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Begin, Build, Blossom: Your Business Journey
Welcome to 'Begin, Build, Blossom: Your Business Journey' – the podcast that shares wisdom and support from entrepreneurs. Join me as we explore valuable insights, resources, and motivation to inspire your own venture. Let's build a supportive community together.
What sets this podcast apart? This podcast is not just about stories but about providing support and a sense of community while we all figure out Beginning, Building or Blossoming in the business world.
The episodes are designed to guide us through the different stages of the entrepreneurial journey – Beginning, Building and Blossoming. In each episode, we'll focus on one or all of these crucial phases, ensuring that we all get practical tips and insights that we can apply to our own business.
First up, the "Begin" segment. We'll explore the initial steps of beginning a business. From idea generation to crafting a business plan, we'll cover it all. As the host - I'll be asking questions that resonate with anyone contemplating the entrepreneurial leap, giving all of us the tools to turn our vision into a reality.
Next, we move on to the "Build" section. Scaling a business is a delicate art, and we'll uncover strategies to take our enterprises to new heights. Whether anyone is looking to expand their team, explore new markets, or enhance their product line, our guests will share their experiences and advice to help us scale effectively.
And finally, we'll tackle the "Blossom" phase. Success means different things to different people, and we'll explore various definitions of success in the business world. From achieving financial milestones to making a positive impact on our community, our conversations will inspire you to define and achieve each individual's version of success.
Remember, our journey starts here, but it doesn't end here. Let's do this together!
Begin, Build, Blossom: Your Business Journey
The Journey - Mid‑Season Reflections with Angela and Clarita
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
We’ve reached the midway point of Season 3, and we’re taking a moment to pause and reflect.
In this episode, Angela and Clarita share a lighthearted yet thoughtful conversation about the journey so far. We look back on the incredible guests we’ve learned from, the impact the podcast is having, and the real challenges that come with showing up consistently. This mid‑season check‑in offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at what it takes to keep building despite limitations and setbacks.
We also share feedback from listeners and explore why creating this space continues to matter.
This episode is an open invitation to the community to help shape what comes next.
We’d love to hear:
- What’s been resonating
- What you want more of
- Who you’d love to hear on the podcast
- Questions you’d like us to ask future guests
Let’s continue building the kind of community we all need on this journey.
Follow on Instagram: @beginbuildblossom
Welcome to Begin Build Blossom, your business journey, the podcast where we share valuable insights, resources, and motivation to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit. Let's build a supportive community together. Don't forget to subscribe or follow wherever you listen to podcasts and be part of this journey.
SPEAKER_01Let's pause for a moment to hear from our sponsors. You've built a name for yourself through hard work and dedication. But does managing the business side feel like a distraction from your true passion? Are you dealing with unmanaged finances? CME Accounting LLC is here to help. We specialize in organizing your financial records, allowing you to focus on what you do best. With organized books, you'll have more time for what inspires you. Whether that's expanding your influence, building relationships, or simply enjoying life. Don't let unmanaged finances hold you back. Reach out to CME Accounting LLC today and let us help you thrive.
SPEAKER_00Visit our website www.cmeaccountinglc.com or email us at admin at cmeaccountinglc.com.
SPEAKER_01Alright, let's jump back into our conversation.
SPEAKER_03Welcome to Begin Bell Blossom, your business journey. This is Angela and Clarita with you today. We are at the midway point for season three.
SPEAKER_02Yay!
SPEAKER_03So we're going to have a casual conversation today, just talking about some of our guests that we've interviewed so far, some of the impact of the work we're doing, the challenges we face, and just feedback from the audience and encouraging you all as well to engage after this episode. So Clarita, we're so Clarita.
SPEAKER_01This is part of what happened. So this is an alarm that came on. I need to be doing something, but I'm here with you, Angela. Let's keep going.
SPEAKER_03Okay, I I feel I feel honored, you know, that I was selected. So we're at a halfway point. We've had quite a number of guests. How many guests have we had so far?
SPEAKER_01Oh, trick question. I feel like we're at 23 or something like that. In the 20s for this season.
SPEAKER_03So that means that's 20 stories that have been told, creating at least 20 impactful conversations and thought processes. One of the things we discussed from episodes is the impact of our work, the impact of our network. And so from this, what what have you found have been, I guess, most impactful about the conversations we've had and about the networks that it's exposed you to.
