Obstacles to Opportunities
When faced with life's obstacles, let's channel that negative energy into positivity and forge opportunities. Throughout the nation, business owners will share their experiences of triumphing over daunting challenges in their careers and lives, illustrating how they've harnessed these experiences for growth opportunities.
Obstacles to Opportunities
Unfiltered Conversations with Brittany Antonijevic: From Women's Business Consulting to Creating a Space for Authenticity
In this episode of "Obstacles to Opportunities" we're thrilled to welcome the dynamic Brittany Antonijevic to the studio! Jess finally manages to get her in for a chat, and believe us, it's worth the wait. From women's business consulting to hosting the popular podcast "Wine About Business," Brittany is a force to be reckoned with.
Join us as Brittany dishes on everything she's involved in, including her passion for creating spaces where women can truly be seen and heard. Known for her fearlessness in facing conflict and her knack for authenticity, Brittany brings a refreshing honesty to every conversation.
You'll want to tune in as Brittany gives us a sneak peek into her latest big project happening in Naples—trust us, you won't want to miss it!
So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and prepare for plenty of laughs, insightful conversations, and insider info on Brittany's journey and the exciting things she has in store. This episode is not to be missed!
welcome to the obstacles to opportunities podcast. I am jess pal, your host, and I have a britney. I'm not gonna botch this, I'm gonna do great, you got out of it.
Speaker 2:There you go, I did it.
Speaker 1:I even like did like fake little notes for myself in here. But no, brittany is someone that I have. I met and I want to say it was about a year and a half ago and we met and I was like this girl's going somewhere, she's doing something like it w. It was like to me you were just so sharp and on it and um, also very, um, genuine and authentic to yourself. So I have kind of watched you like you know, like fangirled from the outside a little bit and so whenever you had posted that you had a podcast Wine About Business, correct?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you were like anyone who should be on it and I was like, well, I want you on my podcast. So this is how we got here, yeah, and it's. You know, I'm just so excited. I think there's so much to unravel with, like your journey to where you are now and also your vision for where you're going. So I'm like pumped.
Speaker 2:Well, thank, you First of all. You're so sweet. Thank you for saying that. I love you. Thank you, and I remember, I 100% remember meeting you every week, clicked at the event, yeah, and I felt like we were automatically friends, and I think we talked about tacos and tequila too. Oh, I'm sure You're like I take the golf cart over there I'm like you are my new favorite person.
Speaker 1:I don't know that that's just like a moment in my life where, when I realized I could golf cart to margaritas, I was like I think I can.
Speaker 2:I remember thinking that's my life goal is just to be you and be able to do that, so okay.
Speaker 1:We're going my golf cart's dead right now. Her name is Betsy and she's kind of her name is what Betsy?
Speaker 2:Okay, my car. I named my car Bessie. My mom was Bessie. Yeah, that's so funny.
Speaker 1:I mean it's a great name, yeah, but yeah she's, she's broken down now, but when we get her battery fixed.
Speaker 2:Like Call me, you and me. I will be offended if you call anyone but me. Okay, because I'm so down. All right, it's going to happen.
Speaker 1:It's so fun and she only has one headlight, so getting home is like a super adventure. Oh, I love it, I. I love that a little bit too much, but um, okay. So, brittany, your background is the roofing industry, so take us there, I know and how'd you get probably could have guessed it.
Speaker 2:I always say, like you know, I look like a roofer. One's always like she. Ever at all. No, so actually, background, background would be. I was recruited by an IT company Okay, pretty big one down here and I thought my whole life. I was like I'm going to be the corporate girly, I'm going to climb the corporate ladder, yep, Go to all the meetings that could have been emails and, like you know, wear jeans on Friday. So excited and it was like Wizard of Oz for me, like the curtain came down and I was like, whoa, this is not at all what I thought it was going to be.
