I'm Ashton Smith. And I'm Jordan Long. And we're coming in hot. We're 7th generation entrepreneurs with a passion for fusing creative expression and business fundamentals to help entrepreneurs powerfully expand their companies. Legacy Creator is a show for creatives, big thinkers, and visionaries who are doing business differently. Together, we unpack topics to help you embody your creative identity, develop as a leader, and powerfully grow your business. In a nutshell, we're calling you out and calling you higher. Hello. And welcome back to Legacy Creator. Today, we have the pleasure of spending some time with Rachel Aline. Rachel is a mom of three and a full-time product shop owner. And over her last decade in business, she has shipped products all over the country that are specifically designed to uplift women and spark joy. In today's episode, we dive into what led to her boom in business in 2020, how she has established a dedicated and hype community that wants to purchase from her on repeat, plus how she's found her groove with being a mom of three and running her business, and so much more. Not only is Rachel full of wisdom, but she is just so genuine. I can promise you that you will walk away from this episode with not only valuable takeaways, but just feeling more inspired and empowered. Let's get into it. Here's Rachel. Welcome to the podcast, Rachel. Thank you. I'm so honored to be here. Oh, my gosh. I am honored to have you. And I was just saying before we recorded that we've been connected for so long. And I feel like we've been connected through so many different evolutions of, like, our life and business. And so it's really cool to sync up. And I'm so excited for our community to get to know you more, as a creative, as an entrepreneur, as a mama. So, I think there's so much we're gonna dive in today, and it's gonna be so incredible. So, for those that don't know you, they're meeting you for the first time, why don't you just share a little bit of who you are, what you do, and maybe, like, a fun fact or 2? Oh, gosh. Okay. I'm Rachel. I have 3 kids. I'm married to my husband, Joel. We've been married for almost 11 years. We live in Northern California. And I also run a business. I own an online product shop where I sell hand-lettered and hand-designed goods that I create, mostly home goods or apparel. And the intention of all my products is to spark joy, and hope, and just, um, like, a contentedness in your heart for the season of life you're in and what, what you've been dealt in life, if I can say it like that. Um, so that's what I do. That all keeps me really busy. It's really fun. I've been- I feel like my business has been on an evolution for the last- Pretty much since I became a mom, it's been kind of a rollercoaster in, in the best way. Um, my oldest is almost 7. So, in those last 7 years, a lot has changed. And I've learned a lot, grown a lot, um, and I'm excited to talk about more. Um, some exciting or interesting facts about me, um, th- these are, like, the things that I said on, like, the first day of school when, like, I was, like, 15 years ago. One is, I'm technically tongue-tied. So, the, like, string underneath your tongue, mine is, like, really thick. I hope this doesn't sound gross, but I can't really stick my tongue out very far. So, it doesn't affect my speech. And so when I was a baby, like, they didn't, they did not flip tongues like they do now. So, I just have a very, I don't even know what it's called, but the little string underneath my tongue, it's really thick and I can't stick my tongue out. So, I'm tongue-tied, technically. So crazy. And then another thing about me is I'm, like, obsessed with number combinations. So, for, like, all of my life, certain times of day, or, like, even if I see, like, a license plate number that has, like, a cool number combination, I just, like, I'm always looking for those combinations. So, an example would be, like, the date, so if the date adds up. So, like- Or multiplies. So, for example, like July 3rd, 2021, like 7 times 3 equals 21, I think. Did I get my math right on that? Yeah. Yeah. You got it. Um, so stuff like that. So, like, dates I really obsess over, and I just like them, I guess. Um, and, like, when I was little, I shared a room with my sister, and my parents had to take the clock out of our room because we would stay up late and be like, "It's 11:11-" "on June 11th, 1999. We'll never see this time of day ever again in the history of the world." And we would just, like, stay up to, like, see these number combinations. So, they had to take the clock out of our room. Oh, my God. So, that's a kind of a weird, quirky thing about me. Um, and, like, my sister and I will text each other, like, certain times of day. Like if we see the time. So, another example- I will stop after this. Another example is her birthday is May 27th. So, anytime it's 5:27, I, like- and I see it, I'll text her, like, "5:27," which is kind of like, "Happy birthday." And then my birthday is June 25th. And so anytime we see 6:25, my whole family, I'm not even joking, anytime any of us sees 6:25, it's always like, "Happy birthday, Mommy." And it's just so weird. So, that's a weird thing about me. I love that. That is so wholesome, like, staying up late, waiting for the numbers to align, like, perfectly. My sister is very much like that. Like, she pays attention to numbers and license plates and just all the different combinations. My family, yeah, we kind of are like that. We don't necessarily text each other every time. I think that's such a sweet, like, ritual. Um, but when, for example, we're, like, looking ahead to a new year, a lot of times, like, we'll just be in touch with, like, numbers we might be seeing or, like, different things that are standing out to us. And then we'll always share those with each other going into a new year. And, um- Oh, I love that. Yeah. So, I love that. That's so special. That's so fun. I think a lot of people do it. I think a lot of people have, like, weird- they look for numbers and stuff. So I don't think I'm that weird, but it is a little quirky. No, I don't think it's weird at all. I think it's actually really cute, like the fact that that's been a part of your, like, routine since your childhood with your sister. Yeah. It really has. Like, how special. Yeah. It is. So fun. It's special. Oh my goodness. Okay. Well, let's shift gears a little bit. And why don't you share just a bit about, like, your background and your story, and kind of, like, the things that led to the ultimate creation of the product shop that you run today? Yeah. Um, so I got married really young. I got married right after I turned 22, and then