SPEAKER_01If I talk about the impact verse, I would say that getting an email or a call or WhatsApp message about what an episode meant to somebody, that has been the best thing. For instance, um, your your Ronald Boo Hinkson episode, one of my very good friends reached out and she said, Oh, this is me. She actually saw herself in his story. Um, in terms of the way she does stuff a little differently. I can't remember the details right now, but she went on about how much she appreciated his story. I think the way you presented that story too, maybe it's because you both are from the same background. So you're able to bring out his journey in a different way. So maybe I feel like she received it differently and she saw more of herself in there than she probably would have anticipated. And even though it was one of our longest episodes, it was a marathon one. Yes. Uh she listened and she gave feedback because I think it really touched her.
SPEAKER_03It says the episode has really resonated in the same way for others. So his stories resonated in the fact that he was able to chronicle his journey from growing up as a child, adolescent, as a teenager, and then the experiences of the world. And what was also good is the people who impacted his life, sharing the good, the not so good, and the challenges faced and how he overcame them. And one thing that really stood out is that discipline.
SPEAKER_01I think it was the discipline.
SPEAKER_03That's what my friend yes, that level of discipline. I mean, like, I would love to just be half of that kind of discipline. So I enjoyed the fact that he gave us the opportunity to share that story. And it was indeed a marathon. Did we do almost two hours? And then we still chatted with him for another 30 to 45 minutes.
SPEAKER_01He was so generous. He spent a lot of time before the episode recording getting ready, and then he gave us a like two hours of recording, and then we stayed afterwards chatting for I don't know how long, but I feel like by the time I calculated it, he gave us a good bit of his day. Yes. Even with that, I mean, when we started, who would have thought that we would be getting that kind of time with um Bo Hingson? For me, it was being able to see him in that light and to interact with him at that level. And um, so that is one of the things I really enjoy about this podcast, the way we were able to broaden our network. We were able to just have those discussions, Angela, and meet such amazing people, all walks of life, all levels of success, all stages of um business building. It's been incredible, yes.
SPEAKER_03Yes, and it's great that you say that. And it came back to the initial question I asked about impact in our network. It's all because of the people in the network from my corporate as we like to describe it as, that's how I was able to meet him. He was someone that I personally admired as well. And never in my wildest dream would I ever expect to interview him and hear his story. I was always curious about it. But because of my connections at work and that network, and I just asked a question and he said yes. So the podcast has given not just that confidence to speak out, but to expand the network. In terms of building the stories and showing those stories that wouldn't normally be shared, because as you said, we're from the same culture. I am able to ask a particular question based on something he might have said because it can relate and it can resonate. So we're really looking forward to telling more of those stories, and that was similar in the story of Trix Warrell, Lee John, Tanya Edwards, Winston Branch, those St. Lucians, you know, who have been around a little while. This is not in any way to discredit the other St. Lucians that we've interviewed, but everybody has a story. So we have Sylvester Hillman as well, and there are those that you would have interviewed that you can mention, you know, Alicia Ali was one. The names are just popping up. So Clarity, you have to tell him there are just so many names as I go through. They have a story, they have a global impact as well. And we just interviewed someone, Simone. Yes, spoke about building that brand. Tell us what you thought of that.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and I'm um thinking about Simone's. There were a lot of things Simone said that really um resonated with me. And um, I remember she said something about being open to feedback. And I I was telling you earlier that for me, that's something I'm actively doing, actually reaching out to people, business owners, so that they can share their needs with me. Because I'm up I'm coming into this thinking that I know what people need, and I probably have some insights, but to actually figure out exactly what it is people are looking for. And it also will also help me grow by distinguishing myself as that particular accountant, by knowing what it is folks actually want, and to build an offering around that. And for me, I love that reaching out to people, learning from them. So when she said that, that kind of validated that for me. So I was really happy to hear that. And um, you know, when I talk about learning from others, I have been having those conversations. I target business owners who have been in business probably three years or less because um I feel like there is a gap there. There are not a lot of accountants who are willing to work with people who are new in business, yeah. Yeah, like they haven't, they don't quite have things organized as yet. So you have to help them build systems, talk through processes. But for me, that's where I shine because I've been through that, I've learned along the way, and I can now use what I've learned to actually help others. And in addition to the accounting skills, use all of that to actually work with um new business owners. So, yes, Simone, when you said about um learning from others, that is definitely something I have done, and that is helping me to build the offerings that I think is lacking in the space, and I'm happy to um be that person, be that accountant. Yeah, that's good.