Speaker 1:I had a very similar experience. I completely understand. I still have private investigators calling me about incidents that happened that I witnessed in corporate America True story. Oh my God, so I get it. It's the you get too close, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then it's like everything kind of comes down and for me it was just I dreamt of that my whole life. So it really was like a kind of a grieving period of like this is not, this is not me. And at first you think there's something wrong with you, because so many people play into it and they drink the Kool-Aid and they love it, and it's like, well, well, what's wrong with me that I'm not happy here? And yeah. Then there was actually, um, a harassment incident. Oh no, um, and we don't have to get into that. But my manager, who was a female, I remember telling her and it was like a big deal, because you know, you're young and you're like I don't want to get in trouble, like, right, you kind of blame yourself. And I was like it's like, hey, this happened. I was so scared to come to her, but I'm like she's a woman, she'll understand, right, she literally looked at me and was like, yeah, if you want to like, keep your job, like I wouldn't, I wouldn't say anything. And in that moment I was like what? The yeah, everything kind of unraveled for me.
Speaker 2:And then at that point, especially because I'm very purpose-driven, I'm not very, like financially motivated. So it takes more than that for me to like. If I don't feel like I'm doing something like with integrity or I'm like genuinely helping people, it's than that for me to like. If I don't feel like I'm doing something like with integrity or I'm like genuinely helping people, it's really hard for me to fake it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so sales in general was hard for me because I'm like I don't even believe in this. I'm selling them this stuff. I'm like I want to be like you actually don't even need this, you know, but I want to sell it to you because I have a quota. So it was just a lot, it was just really an awakening. And then I'm like, oh my gosh. And then there's the pressure of like I moved down here for this. Yeah Right, you know, I moved my then fiance down here and like we started our lives here and now I'm just going to be like unemployed, you know, starting this new life and so kind of going through that, that grief. But then also finding the part of myself that's like I wanted to start something on my own.
Speaker 1:Okay and kind of make my own rules. Have you always had that thought when you were growing up that you might be an entrepreneur or a reappearance?
Speaker 2:So I always was very entrepreneurial. My dad was very corporate, okay, and he, so I got that piece from him Like he would use it. He was like the Excel guy and so I would make spreadsheets to be like him and sit at a desk and have folders and files, and then I always wanted to sell my friend stuff, oh cool. So I would start little businesses and we lived in Brazil, I grew up in Brazil, so what I would do is, whenever we would come back here to visit, I would go to the dollar store Because they didn't have stuff like that there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And I would get a bunch of like little cute, like trinkets, because they didn't have that stuff in Brazil, right, and then I would mark it up, oh my gosh, like 400%. And I'd come back with a little briefcase to my classmates and like sell them all this stuff that I got for you know, like after the corporate experience, to be like okay, like how can I, you know, yeah, do something for myself, I have nothing else to do. Um, and my husband was like he had been in the roofing industry and he always complained about wanting to do it on his own because he could do it so much better. And I'm like, yeah, let's just do it. Yeah, like, what's stopping us? I'm unemployed.
Speaker 2:Now I can do anything, I have all this time I'm unemployed, now I can do anything I have all this time. So then we kind of just said F it and we just went for it, and from that moment on we got really lucky, because we had set everything up right before Irma. Oh, perfect.
Speaker 1:Yeah, perfect. So you guys were in a great spot. We had yeah.
Speaker 2:So we had everything ready to go and then, at that point, there was a hurricane. It's like, okay, you're stupid, not to it's game on it's game on this, is it? Yep, um, and we evacuated for that. And on the drive back I found out I was pregnant. Oh wow, at a Chick-fil-a, at a Chick-fil-a bathroom.
Speaker 1:I had a test. What a beautiful moment.
Speaker 2:Well, here's the. Here's the sad part. Okay, I was craving a spicy sandwich. Yeah, I mean, who isn't right the spicy with it? It's just, it's so good, it's my favorite cheat. So I'm craving the sandwich.
Speaker 2:I have a test, for some reason, with me and I was bored. I was driving by myself. He had left back to go back to his job, so we evacuated together. Okay, he had to go back for his job. He was still working his job. I stayed with my friends in georgia. I left later and I'm like I'm just gonna stop and get a spicy sandwich. I'm gonna take a test, gonna be negative, like for funsies, you know. And then I'm gonna go back to take a test, like, and then I'm gonna go my merry way, right? So I stop at the chick-fil-a, go into the bathroom, so take the test I'm gonna put in my purse, get my sandwich, you know. Then look in the car before I could even put the test in my purse, oh no, two wines. I'm like what the fuck? Oh goodness. And so the sad part is I was so nervous and like shocked that then I wasn't hungry. Can I eat the sandwich? I didn't even get a sandwich.
