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You're Not the Main Character in Everyone Else's Story Have you ever overthought what you wore, what you said in a meeting, what you posted on social media, or whether someone was judging you? Here's the truth: most people aren't thinking about you nearly as much as you think they are. They're too busy thinking about themselves. We can waste SO much time worrying about what other people think, reading into someone's reaction, or assuming their mood, comment or silence has something to do with us. It usually doesn't. On this week's DO IT MY WAY Podcast, I'm talking about Main Character Syndrome and how freeing it can be when you realize you aren't the main character in everyone else's story. If fear of judgment has ever stopped you from posting the video, wearing the outfit, speaking up, launching the idea or simply being yourself, you need this episode. Stop making yourself the main character in someone else's story and start being the main character in your own.

I'm going to admit something that may surprise you: I need to stop chasing the shiny new thing. As an entrepreneur, I LOVE a new idea. Give me a blank piece of paper and a business problem and my brain immediately starts creating. A new offer. A new business. A new opportunity. A new way to make money. And honestly? It's exciting. There's an adrenaline rush that comes with starting something new. You get to imagine what it could become without having to deal with all the hard, messy, sometimes boring work that comes with actually running a business. But lately I've been asking myself a harder question: What if the next opportunity isn't something new? What if it's inside the business I already have? What if instead of spending my energy thinking about the next thing, I spent that energy making the thing I've already built more profitable, more efficient and more valuable? Because growing an existing business isn't always exciting. Sometimes it looks like looking at the numbers. Fixing a process. Following up with leads. Improving an offer. Training your team. Increasing your prices. Getting better at sales. Taking care of the clients you already have. And none of those things sound nearly as exciting as saying, "I have a new business idea!" But they might be where the real growth is. So I'm challenging myself to go deeper before I go wider. And if you're an entrepreneur who is constantly coming up with your next big idea, maybe you need this reminder too: You may not need another business. You may need to focus on the one you already built. That's what I'm talking about on this week's Do It My Way podcast. And yes…this one is definitely a little bit of a conversation with myself.

I was listening to a client speak the other day about her "Board of Directors" in her life and it got me thinking about the people in my life. Who is in your Circle of Influence? Not just your friends. Not just your family. I mean the people who influence how you think, the decisions you make, the risks you take, and ultimately, the person you're becoming. Because I don't think we're supposed to have one person who fills every role in our life. We need the Truth Teller who will say what we need to hear. The Challenger who pushes us to think bigger. The Believer who reminds us who we are when we forget. The Expert who knows what we don't. The Health Advocate who reminds us that our health is part of our success. And yes… the Fun Friend who reminds us that life isn't supposed to be all work. But here's the question that really got me: Are the people in your Circle of Influence helping you become the woman you want to become? And just as importantly… Whose Circle of Influence are YOU in? That's what I'm talking about on this week's episode of Do It My Way. Because your Circle of Influence isn't about surrounding yourself with people who think like you. It's about surrounding yourself with people who help you think better. Listen to this week's episode and then take a look at your own circle. You might realize you're missing someone you need—or realize just how lucky you are to have the people already there. Now go do it your way!

After 20 years in real estate, Shawn Peters has learned that selling homes is only part of the job. The real business is built on relationships, trust, consistency, and staying connected long after the sale. Shawn's career began after working as a paralegal, becoming a mom, and eventually stepping into property management with her husband before building a career in real estate. What started with friends trusting her to sell their homes grew into a career specializing in high-end real estate. In this episode, Shawn shares how she built her business through referrals, why she believes your personal brand matters, and how social media has changed the way people buy and sell homes. She also talks about working alongside her son, Drew, who brings a younger perspective to the business and has taught her a few things along the way. Shawn opens up about navigating the 2008 housing crash, the work ethic it takes to stay successful in a competitive industry, and why she has always chosen to personally guide her clients rather than build a large team. She also shares her recent move to Sotheby's, what's next in her career, and how years of hard work have helped her create one of her greatest luxuries: more freedom with her time.

What if the thing you've spent years trying to figure out…is actually the thing you're meant to teach? One of the easiest ways to create a coaching program is to serve the person you once were. Think about it. What was your storm? What were you struggling with? What mistakes did you make? What did you finally figure out? And most importantly… What do you know now that you desperately needed to know back then? That's where your personal brand gets powerful. Because you don't need to pretend to be someone you're not. You don't need another certification. And you don't need to reinvent the wheel. You need to take what you've lived, what you've learned and what you've figured out, and create a shortcut for someone who is standing where you once stood. Your mistakes can become your method. Your experience can become your expertise. And your story can become the foundation of a business. In this week's episode of Do It My Way, I'm breaking down how to turn your own journey into a personal brand and coaching program, and why showing up as YOU may be your biggest competitive advantage. Because someone out there is where you were five years ago. And they don't need you to be perfect. They need you to show them the way.