SPEAKER_03Brilliant that you shared that. It brings us nicely to creating our own spaces. The podcast has allowed us an opportunity to make our own table and bring our chair to the table. Yeah, because we have the chance to tell stories from a different angle. As island girls, we are living in big cities, so we bring that warmth, that connection, that relatedness. There's nothing like the Hudson of the Caribbean, right? So we bring that relatedness. So the podcast allows us to tell the story of shared cultures, of shared values, of shared interests. At the same time, it allows us to also show the process because many times we're talking to people who've already achieved a high level of success. But with the podcast now, we can see that process of growth from the beginning, the challenges, and then we could be around in a few years by God's grace to see that blossoming, that true blossoming that the guests envision.
SPEAKER_01And that's twofold. We've seen it for ourselves because our stories are still unfolding. We're still learning, we're still taking on new challenges and see where it leads. That's right. And also for the guests, we were able to speak with people who haven't even started yet, who are thinking about starting. For instance, I remember I spoke with Ethan Leon from St. Lucia. He's a musician who at the time was studying in Trinidad. And I follow the stories, I continue to follow the stories, and I noticed that he um recently graduated. And I know he's somebody who's hoping to blossom into a professional musician. And we have him, and then we have Boo Hingson, who has already achieved so much. So to be able to tell both those stories, and I feel like if Bo Hingson listens to Ethan's episode, he remembers what it was like when he was starting off. And then when Ethan now listens to Boo's, he can keep dreaming. He can learn from Boo. And also the fact that they're both on the podcast, that gives them a connection. And I feel like sometimes when people, like people who've been on the podcast, I feel like they're likely to reach out to each other. Also, we plan on actually, I know we've been saying that quite a bit, but we plan on having an event where we bring all guests together so they can actually get a chance to network that way. So for me, Angela, I love it because we get to see all those different stages, we get to meet those people, help them share their stories, help connect people who otherwise would not have connected. So for me, that's beautiful. And that is creating our stage. We're we're bringing out there what we would have liked to see for ourselves. So yeah.
SPEAKER_03That's right. It allows us to continue that legacy and inspire our children as well, because we're both moms, single moms who are raising young, clever, inspired children.
SPEAKER_01And them being part of the journey too. That reminds me of an episode I had with Sierra. Sierra literally, okay. So going back to that episode, some of the feedback I got was.
SPEAKER_03Our guest hosts. Yes.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Um, some of the feedback I got was um, was it scripted? No, it wasn't. This was my daughter actually seeing me do this every day, seeing and learning. I wish I had that growing up because I always wish I could be Oprah Winfrey. But I'm like, eh, I don't know. I would, like I said, I would keep writing her all the time, but she's so far out of my network. But yes, but I'm I'm not saying I'm Oprah, but my daughter, though, to her, I am that person she's seen using her voice, um, somebody building community, somebody willing to put herself out there, uh, even on my worst days. So I I am modeling so much for her, and I am so grateful for that. And um, she can open a podcast episode, she can close, she can transition, she can actually bring me back to what we were talking about before. I listened to this child. I was sitting next to her while we were recording, and I'm like, who is she? People listening thought it was scripted, but I was sitting there amazed. I was so amazed to listen to her and to see how much she's growing, and I just love it, Angela. And all because we decided to do this, build our own stage, create our own experiences, and bring people along with us.
SPEAKER_03Yes, that is true. So, you know what that says? She's watching. It also says that people are always watching, our kids are always watching. So we always want to ensure that we model the best possible behavior, we set the best possible example. So she's been able to look at you and see what it is you're doing and how she can replicate the same thing. And she did a very good job as well. Yes, and she she keeps telling me she loves it and she wants to do more. So perhaps we might have to explore her, her and Evie doing an episode together.
SPEAKER_01That would be interesting. That would be great. And I've actually had other parents reach out to me about that as well. So who knows? There might be something in the making.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, yes. I will definitely have to talk to that mister about that thing. That's the number story. So, as we continue the conversation, what do you think we've learned so far? Well, what are some of the things we've learned as we proceed? Or perhaps we could say, what are some of the challenges we faced? We'll we'll start with that one and come back to the learning.
SPEAKER_01So I think we've talked a lot about things we've learned, um, ways that we've created an impact. I think I'm learning, in addition to what we've talked about, I'm learning perseverance and doing things even when it's hard. And um another thing Simone said was the why, remembering the why and letting that carry us through. Um, so that brings us to the challenge.
SPEAKER_02So more than passion, that is having that.
