> 00:46:57.773
get on Walmart shelves.

00:46:57.773 --> 00:46:59.639
How do I get into Sam's Club?

00:46:59.920 --> 00:47:02.666
And that's an opportunity and it's every year and that's something that's still going on.

00:47:02.666 --> 00:47:14.541
They're investing $350 billion into Walmart Open Call in this process over 10 to 20 years, so definitely it's something you can still apply to if you have a product that you want to get on Walmart shelves.

00:47:14.949 --> 00:47:20.420
Yes, and to your point, when we were able to interview the founders, that so we went to.

00:47:20.420 --> 00:47:21.483
Let me back up a little bit.

00:47:21.483 --> 00:47:26.641
We went to, so after we did our entire tour and we're going, we're going everywhere.

00:47:26.641 --> 00:47:27.971
That was incredible.

00:47:27.971 --> 00:47:37.065
We also were at the actual open call um event, where you get your golden ticket.

00:47:37.085 --> 00:47:38.972
You get your golden ticket, oh my gosh.

00:47:38.972 --> 00:47:45.831
So we were able to interview the winners who now were running out of the room.

00:47:45.831 --> 00:47:47.536
I just pitched my idea.

00:47:47.536 --> 00:47:50.152
Walmart's picking it up, I have my golden ticket.

00:47:50.152 --> 00:47:53.798
We're interviewing them right after the pure elation.

00:47:53.798 --> 00:47:56.530
Was it still to this day?

00:47:56.530 --> 00:47:59.603
I'm smiling as I say this because it was so genuine.

00:47:59.684 --> 00:48:09.717
It makes you want to cry when you hear everybody's stories and again, we were able to kind of focus in on whether it was a husband wife team in the health and wellness space, black business owners.

00:48:09.717 --> 00:48:13.054
So that was something for us that this is fueling our hearts.

00:48:13.054 --> 00:48:17.251
It's the, it's giving the mission and it's also giving the business side as well.

00:48:17.251 --> 00:48:20.077
So that was an absolutely incredible experience.

00:48:20.077 --> 00:48:30.436
Uh, we highly recommend that if you do have a product to check out, their Walmart open, call their page and see if you can, you know, get yourself into that opportunity.

00:48:30.436 --> 00:48:33.934
We were able to moderate at Rice Rice Atlanta, which is incredible.

00:48:33.934 --> 00:48:53.869
It was essentially a black business incubator and we were able to go in there and moderate the questions that maybe the audience had with Walmart's employees and executives, and that was something that was so incredible for us to be able to do, just to see the joy and to see the the opportunity like you could.

00:48:53.869 --> 00:48:57.835
The opportunity was in people's hands, and so people actually got golden tickets there.

00:48:57.835 --> 00:48:59.239
So that was we.

00:48:59.239 --> 00:49:02.018
That was a highlight of couple E fit, just in general.

00:49:02.018 --> 00:49:06.592
And so that's also when we were still working with values, partnerships, because they're incredible for us too.

00:49:06.632 --> 00:49:15.746
We're still doing our media appearance, appearances, modeling and those things that are now we again, we've, you see where we started in 2019.

00:49:15.746 --> 00:49:24.293
And if you haven't, we highly recommend you checking out part one of where we started and then where we are in this, 2000 or 2023.

00:49:24.293 --> 00:49:29.898
And you can see the changes that when we knew something wasn't working, we were not afraid to pivot.

00:49:29.898 --> 00:49:33.072
We were not too rigid to say, no, we're going to continue down this road.

00:49:33.072 --> 00:49:35.681
No, we pivoted whenever we needed to.00:49:35.681 --> 00:49:39.532


And then also, again, it's finding that footing of what do we actually?00:49:39.532 --> 00:49:40.797


What do we want Cupply Fit to be?00:49:40.797 --> 00:49:41.900


What do we want to stand for?00:49:41.900 --> 00:49:42.161


Who?00:49:42.161 --> 00:49:47.811


What are our pillars?00:49:47.811 --> 00:49:50.858


What do we want others to think of us when they think of coupley fit?00:49:50.878 --> 00:49:53.603


so then, that leads us into 2024 oh, I want to say 20.00:49:53.603 --> 00:49:57.751


Was that 2023, though, that we were recognized as one more black health heroes?00:49:58.271 --> 00:50:01.974


that was, yes, 2023.00:50:01.974 --> 00:50:03.434


That was big time.00:50:03.434 --> 00:50:04.695


That was big time.00:50:04.695 --> 00:50:06.376


That was big time for us.00:50:06.376 --> 00:50:08.659


Wow, thank you for bringing that up.00:50:08.659 --> 00:50:15.503


It's not that I forgot, I just forgot what year, but Walmart, black Health Heroes incredible opportunity for us.00:50:15.623 --> 00:50:29.614