Speaker 1:So I literally went. I went to the.
Speaker 2:Chick-fil-A, just to take the test, find out I was pregnant, leave and spend money on a sandwich. Didn't spend, didn't get my sandwich, didn't get my fries, didn't get my Chick-fil-A sauce. And I call my husband and he could tell. I was like. I was like hey, like how's it going? I didn't know. And he was like you sound a little stressed, like don't worry, like I'll have a bottle of wine waiting for you when you get home.
Speaker 2:I was like don't even bother and then from that point on, it was just chaos. So then you know, pregnant, starting the business, then having the baby, postpartum, dealing with all that, and then also in a very intense male dominated industry, right when I didn't know anyone that was in it, let alone a woman, yeah, and so it really built a thick skin, you know, and I had to figure out a lot of things for myself. I bet Um, because there was no other choice. You know, yeah, so it was figure out a lot of things for myself. I bet um, because there was no other choice. You know, yeah, so it was. It was a lot. It was a crazy couple of years in the beginning for sure, wow.
Speaker 1:So so you did that like kind of started your own thing. You guys went off, did two years of that ish of craziness crazy and so total.
Speaker 2:Now it's been like seven years, oh wow, that we've had the business, um. But through that experience and then also the just the corporate experience and that and and feeling so alone in it as much as it was so rewarding and, like you know, there's no better feeling than figuring something out and it works and like tweaking it and kind of making it your own and I loved I'm a systems girly, like I'm a nerd. I love building works and like tweaking it and kind of making it your own and I loved I'm a systems girly, like I'm a nerd. I love building structures and like finding new softwares and like having them integrate and all that fun stuff. But going through that by myself and then seeing kind of how I mean, as you know, it's like it's a, it's a more, it was more of a senior community back in that day, you know there really weren't resources for young entrepreneurs, yeah, there especially weren't resources for young women.
Speaker 2:And so as I started to slowly network more, build a friend group, kind of meet people in business, I was like there is no mentor, like there's no one to like help people that are starting a business. Yeah, so then over time it really came to okay, I want to become the mentor that I didn't have. Yeah, for women, yep, and I want to take what I had to learn by myself and help them right. So then that's when, over time, once it slowed down enough to where I could kind of step away and then was pregnant with my daughter and I'm like then it kind of like really kicked me in the butt, cause I'm like, well, how can I? You know, like I want to show her she can do anything. Yeah, so like I want to live my purpose and do what I want to do. And you know, now I'm having a daughter, so like that was super important to me and that's kind of how that got started. And then I was consulting for a while and then Ian happened.
Speaker 1:And then Ian it's like all the markers are just like hurricane markers.
Speaker 2:And that was yeah. So I just built the consulting business. I was hosting some events. We had a great launch. It was amazing. Met so many incredible I mean you, our event.
Speaker 1:I remember I think I met you right before that launch is when I met you and you were like fired up about it. Oh, I was. Yeah, I mean, it's such a great concept, you know, I really love the idea.
Speaker 2:And it was fantastic and you could feel how needed it was. Yeah, you could feel it in the air, I remember, like everyone coming together. It was just this energy of like we were all there for the same reason. It wasn't that kind of BSC networking. Like I didn't want that vibe of like I'm trying to sell you something, like I wasn't trying to bring people into, like buy my consulting packages. You didn't bring your briefcase with your dollar store stuff.
Speaker 1:Well, I did that. I mean, I had to sell some trinkets.
Speaker 2:You know I had some clipboards in my inventory I had to get rid of. But it was just this vibe Like I, you know, you know what you feel like. You're just around women that are just genuinely like needing that same the connection, and you know they just want to feel inspired by each other and they feel empowered by each other. And I just remember, like being at this event and talking to everyone and feeling in that moment like this is what I'm meant to be doing, this is it, you know, feeling it's the best, it's the best.