SPEAKER_01So passion is good, passion helps, passion is encouraged, but there's a lot around the passion that you need as well. And we talked about network um support, even um, like for instance, I was doing this today. Yes, I started um this a while back, but I needed to have support to be able to bring it to where it is, and it's very different to what it was when we started. So just having all of that, I think, has been great. Challenges, yes. I don't see this as just a project, I see this as a business. We have been approaching this professionally, we put things out in a way that we would want to consume it. So we put a lot of effort, time, and money into producing these episodes. I will say that's one of the challenges because there are times where, you know, because um we're financing most of this is through our personal funds. Mm-hmm. Yes. That is difficult, and that is one of the things we learn um as entrepreneurs and as creators. There are times where things may seem like you you may ask yourself, is anybody listening to this? Is what I'm doing resonating? What is the reason for this?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, is it relevant? Should we continue?
SPEAKER_01Should we continue?
SPEAKER_03Is it worth it?
SPEAKER_01Is it worth it? And then it comes to how do you measure if it's worth it? Are we getting money? No, we're not getting money just in case you all ask. Yeah, so no. We're really doing this because we love it and we see the benefits from it, in the not just for ourselves, but for others within um our network as well. Okay, so I talked about one of the challenges. So maybe we can focus on you as well, in the sense that you still work a full-time job and you're putting all this effort into this project. I call it project, but you know what I mean. This initiative, this amazing podcast. So, why do you do it and how has it changed things for you?
SPEAKER_03You are right. The full-time job, as you know, is quite demanding. So that that is a major challenge in itself. It restricts the number of times I can record and so on. But I continue to do it because I see the benefits, I see the bigger picture, the bigger picture of sharing those stories. And then I guess in a way, being it allows me to fulfill this secret dream of being uh a host of something online. And we were talking about it before recording. Yes, I I always admired just like you, I admired Oprah, Barbara Walters, all these people who were interviewing guests, and I would just imagine myself being the host and asking the questions. And even today, I watch um, I think it's BBC iPlayer has this breakfast program, and I always look at it and imagine myself being one of the hosts on the program. And so that's my secret goal, identity, I guess you want to say, aim, aspirations. And so the podcast allows me an avenue to create my space, create a space for us. So I create a space on this side of the Atlantic, you on the other side, and then we're not limited because you had a guest in Australia, which we'll talk about after, a little later on. And so it allows me that outlet to tell stories and to utilize a skill that I've realized that I'm good at. Professionally, in my my work life, it has also given me the confidence because when I started, yes, I was confident in other things, but just being a host on the show, I would always say, Clarity, are you going to be there? I don't know if I could do this. How am I going to record it properly? Suppose it doesn't record, how will I interview the guests and so on? But as time has gone by, I've been able to grow with the support from yourself, the support from training, the feedback I get from others as well, and the encouragement. Because I've been really fortunate to get a lot of encouragement. I can honestly say any feedback I've received has just been in the vein of okay, this is how you can make that better. You've done 80% well, let's work on the other 20% to make it even sharper. And I'm really grateful. One of my friends sent me a message a few weeks ago, and he said, I have really seen you grow from the beginning to now. So I could see it. You are good at this, you know, and he could see the growth, and that meant a lot to get that kind of feedback. So it means that I'm doing something well. We are doing something well on the program. Coming back to work, it has allowed me now to help to execute a series of special projects that my work is doing called Reminiscences. And Reminiscences is telling the stories of St. Lucians in the UK diaspora. I absolutely enjoy doing it. I believe I'm good at it. And I've been able to ask the questions from the guests, and a lot of the guests, their feedback has been, you know, I just felt really comfortable. I was a little worried. Those who weren't excited about talking, about sharing their story. And everybody has a really fantastic story to tell, especially those who would have come across either seeking a better life or perhaps sent to the to Britain by their parents. So it has allowed me to learn about St. Lucia, to learn about their journey, to learn about the UK, and also to create stories or experiences that anyone can learn about our country, our beautiful country, St. Lucia, that could learn about the things that we have done to shape Britain. Because it's not just about being a St. Lucian, but they have made tremendous contributions in shaping the Britain that we have today.
SPEAKER_01And you said that, and I thought of this um two things. I thought of the fact you also interviewed Julian Alfred. I can't Angela. That was such a proud moment for me. And now that's in addition to the um project you're currently doing through Yes, reminiscences, yes. Yes, I love that. I listened, for instance, to Dr. Is it Dr. Dalfini? Yes, Dr. Morgan Dalfinis. And I I actually just posted something on LinkedIn because I was so moved. I love it. Listening to him. I wanted to be a linguist growing up. It's not something that I um pursued, but to listen to him as somebody who did it, and also to listen to his experiences. He's older than I am, but the experiences are still so similar in many ways. I could see how things changed over the years. Like, for instance, he said something about Viewford was somewhere. There are parts of Viewford where people just used to go and shoot birds. Like I did not experience that.
unknownYes.