I graduated college a year later, and then it was like, "I have to find a job." And I've always had, like, an entrepreneurial heart. As a kid, I was always playing office, and like, my grandparents would come to stay and I would set up a hotel. And there was always a tip jar that I knew that they would put a $20 bill in. I was just like- I was always thinking of stuff like that. I had little businesses here and there that never survived. But I was always thinking like that. So once it was time to like, you know, I'm an adult, which I was already a- I was an adult at 18, but like, out of college, need to find, like, a full-time job, I found a job that wasn't very fun, um, and I just realized, like, I am not cut out to be told what to do. Like, I wanna be the one in charge, which has boni- uh, there's pros and cons to that type of personality. Um, but I just was like, "I don't wanna do this anymore. I wanna start my own business." And, um, at that point, I was really interested in photography, and I had taken a calligraphy course, and my husband had a job, and so we were like young and married. He had a full-time job in construction management. So I did have the freedom, which I feel like is a very big blessing, that I could, like, venture out on my own without this, like, pressure of, "I have to bring in a full-time income." So just that caveat, that was like a blessing, and I realized that, and that set me apart. Like, I could do this, and just experiment and grow it in my own timeline. So anyways, started the business. It was more of, like, photography in the beginning, and some sort of, like, art, calligraphy in- involved in that. Um, and I remember, as I started my business, I was like reading books and blogs all about branding, and so I like wrote a mission statement, and it was to like empower women, essentially. Like, I wanted to use my art or use my photography to empower women to like be encouraged and know their worth, and that was built out of like my own need for that. I was 23. I was- I mean, 23, like barely knew myself, didn't know who I was, didn't know my worth. You know, I was figuring all of that out. And so I feel like my mission came from my own need to learn that for myself. So I kind of just started sharing calligraphy and quotes and encouragement, and that kind of, that was when Instagram was so amazing, and I just kind of grew really, really quick. And then as my Instagram grew, I started to kind of shift more towards products and calligraphy. So it was probably in 2015 or 2016 when I had like, started to sell some mugs, and that totally took off. It was when like mugs were it. Um, and that kinda catapulted me into like, "I really wanna do pro- like, products. Like, I'm going into the product world." And from there, it has just, like, been this kind of roller coaster of growth and changing what products I sell, adding more products to what I'm selling. But the mission has always been the same. I mean, it's changed a little bit, but it's always been about, like, helping women specifically, 'cause my products aren't really for men, um, know their worth and also find joy in who, like, God made them to be, and know that they are loved and valued and important, and also to find joy in wherever you're at. I've been through seasons of grief. Like, I've- I feel like I've grown up with my business and I've been through really hard seasons and really easy seasons. And sometimes it's easier to find joy and sometimes it's harder to find joy, and I've always wanted my products and, like, just what I share online to help people remember that and realize that. That joy is something that's cultivated and you don't just, like, come across it. And my hope is that my products help cultivate joy for people and help them to see the beauty in the ordinary and remember, you know, that there's hope in every season of life. There's joy in every season of life. And as life ebbs and flows, you can find that joy in whatever you're walking through. That's so good. I didn't know that you dabbled in photography. Is that something you still do or is that, like, in the past? It's in the past. I do all my own product photography, so I have, like, a nice camera and lenses and I know kind of what I'm doing. Um, but I don't do that as a service anymore. Okay. I tried. I tried it out, and I was a s- I did some weddings, like, as a second shooter and just realized, like, this wasn't a- it wasn't for me. Yeah. But I love- I love photography, but I want- my goal was to be, like, a product photographer, and I just wasn't growing. Like, there wasn't enough of a market. But then it ended up working out for me because now I just do it for myself. Yes. I love that. I always love asking the question, like, tell me a little bit about your story, your journey, your background, because I think, like, the online space has this weird way of making things look like you just happened upon where you are. You don't have the luxury of seeing, like, that timeline in, like, one screenshot, you know, like on your phone. You're seeing, like, the highlights and you're seeing kind of the destination of where someone is, but there's always, always so many layers and so much context that leads to where someone is in their business. And so I love that that just paints the picture of, like, where you started and also, like, none of it is- is for nothing. Like, it all contributes to the journey. Like, the fact that you started with photography, well now you use that, and like, that was like a stepping stone that led you to where you ultimately wanted to be with your business. Yeah, and- and in the beginning, I felt like I was failing, like I wasn't growing my photography side of the business and, like, you know, there's all these thing, all these failures that felt like failures at the time. And if I had quit then and been like, "You know what? This isn't working. Nobody wants my photography," like, I wouldn't be where I am, you know? I think we so often, like, things don't work out and instead of, like, pivoting or shifting or trying something new because we're scared to fail again, we just quit, because that sometimes seems easier. And I think, you know, there are some times where it's like, "Okay, this really isn't working," but sometimes it just needs some sort of shift or pivot versus an absolute, like, "I- I failed." Mm. Yeah. I was, like, just creating some content on that topic this morning. It's like, I feel like so many people, like, the biggest problem that they face i- in terms of, like, why they don't get to where they wanna be is they quit way too soon because- Yeah. we have these crazy unrealistic expectations as to, like, how fast