I'll never forget when we received a box from Walmart and it had Black Health Heroes, and it was a box filled with all of the products that were either being sponsored or even services, and our names were on it, with huge names.00:50:29.614 --> 00:50:31.858


I mean, we're talking about Bubba Wallace was on there.00:50:31.858 --> 00:50:43.557


We are talking about Naomi Osaka, who's you know, the famous tennis player and amongst other incredible leaders as well, and I remember when I got that box, I literally just started tearing up and crying.00:50:43.557 --> 00:50:49.998


So I'm like, oh my gosh, I never, you never, think that maybe you would get here.00:50:49.998 --> 00:51:10.342


Um, or, in some cases, you know you're going to get there, but when it actually happens, and it goes back to that saying of I'm living the dreams that I, that I prayed for, it's, it was just an incredible opportunity for, again, all of the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears that we put into Cupply Fit to be recognized in that way.00:51:10.342 --> 00:51:12.677


That was, that was incredible.00:51:12.677 --> 00:51:14.838


That was something that we another highlight.00:51:15.130 --> 00:51:16.175


That was a big time highlight.00:51:16.269 --> 00:51:18.177


Yeah, that was a big time highlight, that's 2023.00:51:18.177 --> 00:51:24.184


So 2024, as we just wrap up here, we again we're still doing our modeling, our partnerships.00:51:24.184 --> 00:51:32.307


Social media is taking off because we're now building up to, you know, having more followers, we're having more engagement and those things.00:51:32.307 --> 00:51:37.382


But really, what was a big catalyst in us for 2024 was being able to partner with Forbes VOK.00:51:38.052 --> 00:52:01.505


That was huge, yeah, and you know, being able to continue to network, build the relationships saw the opportunity with Forbes having a space in a community for black business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders getting involved in that, joining as members, but then having the opportunity to actually host a wellness workshop for Community Day with Forbes BLK in Atlanta was at.00:52:01.626 --> 00:52:03.010


Rice was incredible.00:52:03.010 --> 00:52:07.461


And then just to have that also kind of lead into we had that happen.00:52:07.461 --> 00:52:19.438


Then the United States Black Chamber recognized us as power 50 under 40 leaders, top 50 most powerful leaders under 40 years old in the United States, and that was after we went to the vice president's residence.00:52:19.438 --> 00:52:21.081


Yes, that was incredible.00:52:21.081 --> 00:52:22.213


So 2024 was like.00:52:22.213 --> 00:52:23.096


There were a lot of moments.00:52:23.115 --> 00:52:23.677


Titan 100.00:52:24.059 --> 00:52:32.815


That was another thing Titan 100 being recognized top 100 executives in the Phoenix area by Titan 100 leadership group and having it be both of us.00:52:32.815 --> 00:52:43.675


Because a lot of times I think there can be this point where in athletics for sure, it's like, oh, your husband or your wife is a professional athlete and they're winning and you're cheering them on or you're rooting for them as they're getting awards.00:52:43.675 --> 00:52:58.137


But I'm so grateful that what we're doing is together and when we're on stage they're they're calling Kurt, andy and they're calling both of us together and we're being recognized for the hard work and the things that we've done, and so that's really like an incredible, um, just reminder.00:52:58.438 --> 00:52:59.561


Yes, yeah, no.00:52:59.561 --> 00:53:24.657


20 last year was where we really saw a lot of things hit for us in the sense of the accolades, and so that's why we always we wanted to do these episodes so that you can hear where we came from, where we were talking about potentially selling our rings to keep ourselves afloat, pawning, you know, chains and getting rid of, you know, your entire sneaker collection, which is so hard when you're a sneakerhead, I already know.00:53:24.657 --> 00:53:28.458


I know when you're a sneaker, head right and designer things.00:53:28.458 --> 00:53:32.255


But it also is a reminder that the material things will come and go.00:53:32.255 --> 00:53:45.202


But what is always going to continue to last, especially for us, is having that love and that faith at our foundation, because we've had the faith of a mustard seed as we've continued to grow and go through our journey with coupley fit.00:53:45.202 --> 00:53:52.039


We've continued to grow and go through our journey with coupley fit, but um 2024 was incredible year.00:53:52.059 --> 00:53:52.400