SPEAKER_03But when he That's like in the movies we see when the rich and paper and those the aristocrat go and yes, I thought that was a British thing, to be honest.
SPEAKER_01But I guess it was British.
SPEAKER_03Well, we were British, so yes.
SPEAKER_01Yes, but I have not seen that many birds in the sky in St. Lucia to think that people actually used to go shoot birds.
SPEAKER_03Well, they shut a lot of them down, eh?
SPEAKER_01So also there were trees and all of that, right? But now we've all the different things.
SPEAKER_03It was a different landscape, I think.
SPEAKER_01So it was great to hear him say that. And then there were things that were similar. For instance, um, he talked about the the stories, hearing the stories about Tibulums. And actually, he said something about um cooking by the by the sea, running in the rain. I remember my brothers, I grew up with boys. It was my myself and um a cousin of mine. We grew up as sisters. So we were two girls amongst a lot of boys. So I remember we used to actually like um and we used to push ourselves down the the hill in in barrels, you know, we'd get barrels.
SPEAKER_03Oh, like you're sliding down. That's your slide.
SPEAKER_01We would push each other inside the barrel. Imagine those big blue barrels. One person goes in and the others push the push that person down the hill. So there were just so many things. Like we would actually build um houses behind our house with uh the the coconut stuff.
SPEAKER_03With the stick or like you would buy it. You make your shack, you have your stick up, and then you make our shack.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I did that. So kids here would have like their dollhouse. We built our dollhouse, and we were the dollhouse.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I know, right? Yes, you had lots of construction skills.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and we actually would cook food in those little um tops. What do you call it? Um, you know the Coca-Cola bottles, the caps. Oh, really? We would bake, yeah, we would bake um cakes in there. Uh, don't ask me. Oh, like the cap, the the glass bottle caps. The yes, and we would take our parents' pants and have it in our kitchen, and we would literally just cook food outside. That episode brought up so much for me, and I really, really um love it. So I hope that you continue to do that at work because even like my generation, his generation, and the generations coming after us, we will definitely benefit from that. So, yeah, thanks for doing that. Let's pause for a moment to hear from our sponsors. You've built a name for yourself through hard work and dedication. But does managing the business side feel like a distraction from your true passion? Are you dealing with unmanaged finances? CME Accounting LLC is here to help. We specialize in organizing your financial records, allowing you to focus on what you do best. With organized books, you'll have more time for what inspires you. Whether that's expanding your influence, building relationships, or simply enjoying life. Don't let unmanaged finances hold you back. Reach out to CME Accounting LLC today and let us help you thrive.
SPEAKER_00Visit our website www.cmeaccountinglc.com or email us at admin at cmeaccountinglc.com. All right, let's jump back into our conversation.
SPEAKER_03Oh, you're welcome. I'm glad that you had those experiences because that was the goal of the whole series, you know, to document these kinds of stories. Because there's so much, because we're young, we wouldn't have experience. We probably weren't born in. We weren't born in those times. We were born after that time. So it's good to hear somebody's lived experiences. Uh, even with the cooking, I I remember cooking on creating fire and cooking in cans, you know, the cans, the food coming, you cut off the cover, yeah, cooked in that too. If I tell you a story, but this is an experience in Guyana where I remember there were edo leaves, right? As a child, you do not know that edo leaves will itch your skin. So, this child called Angela Sin Denis. Cut off the edo leaves, cook it in a pot boiling and so on, and then halfway through, my skin starts itching. My mother is at work, I'm home with my grandfather. My skin starts itching. I start itching, I start crying. I think I went to my grandfather, I can't remember all the details, and told him my skin is scratching, and then he sees the edo leaves, and then he realized what has happened. So I now had to go and bathe. So you know it's more itching. So I went to bathe, and I was crying from start to stop, you know. But what I could recall from that situation is after I was done bathing, one, I never did that again. Two, my grandfather had gotten ashes, and he used the ashes to put on every spot that was itching. When I recall this story, I always remember my skin being white from the ash from the coals, and that's what eased up. So yeah.
SPEAKER_01Oh, and it actually worked.
SPEAKER_03Yes, it did. There's my reminiscences.
SPEAKER_01You probably should have some um episodes with um, you know, like the various generations, and you will see the common thread there.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, that that's an idea. As a matter of fact, we did have a recording scheduled to interview three brothers, and because of the challenges at the time, we had to reschedule. But there are three brothers, two, one was born in St. Lucia. I think two were born in St. Lucia, and one was born here, and they were gonna share their story about their St. Lucia nest. So hopefully we can do that. And I do have a family: a mother, a daughter, and a granddaughter. So potentially that's a good story to tell. Only thing is the mother was born in St. Lucia, the granddaughter and the daughter were born here.