things should happen. I think part of that is, like, just the world we live in and, like, how fast paced it is, and also just social media and- and the depiction of, like, success and what that timeline should look like. But 9 times out of 10, like, if you'll stick with your goals, your visions, it might change, like you said. Like, you might pivot, you might have some redirections, but, like, you'll get where you're meant to be. You just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and that's so much easier said than done when things are really hard and- and you're, like- Yeah. doubting everything about yourself and asking, like, "Am I cut out for this? Can I make this work?" absolutely. And even, like, now, like, I'm almost 10 years into business and I'm not where I want to be yet, you know? And part of that is my personality of, like, I will always want more. I will always want bigger. Um, but, like, I could give up now and be like, "You know what? I don't have that warehouse that I thought I would have now and I don't have the team of 10 that I thought I would have by now." And maybe I will never get there, and that's my own journey of, like, that was not meant for me, you know? But if I just l- maybe it is meant for me when my kids are older, and I don't know. I don't know if, like, that's what's gonna be ahead or if something totally different is gonna be what's ahead. But if you just, like, throw in the towel, which I could have done at this point if I wanted to, then there is no, like, chance to see where it's going. Mm. You know? It's so true. Like, you'll never know if you don't keep going for it. Yeah. And I love that you're almost 10 years in and you're still going for a bigger vision, and that's just so, like, the mark of the entrepreneur. Like, it's not- And I don't think it's a bad thing. I think sometimes when I say a similar sentiment of, like, I feel like I'm always gonna want more, I think sometimes I get pushback. Like maybe, you know, like, "Oh, why are you never happy with your life?" It's not that. It's just that drive. It's that, like- Yeah. determination. It's that vision. Like, we're always, like, ever-evolving in terms of, like, what we wanna build. And I think it's natural to always want more because as your business grows, you grow and you evolve and your desires- Yeah. change and they grow as well. Um, but I love that you said, "I'm 10 years in and I still want more," because I think so many people are like a couple years in and wondering if they should call it quits. And I always tell people, like, entrepreneurship isn't for everyone, but if it is for you and if you're gonna go for it, like- Yeah. you have to ask yourself the question, like, are you willing to stick with it? Are you willing to be here not just for 2 years but for, like, decades? Like, some of the most, um, successful entrepreneurs, like thriving, happy entrepreneurs, no matter what they do, they've been at this for decades. And their success has been built over a long period of time. And you have to be, like, committed to that vision to stick it out through the highs and the lows. Yeah, absolutely. What if you could turn your ideas into actual profit for your business? Right now, you may feel like you're doing all the right things and yet your efforts aren't creating more money for your business. Today, that changes. Our free 90-day profit planner has helped hundreds of creative entrepreneurs transform their income goals into an actualization strategy since 2019. You can download yours for free today. Just visit myawakening.co/profit. That's myawakening.co/profit. Now, back to the show. So let's walk back again to the beginning of your product shop. Once you had retired photography or were, like, you know, all in on your products, what were some of those, like, early day hurdles that you had to face as a product shop owner? Because I know this is entirely different for a product-based business versus a service-based business. So what did that look like for you and how did you potentially overcome some of those? Yeah. Um, so many hurdles. Um, I feel like in the beginning, it was definitely the hurdles were, like, sales. And then after that, which there's so many things, you know, that I feel like contributed to my shop kind of exploding. And it, like, 2019, 2020 is kinda when it took off, especially the pandemic did really good for me. 2020 is still my, like, biggest grossing year of all time. Um, so, you know, initially getting sales was one thing. Um, but then after that, it's, like, the systems and operations of a shop. Like, we lived in a 3bedroom house at the time. We had one kid. And so I was, like, working out of, like, our spare bedroom. And then it was like, "We've outgrown this," because you have to house the product somewhere. You know, if you're shipping that much stuff, you can't just, like, hold on to 10 of each item. You need to have more. So those hurdles of, like, where are we gonna keep everything and shipping and hiring someone to ship something and how much to charge for shipping and how do you package stuff so it doesn't break 'cause most of my stuff is really breakable. Um, there were a couple years where it felt like I just could never get on top of it. Like, it was like we'd figure something out, and then it was like now there's this issue and now there's this issue. Um, and so those were hard years. It felt like I was just always growing. It was, like, this great thing of, like, everything is growing and getting bigger, and every year I'm getting more sales. But I couldn't, like, keep up with figuring out the operations, where I finally feel like now, like, we have our operations down and we have, like, the house that we bought a couple years ago has, like, a studio that I have for my shop. Um, and so once those things were figured out, it feels like the systems have run smoother. Um, so I think those are, like, a lot of hurdles that service-based business owners, like, don't- Like, you're just kind of with your laptop, most of you. Or, like, a, photographer, you know has all their equipment. But for a product shop, it's, like, holding inventory and the cost of that. Like, there is a lot more cost involved with a product-based business, and I think that is always a challenge of, like, pricing your products so that it's profitable, but not pricing it too high where you don't have people buying. And how do you get- How do you communicate the value of your product? Like, people can buy a $5 mug at Target really easily, probably get it in their car. Someone's gonna walk it out to them, you know, for a Target pick-up order. Where, like, my mugs are $20.00, if not more. And how do