So what's on the?00:53:52.400 --> 00:53:53.503


The schedule for 2025?00:53:53.503 --> 00:53:54.568


2025, I would say we're here.00:53:54.568 --> 00:53:54.809


We're here.00:53:54.809 --> 00:53:56.496


The coupley fit podcast is what you're seeing.00:53:56.958 --> 00:53:58.907


We're taking everything that we've learned.00:53:58.907 --> 00:54:20.557


We're taking all our entire journey, the people that we've talked to, and we're bringing it to you in this podcast because we feel like if we are able to help you not have to go through something that we went through, or just to be able to give you a little nugget that you can take into your life that changes your perspective on something that may change your actual mindset, then that's what we're here for.00:54:20.557 --> 00:54:35.353


We always have felt like God has been able to bless us with the ability to be not only compassionate but to be passion partners, servant leaders, and if we can serve you all, then that's what we feel like we're on this earth to do.00:54:35.353 --> 00:54:40.213


And so everything that you hear and everything that you've heard from our journey is all God.00:54:40.213 --> 00:54:43.458


I mean, we cannot take really any of the credit for it.00:54:43.458 --> 00:54:51.280


We all we did was work the works, but God is the one that has truly helped us persevere, helped us get through.00:54:51.420 --> 00:54:58.574


And then again, there's some things on on on the backend of this journey that a lot of people don't know about, and maybe we'll talk about that a little bit later.00:54:58.594 --> 00:55:13.286


Uh, you know, as we continue to go through our journey, but it's just a testament to also our relationship and how much we value each other and value what we add to the relationship.00:55:13.286 --> 00:55:22.099


And so, again, I always just appreciate you and everything that you do for us, because it's not easy and again, just being a black man in America is not easy.00:55:22.099 --> 00:55:38.320


So I just always appreciate you and I always wanted you to feel like, when you came home, this is your peace, this is your, your time where you can be yourself, you can let loose, you can tell me anything and everything that you want, because I know it's so hard out there for uh, you specifically also me.00:55:38.320 --> 00:55:47.804


But at that time when we're talking about our journey and you, you know, working full time in ISSA, I was just always wanted to make sure that I let you know how much I appreciate you and how proud I am of you.00:55:48.847 --> 00:55:59.280


It doesn't go unnoticed and I really appreciate that and I think about a scripture that really kept me and really kept us, but John 330, he must increase and we must decrease.00:55:59.280 --> 00:56:07.103


So even when you're at your lowest, and somebody might be at their lowest right now, but God is at his greatest, so there's something happening that you have no idea is happening.00:56:07.103 --> 00:56:09.358


There's an open door, there's an opportunity.00:56:09.358 --> 00:56:10.474


You just got to be ready for it.00:56:10.474 --> 00:56:12.273


But God is working.00:56:12.273 --> 00:56:13.096


He is working.00:56:13.217 --> 00:56:13.978


He is working.00:56:13.978 --> 00:56:14.581


He's working.00:56:14.581 --> 00:56:24.764


And if you had an opportunity that came your way and it didn't work out in your favor, we always say it was either a not right now or it was, you know, potentially a yes or just no.00:56:24.764 --> 00:56:27.786


This wasn't the opportunity or the journey that you should go on.00:56:27.786 --> 00:56:32.893


So I know we're wrapping up, but I just want to quickly go over, just if you want to rapid fire it what are?00:56:32.893 --> 00:56:34.920


Three lessons you've learned from our Cuddly Fit journey.00:56:35.710 --> 00:56:52.920


First one it's gonna take double time, double the money and, first and foremost, and shout out to Ice Cube for this, because Ice Cube said if you're not willing to put in five years and get paid nothing, don't even start the idea as an entrepreneur, if you're not willing to put five years in without getting something, immediate gratification or money.00:56:52.920 --> 00:56:54.083


And that's really what it felt like.00:56:54.083 --> 00:56:55.416


So double the time, double the money.00:56:55.416 --> 00:56:59.539


Number two is timing, and relationships are so important.00:56:59.539 --> 00:57:01.088


Your network is your net worth.00:57:01.088 --> 00:57:06.773


And then lastly but this should have been, could have been first no order Sow where you want to grow.00:57:08.177 --> 00:57:08.599


Love that.00:57:08.599 --> 00:57:13.782


So for me it's going to be don't be afraid or too rigid to pivot.00:57:13.782 --> 00:57:15.576


Don't be stuck in your ways.00:57:15.576 --> 00:57:17.476


You can make that pivot at any time.00:57:17.476 --> 00:57:33.096


Do know that as an entrepreneur, as a solopreneur, whatever your situation is, that you will miss out on special occasions like holidays, birthdays, those things, whether it's just because you need to work or it's because you outright don't have the finances right.00:57:33.096 --> 00:57:34.175