SPEAKER_01And it's it will be great to hear the difference in their stories and what's similar as well. So keep up the good work. I'm glad that um there's been part of this podcast. Um, and it made you bold enough to do this.
SPEAKER_03I will give you all the credit, yes.
SPEAKER_01I'm really happy to see that, Angela. And I personally have seen the growth um as well. I mean, I'm really glad that you stepped up, you did this, and I could I see you blossoming and I love it. And I just can't wait to see what comes next. You know what? I'm enjoying what's happening now. So I don't really what comes next, I'll see that when it'll just be on the case. I'm just enjoying the process.
SPEAKER_03Oh, thanks so much for the support and the continued encouragement. When you mentioned the Julian Alfred interview, I actually completely forgot that interview. I don't know why. But I I I did it, and I did it just wanting to tell her story besides the athletic interviews, which comes back to us being able to tell stories from our perspective on the podcast. A lot of times people are interviewed by the major newscasters or reporters, and they ask questions that may not, in our view, be the best possible question. So this interview with Julien allowed us to share what really matters to her, you know, talking about her her foundation, talking about her personal interests, because some people probably don't even know she has a degree in um working with young people and what her personal interest is. So that was really exciting, and I think most people are probably more fangirling. I mean, I really admire her because I've had lots of conversations with her pre-the interview and so on, and just being able to tell that story. So I was really glad to be part of that, and I hope that other athletes, not just from St. Lucia, from the Caribbean, from islands, from wherever, young girls, which is what she's really interested in, young people, not just young girls, young people are inspired to just go after their dream, their dream rather, to go after their dream and just seek out people who can help them to get it done.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and and going back to Julian Alfred, I I just my daughter, my daughter loves to just say the fastest woman in the world is from St. Lucia. So just want to add that there. And then when she saw that her auntie, Angela, was interviewing the fastest woman in the world, we made her day maybe a whole, you know, it it this is amazing. Yeah, so anyway, you were saying.
SPEAKER_03So that comes back to network, that comes back to connection, and as we speak about network, I I mentioned you had an interview with someone from Australia, huh? Tell us how you know that interview came about.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so I think we covered it before, but it was really about um, I think even then on that episode, I was trying to figure out how we connected. But from what I remember, somehow she saw the content we were creating, and she followed me, and I followed her. I'm not sure exactly how that happened, but we we we ended up in each other's there was a follow somewhere along the way. Yeah, so we ended up um being aware of each other, and um on LinkedIn at one point, um, I don't think we had interacted previous to that, but on LinkedIn she posted that she was starting her own business, and I reached out genuinely happy and just congratulating her, and from that came a conversation and then led to the interview. And um, I've been I'm still following her journey, and that's really how it happens. So, and uh so it's a matter of really just reaching out to people, and it's easier to do with the podcast. It's something that I've always done. It's just personally, I love learning from people, I love reaching out to people, but with the podcast, when I reach out, it's it's not just this weird girl reaching out to, it's somebody who actually um is able to highlight their story.