I communicate the value of that? Like, why should you buy from me? Um, that's always a challenge. And there are gonna be people who are willing to buy it. Like, there are so many people in this world. You just have to figure out how to communicate, like, the value of your own product. Um, and so that has, I feel like, always been a hurdle for me, of like, how do I really communicate why this is important? Because what does set me apart, you know? And so I've always tapped into, like, my story and, like, me as a- I am my brand, for better or worse. Like, I could never sell my business and have someone take over, because I am the business. Um, and so that hurdle for me is, like, it's a lot more personal. Because, like, if someone chooses to not buy from me, sometimes it feels personal, you know. It's like, "You're choosing not to buy from me because you don't like me." Um, that is always a hurdle for me. And I thought- I think has been, like, a really wonderful thing of my business, is it has forced me to dig deep in my internal stuff of, like, I am not- The worth of myself is not my business and vice versa. And how to, like, be the business but not be completely tied. Like, interlocking my fingers right now as I host this podcast. But, like, how do I be the business but also set myself apart where, like, if this fails, I'm also not a failure? And so for me, the hurdles—I don't know if I'm answering this properly, but there's a lot of, like, personal elements and growth to my business and how, over the years, I feel like I've grown up with it and had to work through my own issues, really, of, like, knowing what I'm worth and how that, like, works with a business. And so that has been a hurdle, and then obviously, like I was saying, the operation stuff. I feel like I didn't answer that question good, so—Oh, you did great. I can only dream an answer differently. No, you did great. I think that's totally the trajectory for most business owners, whether it's product or service. Like, you're in the beginning, you're like, "Okay, how do I sell? How do I get customers?" You know, like, you're on that, that hustle and that train to, to figure out how to get business in. And then when you get the business in, you're like, "Okay, well, I have to make sure I know how to, like, uh, actually facilitate on this, and, like, I have to understand the operations." And that part definitely looks different based on whether you're a service or a product-based business owner. Um, but, you know, I feel like you're in one of 2 places anytime you're running a business. You're like either you need more customers, you need more business, or, like, you're so slammed and you're trying to figure out how to fulfill on the business that you have. A lot of times, it like, it feels like you're living in both of those extremes. And then, absolutely, like, just the personal growth and, like, the development and the becoming of you. Like, Jordan and I always talk about that on the podcast a lot. I feel like a lot of business owners, like, they want the tactics. They want the strategies. I was that way when I got started. I'm like, "All right, give me my, like, 10-step plan to, like, get this thing going." Um, and it's always—it's, like, never, ever that simple, you know? And I think the most important and the biggest component that's gonna stay with you that you're gonna be working on, no matter if you're a year in, you're 10 years in, you're 20 years in, it's gonna be you. It's going to be, like, developing and growing and becoming, like, more of who you need to be to sustain and carry the responsibility, the weight of, like, the company and the vision that you have. Um, and I think all of that ties together really beautifully, because I think, at least for me as a consumer, somebody who's watched you, watched your brand, purchased your products, like, one of the things that really does have you stand out is the way that you show who you are, your personality, like, your core values, your family. And again, that mission of, like, sparking joy and helping people find joy in, like, the mundane and in the everyday. And, um, I think that there's a couple directions I wanna go here right now, because I think right now, in marketing, like, personality is huge. Like, people wanna know the person behind the brand. You do that really well. Um, but also, I know that, like, sparking joy is central to your brand, and it's also central probably to your personal story. So, I'm curious, like, what in your personal journey, like, led to the inspiration of empowering women, worth in women, but also, like, that concept of sparking joy? Yeah. Um, I feel like it really began after I had a miscarriage after our first son. Um, he was born in 2017, and at the end of 2018 we miscarried and I had a really easy life. Like, we weren't—I'm not—I was not—I was not raised in, like, a super wealthy home. But I did not, like, have much want in life, and I didn't have a lot of heartbreak in life. I just, like, I had a—I had a good life and I didn't have a lot of grief up until that point. And so that, for me, was a, like, turning point in my life of like, "Oh my gosh. Life is really hard and this is very heartbreaking." And it, like, broke me. I think a lot of people—I know a lot of people have had miscarriages and I feel like it broke me more than most people I know in how they—their, like, grief process with it. It's hard for everyone, but I feel like for me it was, like, my first real big heartbreak in life, and, like, "I'm not in control and this is forever a part of my story and I'll never meet that baby earth side." And it was—it was really hard for me, and I walked through that grief for a long time. And so I think that was, like, the genesis of it, of like, "Okay, I have to dig deep for my joy now." I—like, I have a kid who's almost 2. Like, I can't just, like, lay in bed every day because I'm sad. Like, I have to pull it together. I have to find a way to find joy even if I don't feel it. And so I feel like that was the beginning of it. And then we had trouble getting pregnant with our second child, and so it was just, like, all of these things on top of another that was like, "This is hard." And then when my daughter was born, we had a really—it was in 2020, so it was right after the pandemic began. And she was born 5 weeks early, and when I was in the hospital with her, like, a very, very close family friend had a—there was, like, a tragic accident and she passed away. And so it was like, those, like, 2 years were horrible and hard. And, um, I, like, was living life online and trying to sell this product of like, be happy. And I had to, like, do that for myself. And