Speaker 2:And then I'm really glad the hurricane happened, because what was cool about that is we grew so much that I could build a strong, large team and we built it of mostly women. So then it was cool because then I kind of like was taking from you know the networking and everything what I learned back into roofing and then took that and built a team of women and then kind of was able to bring that back into once. I could step away again. Yeah, you know, have more experience, genuinely like leading a larger team and kind of like, you know, taking over the industry. And it's awesome making men, intimidating some men.
Speaker 1:I mean, I have a friend that's in the roofing industry. Really she's a female. Okay, I'll introduce you sometime. She was on the podcast and she grew up in it, like in the roofing industry.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I feel like that she served and I don't want to speak for you, that's all right, but I feel like she survived well because she has had the history, the growing up, the family, but it is, I mean, and I can say I went to her office and I'm like I'm like they definitely like respect what she's saying, yeah, but it is, I mean, and I can see I went to her office and I'm like I'm like they definitely like respect what she's saying, yeah, but it is so male dominated and it's so I mean I I don't know how you, you do it.
Speaker 2:Really I don't either, um, but thankfully I don't know if you're into the Enneagram, I always bring it. I am I actually am Okay good into the Enneagram. I always bring it. I am. I actually am Okay good. I'm like, tell me what it's my toxic trait. I have to bring it up.
Speaker 1:You know that some people just hate that. Like, if you bring it up, they're like cringe, like total.
Speaker 2:No, then I don't want to be friends with you. I want to know all about your personality.
Speaker 1:I actually really believe in the Enneagram.
Speaker 2:Oh, a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:I think it's fascinating because, I feel like whatever is your, 100%. I think it's fascinating because I feel like, whatever is your, the thing that's like unique your superpower is also your vice. If you're unhealthy, are you a three?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I guessed it yeah. I'm getting good. You guys don't even know I'm getting real good. I'm an eight Okay.
Speaker 1:So you're the Challenger.
Speaker 2:Oh, I was going to you're the um challenger.
Speaker 1:Oh, I was going to say you're either woo or challenger, okay, okay, so you're the challenger, I'm the challenger, yeah, Okay. So you like? You like a fight? Like, tell me the psychology of the challenge.
Speaker 2:So basically what I, what I love in something that I read and by read I mean watch a TikTok on is that with the Enneagrams you learn your thresholds for things. So like, for example, once you understand like, okay, like, I know that you're a three, yeah, so I see me being comfortable with conflict, the same way that you're comfortable with a very high output and you're very productive. So you kind of hold yourself to the standard of, like, a very high output and you're a very productive, efficient person. So then you'll kind of hold other people to that standard of like, expecting that from them, because that's what you expect from yourself. So when you kind of compare those thresholds, it makes it easier to understand people. Yeah, like, one of my closest friends is a three and sometimes she'll be kind of a dick, but I don't take it personally because I'm like, well, that's kind of a three thing to do, you know, like you're like it's okay, I'll allow it, cause I know who.
Speaker 1:I know you, I know, I know the way that you see it and I know that it's the way that I would see this.
Speaker 2:So in a as a challenger, it's definitely something that you have to like craft, like I was not good at like dealing with conflict early on because I was so blunt and I wouldn't soften anything and I wasn't taking into account other personalities, and like how to effectively manage people in different personalities, but over time, that comfortability with conflict and kind of honing in on okay, like how you know, how can I present this in a way that they're more receptive to, yeah, it does give me the strength because I really can have those hard conversations and I've learned to have those hard conversations with you know right, or whoever on the team, right, and there's just this talent to like being very direct but then also like earning you know respect and not just being an asshole, right.
Speaker 2:So there's a there's a balance. There's a balance, yeah, and it took some time, but I feel very comfortable with it and being in an environment that was so intense where people would be very unkind and they were not used to a woman telling them what to do, right, right yeah, there's that whole dynamic.
Speaker 2:so it really gave me the opportunity to practice, and also with customers like you would be surprised male customers in the industry when they hear a woman's voice, automatically you must be a secretary. Then If you're a woman in a in a roofing company, then they'd be like well, can I, can I speak to the owner? And I love my favorite thing was like I'd be like okay, yeah, one second, hello.