That was something that we learned.00:57:34.175 --> 00:57:37.157


And then this is on the the, my last one.00:57:37.157 --> 00:57:41.478


This actually came from Sheila Johnson, who was the former CEO for BET Network.00:57:41.478 --> 00:57:48.789


She said that you want to hire slow and fire fast, and that was something for us that we didn't talk about, like our employees and our interns.00:57:48.789 --> 00:57:56.110


And you know we had a partnership with GCU where we had a pipeline with them for their interns through their business department.00:57:56.110 --> 00:57:59.139


But you know, hire slow, fire fast, okay.00:57:59.139 --> 00:58:04.215


Now what are three tips that you would give to someone starting a business with their spouse?00:58:04.596 --> 00:58:05.817


Ooh, ooh.00:58:05.817 --> 00:58:09.440


If you're starting a business with your spouse, the number one how do you work together?00:58:09.440 --> 00:58:12.603


If y'all don't get along, that's a separate conversation.00:58:12.603 --> 00:58:14.585


But y'all shouldn't go into business together.00:58:14.606 --> 00:58:15.007


That's right.00:58:15.170 --> 00:58:16.213


So that's number one.00:58:16.213 --> 00:58:17.197


How do you guys work together?00:58:17.197 --> 00:58:20.159


Number two boundaries between work and personal.00:58:20.159 --> 00:58:21.795


You got to have a hard stop.00:58:21.795 --> 00:58:25.137


It can't be nine o'clock, 10 o'clock every night.00:58:25.137 --> 00:58:31.072


I'm not talking about you, but I mean, this is something that we can.00:58:31.072 --> 00:58:31.516


You're taking mine.00:58:31.516 --> 00:58:31.777


Oh, am I Okay?00:58:31.777 --> 00:58:32.561


Well, boundaries between working person.00:58:32.561 --> 00:58:33.646


That's a major one, like having a hard stop boundaries.00:58:33.646 --> 00:58:40.231


And then the third one, which could have been the first one keep an income, especially if you're both entrepreneurs and you're doing it together.00:58:40.231 --> 00:58:51.876


Ideally started off as something that you're building while you currently have an income, just so you don't have that added stress as you're figuring it out and you're going through the journey, cause it will be stressful even if you have funding or not.00:58:51.876 --> 00:58:56.155


But if you don't have funding and you're both entrepreneurs, that makes it even more tough.00:58:56.376 --> 00:58:56.757


It does.00:58:56.757 --> 00:59:04.262


And you know, we're fortunate enough to be in a situation where we didn't have kids during that time, and we don't now either.00:59:04.262 --> 00:59:10.065


At that time we didn't have kids, so we, our mindset, we can do a little bit more, we have a little bit more freedom in that sense.00:59:10.065 --> 00:59:17.594


But you're absolutely correct is make sure you're keeping that income or you saved up enough to be able to sustain yourself for at least a year.00:59:17.594 --> 00:59:32.021


Uh, the other thing, too, to your point of you know, learn each other's communication styles, learn each other's roles within the business, what are the strengths and then the areas of opportunities for each other, and then also taking a personality test.00:59:32.021 --> 00:59:36.000


That was something, too, that I may know your personality, but do I actually know it?00:59:36.000 --> 00:59:38.393


So the Colby Index was a great one that we took.00:59:38.393 --> 00:59:44.775


And to your point, with the knowing it's time for your business and time for personal.00:59:44.855 --> 00:59:48.182


The hard stop is something that we do at 7 pm every night.00:59:48.182 --> 00:59:57.340


We shift from being business mode to being couple mode, because this goes into my third one of your business can fail, but this marriage will not.00:59:57.340 --> 01:00:17.222


And even if your business fails, you still have a marriage to maintain, and that was something that we've always taken very seriously, especially talking to so many couples, divorced couples over the years, of what were some things that you would have maybe modified or, you know, opportunities, and most of them would say, yes, my communication style.01:00:17.222 --> 01:00:23.655


But I also wish I would have spent more time with my family or with my wife, and how important those date nights are too.01:00:23.655 --> 01:00:35.795


So, goodness gracious, we ran through that pretty fast on this part two of the Cupply Fit journey, but we just always want to say thank you so much for listening or if you're watching on YouTube.01:00:35.795 --> 01:00:36.858


We appreciate you.01:00:36.858 --> 01:00:43.119


Please don't forget to like, subscribe, even leave us a review on any of the podcast platforms.01:00:43.119 --> 01:00:47.460


We greatly appreciate it and we will catch you on the next episode.01:00:47.460 --> 01:00:48.764


Bye.