so I feel like that was really when my brand took that turn, because I was doing that personally. I was walking through grief after grief, pain after pain, and doing it somewhat publicly while also selling products. And so a lot of my products from that time were made for, like, myself in a way. Like, how am I finding joy in this season and what products can I make to, like, bring people along with me? That was a really big part of my story and my business, of finding joy, finding hope. How do you walk through grief and seek for joy at the same time? How do you have, like, very ordinary days but find them to be, like, very extraordinary? Because I feel like in motherhood especially there's a lot of ordinary moments and a lot of routine, and how do I live those days with, like, a heart posture and a mindset of gratitude and not just like, "This is frustrating"? You know, I don't—I don't wanna walk through motherhood being like, "This is hard, this is hard, this is hard. I'm such a servant. Look at me, all this that I do for my family. Like, everyone should see all that I do." I didn't wanna be that person, so I wanted to create products that helped me, like, find my joy in this ordinary and also, like, time of grief for myself. Yeah. So it's like everything was so real for you and people feel that. Like, people feel that when you are creating from a place that's, like, super real and super raw, and, like, there's a true mission behind it that you're living out, like, people actually really do feel that. And that does set you apart. I am so curious from your perspective, 'cause I know that you still share quite a bit online, um, about, like, your life and your family and whether that's casual, behind the scenes, or maybe something that you're going through. How do you strike a balance between, like, sharing and showcasing how you're aiming to live that mission out yourself, 'cause it's so central to the brand, and also, like, kind of protecting your own, like, personal life and processing? Mm-hmm. I think a lot of creatives really struggle to, like, strike the balance between the 2, because I think definitely when you share more personal content online that goes against the grain of, like, the highlight reel, that's gonna stand out. Like, people crave that. Like, people love that. But if we swing so far that way, then I find people are just so burnt out and, like, have no boundaries. But I feel like you found this balance where, like, you share a good amount, but you also have, like, things that are kept personal. And so, yeah, what—what does that look like for you? Yeah. There are s—Like, I think people think, you know, if I share one vulnerable thing, then it's like, "Oh my gosh, she shares everything about her life," which I d—I don't think people think that. But, um, I—I—I c—I agree with what you're saying. I think that it can—it's set apart when you are vulnerable, but you also don't wanna, like, share everything. And I have never shared everything, and I think we forget that. Like, if someone shares one thing vulnerable, you think you know them fully, which there's truth to that, but there are so many parts of my life that I don't share. I sh—have chosen, like, a few aspects of my life that I share, mostly motherhood because that's, like, one of the biggest parts of my life right now. Um, but there are a lot of parts of motherhood that I don't talk about. Like, I don't really talk about personal issues with my children. Not issues, but, like, behavioral things. Like, you are not gonna hear me talking about, like, this thing that we're working through with one of our children. Or, like, hard—I'll talk about, like, hard things. Like one time, we were going through a really hard season with our daughter, and she, like, was having really big sleep troubles. Like, I'll talk about that. But I'm not gonna talk about, like, my anxieties about specific things about my children, because that's, like, their life, and I'm not gonna put that on the line—online for people to know about. Um, I won't share many personal things, like anything with other people. Like, if I'm having issues with other people, I'm not gonna talk about, like, "Oh, I'm going through such strife with a friend." Like, I'm not gonna just share about that. So I try to—honestly, my litmus test is like, what is something that people would feel seen by? Like, if they read this, they would feel seen. And how can I make others feel seen by opening up myself a little bit? So I—I'll share, like, my own stuff, but noth—nothing I share will ever really include any other person or that it would affect any other person, if that makes sense. Um, so that's kind of my litmus test of like, how can I make someone feel seen, but also, like, hold a lot close to my heart? And so there was a time—our third child, also, we really struggled to get pregnant with, which I haven't really ever shared this anywhere, because it felt like such a tender part of my story. And now that he's over one, it doesn't feel as tender anymore. And so I'll openly say that a little bit more. But there are—Like, I never really talked about that because it was too vulnerable for me. That felt too vulnerable. Um, so that, I think, is kind of how I test it out. Uh, and I just—I try to share things like, I'll say, like, "I struggle with anxiety," but I'm not really sharing, you know, my specific swirling thoughts, you know, because that is too vulnerable for me. People don't need to know that. And I feel like sometimes that can make people anxious too, 'cause then they're like, "Oh, I have that thought too." And you know, I just—I don't feel like that's helpful. But saying, like, "I have anxiety," or, "I have struggled with anxiety, and this is what I do to try and help myself," I feel like that is vulnerable enough. You don't have to go into, like, the deep, dark pits of your heart and mind. Does that help? Yeah. Did that answer it? That's so good. I think some of it comes with, like, age, and, like, maturity, and just that intentionality of kind of sitting with yourself to be able to acknowledge, like, "Mm, that's too close to home. That feels like something I feel comfortable to share, or feels like it could help someone." Um—Yeah. I think that some of that just comes with, with maturity and also, like, even being in the online space for a longer period of time. Like, you kind of find your footing with, like, what—yeah—you do wanna share and what you don't want to share. Um, and it is a very real thing. Like, when you share anything personal, even if it's, like, a fraction of your life, people feel like they somehow have, like, a 100% glimpse into your life. Yeah. And some people feel