Speaker 1:You didn't, I did. Oh, I did. Oh, I a hundred percent did. But the thing is, you learn too is that you can't take their shit. Oh, I, a hundred percent did I love it.
Speaker 2:But the thing is, you learn too is that you can't take their shit. Oh, absolutely not With a customer. It's not the customer, as always. Right, right, right.
Speaker 2:Because the thing is especially with an angry man and I'm not trying to knock men at all, I am. But, like you know, when a guy's angry on the phone and you're taking it and you're like, oh, of course, like I can do, you know, and they sense there's like a weakness, yeah, they will use you as a punching bag. So you're not helping calm the situation, you're actually just giving, you're feeding their ego, and then they feel even they can be more aggressive and get away with it Interesting. So I had to learn which I'm very glad that I did, because it's come in handy many times how to effectively shut it down and stand up for myself without being rude. Yeah, but like hey, this is what's going on. One, you're not going to talk to my team like that. You're not going to talk to me like that. I don't need your business. How can we handle this like adults? Yeah, you know, yeah, so it definitely taught me oh, that's many, many life lessons.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I would say I've grown in that. Just being in real estate I've had to grow in that. I would say I could grow into it like more and do it better. But in real estate you are in one of the highest, most emotionally charged transactions that someone goes through in their life yeah, and so people aren't at their best, that's true, they're not.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're moving. It's a finance like. Typically, unless you're dealing with investors that do this all day, you're dealing with someone that's like highly stressed, and there are points in almost every single transaction where someone uses you or they try to use you as a punching bag, and it's just the way it is. So how have you learned to handle it? I, I, typically I have to really try to regulate myself so I can just like maintain a level of like, just not letting it interfere with my life, because if I, if I ha, I have to set boundaries. One I have to set boundaries because I am thinking of a certain client. He's never going to watch, listen to this podcast. He would never know how to access it. He, he, um would email me at five o'clock every single day, in all caps, and it wasn't because he didn't know how to not use them.
Speaker 1:It was like he was yelling like intentionally yelling at five o'clock every day, and it's like when I'm doing dinner, when I'm you know whatever, with the kids, right? So he has an eight.
Speaker 2:I already don't like him. For you, like I would already like be mean to. If I met him, me being an eight, I would be like I know what you did to jess. Yeah, I mean you should pay.
Speaker 1:That's how, that's how like my best friend feels too. She's like let me talk to him, um. But so so I, you know, was in this like cycle. He used to call himself Mr Easy in the beginning and someone's like, oh, that's a red flag that's a.
Speaker 1:I was about to say that is a big old red flag no one can just say they're Mr Easy, like that's, that's bad, yeah, and so I always I go in optimistic, but anyways we get to this point where at five o'clock every day he's like doing these like very strong, you know, like this transaction is going to kill me. I mean crazy stuff, my God.
Speaker 2:And I think he was just like like starting to like drink, like have a Could be. He's probably that the older people here they're probably like sitting down, you know, pouring some scotch About five, right, yeah, yeah. Who can I yell at A realtor?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it people don't think about it. People. People look at realtors and they think they took $25,000 last transaction that they you know they weren't worth it. Honestly, this this is the sentiment. Yeah, we get paid too much. That is the sentiment. I will tell you. I actually sat across from a guy like recently and he was trying to like negotiate me off my commission and I said, sir, right now I get checks and I'm working for pennies. Like I get checks in some days I'm like I'm working for pennies, the good ones, and you know sometimes you'll get a few, that you know they're quick transactions, whatever, but um, but overall there is a there's a massive um element of being like a counselor to people, de-escalating like these situations, bringing them back. But I would say I don't approach as strong as you do. I kind of wish I did, like I'd like to live into an eight, but I'm like not but that's okay, I think.