SPEAKER_03So I and Clarita is good at that, sending connections.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I mean I love it. I I really love it, and I love building my network, and I just love seeing how I can connect people. That's very natural for me. And um, it's it fits very nicely with being a podcast host. And um, yeah, maybe when this grows a lot, Angela may be the only host and not just be the one um connecting people in the background. Angela does this very well too. Um, but I think if we have to focus on strengths, I see Angela being the one on stage, and I am happy to be the one just getting people on stage to be with Angela. So I think we make a great team.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, yes. She she does well when we do the producing. So, yes, that's true. So we know, we know, and it's always good. That brings us to the thought that it's always good to acknowledge where you're strong, and then you feed that strength, and then you build the other things around it. So those are considerations.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and we're talking about strengths. So we may have multiple strengths, we are both good interviewers, and we're also very good connectors. But Angela loves being in front of the camera, and I love talking to people. I be I I'll be in front of the camera if I need to be, and I will have those interviews. I love that too. I'm just saying my real, real joy is behind the scenes, and um getting to know those people and just um sending an email to one saying reach out to the other, like that is what I really enjoy. And um, I was telling Angela like all those video episodes before Angela, you didn't see many video episodes because this girl will be behind a camera. My very first um podcast episode, I actually did it with the camera off. That's how much I just don't like being on the camera. But part of entrepreneurship and part of my personality, I do it when I need to, but um so yes, and it's about doing the things that are uncomfortable as well, but being able to have a partnership where one person actually loves the camera, it goes a long way, yes. And I don't mind spending my time actually reaching out to people and connecting people, so it's good.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, she does do that. She's like, Angela, there's this person. Um, what do you think? Do you want to interview them? So she does do that to me sometimes as well. We've been having this conversation for a while, and there are three things that we must capture before we come to an end. So, in case we talk about lots of other things. One is we had special conversations around men's health, women's health, and also partnership conversations that we facilitated, and then you had your first speaking engagement. So we'll start with talking about the men's health and women's health conversation. So we'll start with women's because you had that in the pipeline for a long time. The men's health one just came along.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so it was really great to bring people who are professionals in the field together to actually have that conversation. So I've seen those, you know, you see these videos online of people doing their thing, and to now be the one creating the space, bringing those leaders, those thought leaders and those um experts together. It's incredible. I like that thought leader. Yes. So I we noticed that from speaking with those um various um business leaders. We noticed their expertise, we noticed how they can have that conversation together, and they said yes when we reached out. So it was really good to be able to add um to the conversation online and to be able to showcase such amazing folks, you know, and um to build the stage and to be on that stage. I love it, Angela.
SPEAKER_03Yes, creating the table, bringing the chair. Yes. Before I speak about the men's episode, health is wealth. We could have the most money, we could have the biggest business, but if we're not healthy, if we're not strong, then we're not able to perform at our best. So having the conversation around women's health, having the conversation around men's health fits perfectly into the work that we're doing. As it relates specifically to the men's health, this was something that was just borne out, I think, overnight to say, because I had this conversation with Dr. Joaquin. As a matter of fact, I saw him present at a meeting, and I thought, hmm, this would be interesting to have a conversation around men's health. Because while women always look out for their health, and if something is happening, we always go check it out, we speak to each other, we do research, men don't always necessarily do that. And to have a young St. Lucian man who is a mister, he's a surgeon, he's an andrologist talking about men's health. We thought, why not have it on the podcast? And when that story was shared with the High Commissioner of St. Lucia, because it was just in a casual conversation, I mentioned to him, you know, that we're going to be doing this episode on men's health, and he and we're featuring Dr. Jimmy. And he said, What? Let the High Commission be part of that. So we had a partnership.
SPEAKER_01So it comes to the conversation about partnership, about a podcast, creating those kinds of partnerships for your the person you I mean you know you work with to be able to see that as a good thing and to support it.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, because it's not just about that immediate thing, it's about a grander message. You know, it's not limited to us as the podcast. Men's health is not limited to St. Lucian's or limited to black men, it's just men in general. So it allowed us as the high commission to showcase a St. Lucian, who's doing really well, who is helping to shape Saint Lucia, the Caribbean, and I expect that we expect that he will shape the world as well.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I'm so impressed by him. And the interesting fact there is too that um I had actually spoken to him previously. The connection, yes, yeah, so we had that conversation, and then when you mentioned that you were bringing him, I'm like, oh, this is the doctor I had spoken to because someone within my network had introduced me to him as someone I should speak with when I was actually thinking about having that health discussion. So it just worked out so well, Angela. Mm-hmm. See, there it was meant to be great providence, as we say. Yes, and also for me, I had the opportunity to bring on two other accountants to just speak about networking and how um being parts of groups such as WhatsApp groups, you know, that really helps um with visibility. So I um it was a bookkeeper and a tax um professional, and we just talked about the power of saying yes and building your own stage. And um, the tax professional I hadn't met before, but she actually lives in my um the same borough that I do. Yes, and um, it turns out all three of us do actually. And um the tax professional, though I hadn't met in person before, I had heard her on a podcast, and I reached out. So we were encouraging you when you leave when you have guests, she's good at reaching out, but also they want you to reach out, so reach out to people, give them feedback, and just see how you can keep that conversation going. So I reached out, we had a conversation, and then once um I actually had a series of um bookkeeping sessions that I planned. So we invited her. Well, I planned along with um the other bookkeeper I mentioned, we collaborated. All this coming from groups. There we go, partnerships. Yes, yeah, and um, so the three of us um actually presented together. And since then we've met in person. We actually after that um recording that we did, we actually said, you know what, why don't we meet in person? And we met up, we had dinner together, that was beautiful. And since then, we've been inviting each other to other events we know of, so we get to see each other more often, and we actually get to share clients in the sense that um if one one book, like the bookkeeper, for instance, she had a client that she couldn't support, and she said, I know somebody who could help you and send a um person my way. And I also don't do taxes, so I've been able to now just say, I know Lorraine. Why don't you reach out to Lorraine? She does good work, and I've gotten very good feedback from the people I've sent her a from podcasts and groups and networking. I was just saying my first um speaking engagement, it's through Eustacia Herman. She is the president of Unique for Education, and we met through Lisa Dublin's speaking program. And um, we've been friends since. So we talk, um, you know, we just check in on each other. And she has an event that she has, a fundraising event that she has every year in observation of um Women's Day and also as a fundraiser for the organization. And uh, she invited me to speak. I told her, I don't know if I have a story to tell or if I want to even stand up in front of people. But you know, I did it, and I'm really glad that I did. So it was my first speaking engagement, and I I don't think I was ready, but I did it.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes. So it's all about starting and doing it because you said you weren't ready, you don't think you were ready, but you did it anyway. So it's essentially feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
SPEAKER_01Oh, I felt the fear, Angela. I wanted so many times to be like Eustasia. I don't know if I can do this. But I went and I did it, and I'm happy that I did. And now I'm looking forward to the next one.