like they should have a say in certain things. So it's like you kind of open these doors for things to happen, you know. W—Some people are just crazy. Like, some of the messages sometimes—Yeah. that even I've received, I'm just like—what? Like, you don't know that about me. Um, so it's just, like, even knowing what you're opening yourself up for. Like, when you show up online and you share part of your personal life, like, clarifying for yourself, what are your boundaries? Like, what are you wanting to share and what will you never share? And just, like, having that dialogue with yourself and having that intentionality, I feel like it—it helps promote sustainability in showing up online because if we don't have any of those things clarified, I feel like it's so easy to burn out because we end up—Yeah. like, over-sharing some people. Yeah, absolutely. I sometimes—Like, if you really wanna get really honest with yourself, sometimes I—like, the question I ask, like, "Would this be helping someone or is this, like, to get attention?" Mm-hmm. And I feel like that can really help people sometimes. It's like, am I gonna post this because I want sympathy, because I want A, B and C, whatever it is that you would want. Or you—would—would I wanna share this because I want to help someone? And that kind of what I always try to do, is like, how can I help someone by them knowing, like, "Oh, Rachel has this issue too," or, like, "Rachel is walking through a hard season with something and blah, blah, blah." Like, sometimes I'll share, like—one thing I was thinking of specifically is, like, I said that sleep stuff with our daughter years ago. And then, like, all the—then I, then I realized, like, oh my gosh, we're not struggling with that anymore. And so I shared once and, like, this is a reminder of, like, everything is a season, for better or worse. Like, the good times end and the bad times end. And so that's kind of how I try to share vulnerably is, like, one time we had this issue and now we don't. This is your reminder. That's, I think, where I try to land with my vulnerability, if that makes sense. Totally. Yeah. I think something I like to mention all the time, if we're in the context of business, even if it's, like, a personal brand, even if you're the face of your brand, we're still in the context of business. And business is about, like, helping, serving, providing solutions. And that's also through your content too. It—it's different from, like, running a personal blog or, um, even being an influencer or whatever it may be. When you're running a business that's providing a product or service, there's a reputation that you're building where you wanna show your community, like, I'm here to—to help, to serve, to—to bring solutions. And that could be through inspiration and that could be through your product or service. And that's always my gauge too. I'm like—that's a good one, yeah.—am I trying to process or is this gonna help someone? Is this, like—Yeah. inspiring or constructive or—or s—something like that, you know? Yeah. I love that. Totally. Okay. So one other aspect of your brand that I love is your community and, like, how hyped they are for you and your family and your products. And, like, even myself, anytime, like, you're dropping a new collection, I'm like, "Okay. Like, when are we—when are we getting there? Like, what's the date?" I'm, like, looking out for the email blast, especially now since we've been, like, reconnected after. I feel like—Yeah. we disappeared from each other's feeds for, like, I don't know—Yeah. how long like—a couple years, I feel like. I know. I'm like, thank you, Instagram. Um, but all that said, like, I'm on the edge of my seat and your community is so engaged and I feel they're just so invested in—in you and, like, what you've built through this brand. And so, I know that's something a lot of our community wants to create amongst their community and I was curious if you could shed any light on what you feel has created, like, that culture, um, and that community of people that are just so hype for you and so engaged in what you're doing and whether that's personal or products. Yeah. I think part of that is—well, I'll answer that 2 ways. For product, for people being hyped about product, I feel like the—one of the main marketing—the 2 main marketing tools I've used for that would be, um, social proof and scarcity. So for a while, I—don't go telling, uh, anyone my secrets, but when I first started out, I would sometimes, like, intentionally put less inventory in my shop on purpose so that they would sell it really fast. And then people would be like, "Oh my gosh, she's in such demand." So that is, like, a strategy that I think all product sh—product shop, product shop owners should use. Um. We could talk about that for a long time, but that is just one little tip is scarcity. Social proof being, you know, sharing reviews, sharing what people are saying, because I feel like when you do that, it kind of creates this, like, FOMO feeling of like, "Everyone else is wearing her shirts. Why don't I have one? I obviously need one." So those would be my 2, like, tips for how I did that, for like getting people to be excited about my products and feeling like it's something that they need to be a part of. The community aspect, I feel like it is a lot of kind of what we were just talking about. Um. I feel like I really have tried to serve my audience. It's not been like, "How can you guys help me feel better about myself?" Or, "How can you, like, give me more likes or comment more on my products?" It's, I have always tried to be like, "How can I give as much as I can to them by encouragement, products that serve them," uh, "by time?" I have always, as much as I can, tried to reply to every DM, which I think some people would be like, "That's dumb." But I think it shows that, like, I care about my audience. Like, uh, they get, take the time to follow me, to take in my content, to engage with me, and if they have 30 seconds to send me a message, like, I feel like that deserves some sort of acknowledgement. That's my kind of view on it. Like, I am not better than anybody here. Just because I might have more followers than you does not mean in any way that I am more important or more valuable than the person who has 100 followers who just DMed me asking me a question. And so I think that that mindset has served me really well, that I have really tried to make other people feel valuable. Like, they are valuable to me in like a personal way, but also like in a business way. Like if they want to engage with me, like if we're talking members, like they're also a potential customer. And how can