Speaker 2:I think the biggest thing is not necessarily approaching it strong, but finding what's comfortable for you. Yeah, because with different personalities, I mean, you might have a way that works just as well, you know. So how did you? How did you calm down, mr easy? Did you like I use a calming voice? Okay, you have a good voice, so I yeah see, that's a strength of yours, thanks it actually doesn't carry at all. So if we're in a loud like bar, we couldn't talk.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, it sucks, Like it actually really sucks. My husband's like what'd you say? I'm like this is a slouch, I'm over here, but uh, but no, I used a calm voice and I just told him. I said you know, bob, calm, bob, bob, this transaction is going to happen. Okay, all you need to do today is this.
Speaker 2:You just need to do the next step, like I was like you know, see, that's good too, though that's a strength I just I can't talk like that. I'm not a calm person that's good. But if you can be that way, because that will get people and they're like okay, you know, they trust you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean it's hard. So, he responded fairly well to it. We got through the transaction. I don't think I was his favorite person at the end he's not my raving like client fan, but I know I can sleep well at night. I did everything for him. I did so much to the point where I, like I said, I work for pennies.
Speaker 2:But those kind of people though and that's something that I definitely learned in roofing just with the demographic, it is an older. You're not. There's nothing you can do. No, they're going to. If they don't, they're not going to like anybody, they don't even like themselves. So if they have someone, that they have your number and they can just yell at you and feel like after they will call, after some they will yell at you and call you to yell at you because they're on, they're very unhappy people and they have nothing else to do. They're retired. Yeah, they're chilling. You know the roof is taking too long. All right, I'm going to give them a call and make them feel like a you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah right.
Speaker 2:I'm upset about this.
Speaker 1:You know what's crazy, though. You talked about in the past having like a purpose-driven kind of career path. Yeah, I really resonate with that Like if I'm. I've thought at one point, you know, because in sales, as you remember, when you had the briefcase, right, it can become a numbers game, right, it can become like what's success for you oh, it's this number, right, it can become that very quickly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I just find myself like I was thinking this year I was working crazy hours, you know, just burning the candle at both ends, and I was like what if I get to the end of this year? What if I make a million dollars but I'm fat and my kids haven't seen me at all and my marriage sucks? Is that success? True, I mean, there has to be a balance, but then there has to be some like the hard part is when you have clients like Bob and it's like you're not being fulfilled in that way. So tell me, when you go back and you think about when you haven't been fulfilled from like a purpose point, like how do you pivot? How do you, how do you get back to that place?
Speaker 2:I think the biggest thing that I learned and I here's the thing I'm I'm woo woo, I might be an eight and I like my data, but I'm also very woo woo and I'm very into intuition and trusting the universe and I think the more that I lean into myself and my sense of self, the more things work out. So, at the end of the day, I think it's it's listening to that little voice that might tell you like you're not happy, even if logically it doesn't make sense, you're making all this money, like and there are people might be like why aren't you happy? Or like so many people would be like, well, you have this and this and this. Like why are you? Why would you want to leave and start your own business, or why do you want to work if you don't have, like, all these questions right, and so then that that kind of adds these layers on top of who you are, that kind of mute, that little voice, yeah. And what's crazy is, I think, if we really look back to our childhood selves, like if I look back, okay, before all these layers were added by society and all these expectations and all these pressures. And here's what you should do and here's what you should be, and you should be a lawyer. You should be. You know all these. You know I should be in the corporate world, whatever.
Speaker 2:I was this funny, like just happy kid who loved to make people laugh and love to be weird like really frigging weird, and I did little plays and little voices and accents, and then I also loved a good Excel spreadsheet. Yeah, I love to figure out how to do the formulas and I'd sit at the desk and do. What's crazy now is that's basically what I'm doing is I'm building these relationships where I'm weird and I like to make other women feel comfortable being weird, like I'll go to an event and be make myself just embarrass myself, because then they feel like they can be more themselves and seeing that is just so freaking cool to me. Like yeah, when it's like this kind of rigid, like like everyone's, kind of just like stuffy, you know, and then we're joking and making like stupid jokes and they're like opening up about stuff, like that's just the coolest feeling, because that's how you bring the best version of your business to fruition is by bringing that, whatever that is, that's you, that's different from anybody else, right? So when you look back on that like what made you happy? Who were you? You know?