SPEAKER_03Okay, there you go. So you've gotten the bug. Yes. Great. So we've captured, thanks for sharing all of that. We've captured networks, we've captured partnership, we've captured knowing your why, um, relationships, connections, the challenges. What are we looking forward to as we continue for the next half of the season?
SPEAKER_01What are we looking forward to? I look forward to my daughter seeing me blossom even more. Um, one thing I heard Simone, you know, I keep going to Simone. She was our most recent episode, but she was also just it was powerful listening to her. Um, so she also said in there she saw her her single mom struggling. And for me, that resonated. I am a single mom. I was raised by a single mom. I want single mom would to look different for my daughter because it's not bad being a single mom, but it does come with its challenges. So for me, it's about building, continuing to build my community and um just really building for me and her, so that even though I am a single mom raising her, it will it will be uh a different kind of experience, hopefully one that um better. And I had a good experience through my single mom, but I'm I'm thinking there is maybe a different path I could take her. So I'm looking forward to that, and this podcast has been helping me show her some of that. She's seen me in action, and I love that.
SPEAKER_03Yes, that that's that's really good, and it's brilliant that you're able to summarize all of that and draw inspiration from the stories. It seems it's a single mom situation because we're in the same sort of experience, and I think that's some of the things that we connected on when we first met because my mom was also a single mom, and so am I at the moment. So, and I I'm raising a boy, and I always say that I'm breaking the cycle of whatever it is. So, all the things that I do is to create a legacy in a way to create a path for him to succeed. And sometimes I wonder if he's paying attention or if he realizes it. And something he said to someone when they asked, he said he wanted to be just like his mother. And that really warmed my heart because he's never said that to me personally. So that yeah, that made me realize that he is listening, he is watching, he is observing, and he's being inspired. They're watching, so it's now for us to set the stage.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_03So, next, as we continue the season, we continue to share impactful stories. And we we welcome you audience to engage with us. Give us a thumbs up, send us some feedback, indicate things you'd like to hear about from guests, suggest a question, perhaps, that we can introduce to guests. We would really welcome that because it will allow us to reflect you a little more within the stories.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and also, you know, we said earlier about being like being the one seeing people do stuff, and you know we look at it from a distance, but here we are doing it, and we we're inviting you to join us and to participate with us. Let's create what we want. Let's support the journey. That's right.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Well, this has been Begin, Build, Blossom your business journey. This has been Angela and Clarita. Thanks for listening, and we look forward to you joining us on the next episode. Bye for now. Sierra, do you want to say bye-bye?
SPEAKER_01We just added that little bit there because Sierra has been here um with us. One of those things is when you she woke up in the middle of the interview, so she joined us, and she just wants to say bye. There we are. Alright, bye-bye.
SPEAKER_02A quick note before we wrap up: the insights and experiences shared by our guests are their own. We love creating space for real conversations about business and growth, and everyone's journey is unique. Therefore, this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. It is not meant to replace legal, financial, or other professional advice. So we encourage you to take what's useful, do your own due diligence, and build what works best for you.
SPEAKER_00Thanks for listening to Begin Build Blossom Your Business Journey. We hope today's conversation gave you the insights and inspiration you need to move forward on your own path. Don't forget to subscribe or follow wherever you get your podcast so you never miss an episode. Do you have feedback? We'd love to hear from you at podcast at cmeaccountinglc.com. Join us again next week for a new episode.