I make them feel like they matter to me? Because if they feel like they matter to me, they are gonna wanna buy from me because then they're gonna wanna support my family, they're gonna wanna support me. And so I think that's a really big one of like taking time for them. Sometimes right now in the season of life I'm in, it's a week later, but like I still get to it somehow. Um. So that, I think, is a really important one that maybe gets overlooked. I don't know if other people would agree with that, but I really find that to be valuable, is giving back. I always try to find a way to give back to them. If that's my time, if it's replying to messages, if it's answering questions, if it's encouraging them. I always try almost daily to like somehow offer some sort of life encouragement on Instagram just to like be a little tiny—Like if they're scrolling through stories and like the one thing they see on my story is like, "You're important and you matter," like that to me is worth it. Um. Because I feel like people don't hear that enough. So I think that maybe the biggest thing that I've tried to do is just be a servant in my content. Like how can I serve well and steward this space to create good and not make people feel like less than? 'Cause I think there's a way you can like share about your life that makes people feel like, "Wow, everybody loves her," and, "Look at all the stuff that's going for her," and, "Wow, her life's amazing," where it—like when people are consuming your content, it makes them feel less than. And I don't want my content to do that. So I've—I think there's a fine line of like sharing. We could really get into this. But I think you can share in a way that's like, "Look at me, look at me, look at me," and I try to not do that. That's, I think, my goal is I want it to be like, "Look at them, look at them, look at them." Uh. That's what I always try to do. I'm not perfect and I'm sure there are things that I share that people take it as, "Wow, she's bragging," but I really cognitively try to not do that. Yeah. That's so, so good. I feel like there's so much power and simplicity in what you're saying because essentially, you've created this culture by just serving and like having a servant heart. And like that's something Jordan and I talk about and we're really passionate about in the marketing world and just the online world. Like how can you show up and have a servant heart? And I think so often people are so focused on more and more and more, grow, grow, grow, I want new followers, new people. It's, it's just always about the new and the more, that you forget about like who's in front of you. And actually that creates the opposite effect a lot of times. Whereas if you would just—Yeah. focus on like the people there that like you've been blessed with them and they've been blessed with you, how can you serve them—if you serve them well, they're gonna become almost like ambassadors for your brand. And like, for what you do. And that, in turn, creates the ripple effect of growth. And then I think too, like you also have more of a level head about it when you go about growing that way, because you're focused on serving. You're focused on the right things, you know? Yeah. And then as more people come, i—it's like, it's not really about like the follower count and the going viral and, and all the things. It's like, it's still the same. It's how do I serve? How do I show up and have a positive impact today? And I think some of those things sound so simple, but I find that like the things that make the most impact in the growth of your business, they're often truly, like very simple. Simplest. Yeah. Yeah, totally agree. Yeah. And I love that you said, hope I can remember it right. You re—you said like, "Every day your mindset is like, 'How can I serve? How can I make a positive impact?'" And I think that's like such a simple thing of like, if that's in your brain every day, like, "How can I serve who's here already?" Even if like they're not gonna buy from me, that's still like, why not serve them, you know? Why not give them a little encouragement for the day? Um, I think that that is like a really good heart posture to have that will serve you no matter what in the end, you know? Mm. Yeah. I love that. I feel like that's just gonna be such a big golden nugget to take away from today's episode. It's like, yeah. It's so, so good. So as we wrap up, I wanna just shift gears. I have to ask about motherhood and business. Like, you're a mom of 3. I'm about to be like a mom of one, like for the first time. And, um, I know we have some other moms in our community too. And I'm just curious like, what does it look like for you? In this season of life, like how do you—I don't know if balance is the right word, but—yeah—how do both of these worlds come together for you and what's working for you right now in order to be with your family and prioritize, I'm sure, like what's a big part of your vision for your life, which is like being present with your family, but also, like honoring your dream of running your shop as well? Yeah. Um, I feel like I'm kind of in a groove right now, so I'm sure it'll change in 3 months. But right now, I feel like I'm kinda in a groove and I'm really grateful for it. Um, I think a big part of that is having childcare. It is like impossible to run a business at the same time while you have kids with you. Like it just, they're not getting what they need and you're not getting what you need. And I think you just need to have dedicated time for work. So that's one thing. Um, and right now I'm in a season where I've like pared down and pulled back more than I was 6 years ago, and I'm fine with that. It was a journey to get here, but I feel like this year I'm at this place of like, this is where we're at. This is what I have to give. I'm gonna be present with that. I'm gonna give my all. And in 5 years, I'm gonna have so much more to give and I, I don't want my business to like be gone by then when I have a lot more energy. So I wanna do with, do what I can with what I have right now. And so that's pared back. Like it's only shop. There's so many other things that I wanna do, but it's just like, it's not the season of life I'm in. And that's okay with me. For a long time it wasn't okay with me, and I felt like I was a failure and a bad entrepreneur because I wasn't driven enough. But with 3 kids now, it's like this is the balance I need to have. I work 2 days a week. I work a lot of evenings for like an hour after the kids go to bed. That works for me. That works for our marriage. It's, it's all good. We're good with it. Uh, and that's what it is right now. So, I feel like you