Speaker 2:I think again, it's just trusting genuinely who you are, without all the other voices. And then the more you lean into that voice, the more the louder that it gets. So like I feel right now so aligned with what I do, because I'm genuinely like if it doesn't feel right, I don't, I don't, I don't push into it. If it doesn't feel right, or if there's something wrong, like it doesn't matter how much money you're making, you know, like if you feel that thing inside you that's like, hey, like this isn't, you'll figure it out, yeah. And when you lead with purpose, the profit follows Right. So it always seems backwards because so many are like profit, profit, profit, profit, yeah, and what happens is they neglect the team. The culture sucks, it's way too much. They don't build the right systems, they don't invest, they're not thinking long-term ROI, they're thinking short-term, like money, money, money, right. And then what you get five years down the road is you get unhappy employees. Yeah, you're unhappy. You alcoholic, you know you're probably.
Speaker 1:You're probably people email. You're probably your wife is probably your wife has probably left you your kids fucking hate you, okay.
Speaker 2:So when you think purpose first as counterproductive, especially for three. So the fact that you're more purpose driven is great, because threes can be very much like. Not that way because you're so efficient and productive and like you work really hard, like you guys, I get miss.
Speaker 1:I've gotten mis um.
Speaker 2:Diagnosed as a as the helper too, so you're probably a wing two maybe, but I feel like I'm a four. Oh, the tortured artist, yeah.
Speaker 1:I feel like I'm a. I'm a weird little like mix yeah.
Speaker 2:So what's your wing? So my wing is a seven, so I have a more extroverted side. Okay, but I'm like an extroverted, introvert, like I have to like like you know, yeah, like I like you, so I can like be myself. But if it was like, if it's an environment where I feel like it's really not you know, I kind of just keep to myself, so you'll shut down.
Speaker 1:I'll shut down, okay, and then go ahead. This You're creating environments where you know which is cool. Like you're creating this. These environments where people feel like they can be themselves because you've experienced that right. Like we've all walked into the room.
Speaker 2:That's a good way of worrying. Yeah, that's, and that's exactly what I want is I want women to come into whatever I'm hosting and just let that guard down and not feel like they have to be like the stuffy corporate. I like to say like, stick up your ass. Yeah, way of you know. Talking like, why can't we do business and have fun relationships and and joke with each other and get creative? Because the creativity is dying. Yeah, like society has killed creativity.
Speaker 2:My four is like feeling, yeah, no, but but literally think about it. We are so focused on work and output and and this, you know, the corporate environment it's like our. The coolest thing that we have as human beings is that is channeling that creative side. Yeah, and when we are so just consumed by all the things that we have to do every day and you know posting on social media like we're we're not able to access that we don't have, we don't even like have the environment to access that because we're in these like stuffy environments, and then it's like we're basically slowly just killing ourselves and we're kind of losing who we really are. That would bring the best version of the business out, and then we all end up looking the same and sounding the same and dressing the same and talking the same and like that's not fucking fun, that sucks. You know that's boring it's.
Speaker 1:It is interesting. I mean, you think about, like I, I was born in 82. I was like brought up basically like a computer like came into play, like when I was in, like you know, sixth grade, whatever. You've seen it like slowly, just like suck some of that life out of people. I see it with my kids like big time they are so like pre like when they, when they get so caught up in technology I cut it off. They're doing like the craziest, coolest stuff, like you know, we, we definitely are. I feel like, yeah, as a society, just like losing it, right, and I think there's going to probably be, hopefully, a big like push back away from it to re-energize things, cause it is bad, right. I mean, it's so easy to get caught up.
Speaker 2:And then, like you know, the creativity is becoming more automated, so you have like AI. Now you know you're just like hey, tell me something creative, so I don't have to think about it myself. Right, give me this story about. So we don't even have to think about it myself. Right, give me this story about, so we don't even have to come up with our own fun stories. And you know, like that was such a cool part of my childhood, like with my little brothers is like coming up with like silly songs and like you know, writing things and like the goofy accents and all these things, and it's it's really just finding that inner kid as much as you can.
Speaker 1:So you do different voices? Oh gosh, no, don't't. So do you prank, call people okay.
Speaker 2:I used to you've grown out of it now, but something that I do that people are always like they never know it's me is I actually am the automated voice for the epic roofing phone number, like I do, a pretty decent oh okay. So when I worked at chick-fil-a, that's where it's there.
Speaker 1:I worked at chick-fil-a, oh, so there's your love goes circle.
Speaker 2:I'm obsessed full circle chick-fil-a moment um. But one of the things my friend and I we would that's how we started it and I would trick the customers when they would come to the window and I'd be like hold on, I'll do it. Okay, welcome to Chick-fil-A's automated ordering system. Please state your order and they'd be like that is good. And they'd be like I'd like a number one with a Coke. Did you say number one with Coke? Like yes, I did Loving this, and so they'd come to. I have a little bit of a cold now, but I'm usually a little better than that, so that's one of the things that I that I'll do is. So then, whenever we need to like re-record our audio, it'd be like thank you for calling epic roofing and exteriors. You know, it's like that's good, thank you see, that would.
Speaker 1:That would be my like de-escalation voice see maybe that's how I need to channel my calm is just pretend I'm a robot.
Speaker 2:That's the only way I can access me. Being calm is just be automated.
Speaker 1:I love that, Bob. I'm sorry you're feeling this way, Bob.
Speaker 2:I'm so sorry Stopping a dick Bob.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I love that. I ask because I have a history of prank calling you do voices, I do voices. Can you do one? I mean, okay, let's see. Hi, this is Sherry from Collier County Police Department. I'm calling to look for Brittany. We have somebody in the jail currently looking to call her back. That was great. That doesn't sound like you at all. Her name's always Sherry, it's always Sherry.
Speaker 2:That's a great, but sherry works in a police, I mean that's a great. Yeah, department you've embodied the persona.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like you got it. I have a few of them. I love that. Yeah, that that it's funny because I have a friend and like I won't leave her a normal voicemail, even today, I do that with my friends too you do. Yeah, do you do like weird? Yeah, just weird, like I have. We have different personas, like when she comes down here, we have visors we wear and and we have old lady names I love that for you.
Speaker 2:We went on like a scooter ride downtown and I mean we were just like all in it I need to be your best friend as soon as that golf cart's up and running, oh yeah as soon as betsy is good to go, we are wearing visors and we'll go to see the table and we'll get wine drunk at three o'clock, okay, and then we'll end with margaritas at tacos and tequila.
Speaker 1:Let's do that, I don't even I don't know where everything is, because I never come to Naples, so I hope that that's close but I mean, we'll my first one will pick us up and bring us to the next thing Dee, dee, oh, my gosh, I know it did, yeah and um, I'd love to do part two with you. Like you have something like a project that you kind of wanted to maybe tease a little bit, I do, I do so.
Speaker 2:You guys heard it here first Um. So I'm actually working on opening a space, a collaborative space, for women. So we'll have networking events, we'll have coworking, we'll have um team trainings for, you know, smaller companies that want to like give their team some management training or some empathy training, whatever it is, um. So that being so near and dear to me and being something that I wanted to focus on, and there being kind of a gap right now with, you know, resources, especially for female entrepreneurs, and then seeing how many businesses have popped up from just COVID, how much growth we've had, um, there's really a need for a space where women can, you know, truly feel like they can be themselves and help each other out and empower each other. So that, hopefully, will be opening towards um, I would like to say, like beginning of Q4. I would like to say like beginning of Q4.
Speaker 1:Great, yeah, okay, so we will stay in touch with you on that. I honestly I would love to host something there. I would love to host something there. Yes, with our team here, because we have about 35 to 40 agents in this office, and then also we've had a lot of female entrepreneurs on the podcast. I'd love to even do like an event for him there, which would be cool to just get everyone together. So I would love that, thinking about it.
Speaker 2:You are more than welcome Anytime. That would be amazing.
Speaker 1:Well, this has been great, Brittany. Honestly, I'm just so glad that we got to meet again and we will do round two with you.
Speaker 2:You're coming back and you're going to be on season three of wind up as a number one. Okay, thank you so much for having me, jess. This was so great. Thank you so much, no problem.