have to be willing to let go of the reins a little bit and adjust to what your family needs. If your family needs you to work full-time and that works for you, I think that's amazing. But if your family needs you to be like a part-time mom and a part-time business owner, I think that's also able, you can do that. You just need to figure out how much you can take on with your business. You know, like I used to blog all the time and like there were so many other things I used to do, but now it's like just the shop. And that is good for me. So I think you have to figure out what's the most important, what, what brings you the most money, what brings you the most life, and how that works with your family and what's needed for your family. what's needed for your family. And I think you need to realize that, like, it's just never gonna work to try to do them at the same time. There's definitely times where, like, I shoot off an email during breakfast, and I think that's fine. But, like, you can't expect to have a full work day while also being a full time with your kids, you know? It just—it's not fair for anybody. You get fru—I get frustrated, the kids don't get the attention that they need, and, uh, it's just not fun. So, my best advice is having, like, a schedule. Like, I work Tuesday, Thursdays, that's when I work. I've been doing that for years, and it's worked really well for me because I know, like, if something comes up on Monday, it's like, "I got that tomorrow." Like, I have childcare starting at 9:00 AM. I know I've gotta get to it. Because if you don't have that, I feel like it's just this constant, like, your brain is on overload of like, "Oh, I can't forget to do that, can't forget to do that," and it's stressful. And then you're not present with your kids because you're just, "Ah, I just need to do this one thing." And I don't wanna be like that. So, I think if you have that schedule, you have those work hours that you know are coming, that causes a lot of peace for me because I knew, like, I would get to it. It wasn't like, "When am I gonna get to this?" I always knew that I would. And then being willing to shift and adjust and pivot what's most important in the business, and let things go if you need to. If you don't need to, no big deal. But if you feel like you need to let things go, it's not a failure, it's just an adjustment. And take it from me, your kids are little for really short. My first just finished kindergarten. I swear he was just born. Like, I know that when you're in the trenches, which I still am in the trenches, I still have little ones. But when you are in those, like, really early years where you have 2 under 2 or whatever, it feels like it's gonna be forever, and it's not. And you will have more margin one day, and you will have more creativity one day, and your kids will go to school one day. And, like, it's not like this forever. There's a season for everything. So, if you have to pare back, that's not a failure whatsoever. That's so good. I love the sentiment of just do what you can with what you have. Um, I think that's so important for everyone. But I'm sure, like, in the season, in the thick of motherhood and having little ones and, like, figuring out how to balance everything, like, just being okay if your bandwidth looks different, and—Yeah. and accepting that versus trying to, like, force all the things all at once. And I think that also just showcases your mindset as well, and how it is fixated on, like, the long term as well. Because, to your point, if, you know, while your kids are little, you're, like, pushing the pedal to the metal and trying to do so many different things, you're gonna miss out on, like, your kids, you know, and qu—time with them in this season. But also, you're gonna burn out, and who knows if the business will be here long term? So, you know, it's kind of shifting your perspective and obsessing less about, "Well, I need to have the best year ever this year," and thinking more about, like, the longevity of—of not only where you want the business to be and go, but also, like, savoring the journey as well. Yeah. Which I know sounds cheesy, and we all talk about that, but, like, what's the freaking point of, like, hustling for all the things in your business if you can't enjoy the life—right.—that you're living and—and what you're building, you know? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And everyone's bandwidth is gonna be different. So, like, my bandwidth when I had one kid was really different than when I had 3 kids for the business. And it has taken me years to, like, get to this place of letting things go a little bit. Um, so just saying that, like, if you have more bandwidth, that's amazing. Don't feel like you have to, like, "Oh, I have to let a lot go." Like, that's—everyone's story is gonna be different, so just know that for yourself. Like, you have to find it for yourself. Mm-hmm. Which is not very helpful, but I hope it's helpful. It's so true though. It's so true. This has been so good. Thank you so much for all of your—oh, it's—wisdom—and insight. I've loved—of course.—this chat. I know our community is just gonna be feeling, like, so inspired. And I feel so light, like, after this conversation too. Oh, yeah. Just, like, so much permission for just, yeah, what things need to be and what I want them to be when it comes to business and motherhood and all of the things. So, for those that wanna connect with you, and, like, you guys, you want to connect with Rachel—and, like, see all of her products, and just, like, all of the incredible content that we've been talking about today and marketing and—Yeah. if you just want, like, a glimmer of, like, hope and joy each day, you gotta connect with Rachel. So, tell people where to find you and how they can connect. Um, so you can find me on Instagram. That would be the best spot. And my handle is rachelallene. It's rachel_l-l-e-n-e, and then from there there'll be a bunch of links to sign up for emails and text messages if you want, discounts and all that. But that's the best place to find me, and, uh, I would love to meet new friends there and chat with you in my DMs. Amazing. Awesome. Well, you guys, go check her out, get connected. Uh, look out for the next, like, drop in the shop too. I have some of your mugs and they're, like, my favorite. My sister does too. I think we both have one of your fall mugs, and we just always—Oh, yeah. Fall is coming. It's coming in August. Oh, my gosh. A good fall mug, like, nothing matches that. Yeah. Amazing. Well, thank you so much for your time, Rachel. Um, thank you guys—Thank you for having me.—for tuning in. Amazing. Talk to you soon.