Here's a question for you: How much of your time should you actually be spending getting new customers? Because if you're a small business owner, you're probably doing both. You're trying to bring in new business while also taking care of the customers you already have. And when you don't have a big team behind you, that can feel impossible. You're selling. You're delivering. You're following up. You're solving problems. You're nurturing relationships. And then you're expected to go find MORE customers. But here's what I've been thinking about: What if getting more customers isn't always the answer? What if the opportunity is sitting with the customers you already have? On the next episode of Do It My Way, we're talking about new customers vs. customer retention, where small business owners should actually be spending their time, how to grow revenue without constantly chasing the next sale, and why you can't be the entire sales and customer service department forever. Because the goal isn't to work harder to keep up. It's to build a business that can grow without everything depending on you.

If your business can't function without you, you don't have a business, you have a job. And I know that one might sting a little as it does for me. As CEOs, especially women who built our businesses from the ground up, we often tell ourselves: "I can do it faster." "They won't do it as well as I will." "It's just easier if I do it myself." I've said all of those things. But eventually, doing everything yourself stops being dedication and starts becoming the thing that keeps your business from growing. In this week's episode of Do It My Way, I'm talking about how to delegate without losing control, and why delegation isn't about giving up control. It's about giving up the need to control every detail. I'm sharing: The 80% rule every CEO needs to understand What you should delegate immediately—and what you should never delegate Why you should delegate the outcome, not just the task How micromanagement can actually be a trust issue What to do when someone on your team screws up And the question every CEO should ask herself this week: "What am I doing that someone else could be doing?" Because your goal isn't to build a business where everyone does everything your way. Your goal is to build a business that works without you having to control everything.  Listen to the latest episode of Do It My Way and then tell me: What's one thing you need to let go of?

Renee McKenney has spent more than 30 years in the tourism and hospitality industry, but her career has been anything but predictable. From starting out on a high-end cruise ship to working in hotels, Southwest Airlines, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Visit Dallas, and now Tulsa Regional Tourism, every stop has shaped the way she thinks about leadership, hospitality, and creating experiences people remember. In this episode, Renee shares what she learned from some of the biggest names in hospitality, why curiosity has been one of the most valuable skills throughout her career, and how being willing to find the gaps and bring people together has helped her create roles and opportunities along the way. She also shares why she fell in love with Tulsa, the opportunities she sees ahead for the city, and what it will take to continue putting Tulsa on the map for visitors, conventions, and major events. If you love travel, hospitality, leadership, or hearing from someone who isn't afraid to disrupt the way things have always been done, you'll love this conversation with Renee McKenney.

What if you didn't need more leads? We're taught that the answer to increasing revenue is almost always the same: Get more leads. Get more customers. Spend more on marketing. Grow your audience. But what if the easiest way to make more money is sitting right in front of you? Your existing customers. Your past customers. Your referral network. The people who already know you, trust you and have already decided that you're worth paying. Before you spend another dollar trying to get a stranger's attention, there are some surprisingly simple ways to increase revenue from the people already in your world. Think: getting current customers to buy more, creating recurring revenue, reactivating past customers, building a referral strategy, increasing your conversion rate and finding new revenue streams hiding inside what you're already doing. You may not have a lead problem. You may have a "we're leaving money on the table" problem. That's what we're talking about in this week's episode of Do It My Way. Listen to the episode and find out how to grow your revenue without getting another lead. Because sometimes the next level of your business isn't about finding more people. It's about doing more with the people you already have.

August has always felt like a reset month to me. It's not January, but it feels like a fresh start with kids going back to school and routines getting back into place. Summer vacations are winding down, routines are shifting, and it's the perfect time to ask: What do I want the rest of this year to look like? In this week's episode of Do It My Way, I'm sharing the things I'm personally resetting this August, from getting back on track with my health and routines, to being more intentional with my money, my family time, my friendships, and the way I spend my days. But this isn't about creating a perfect schedule or adding more pressure. It's about building rhythms that support the life you actually want. Because I've learned that we don't create the life we want by constantly starting over. We create it through the small choices we make consistently. If you've been feeling like summer threw you off, you're not alone. Maybe this is your reminder that you don't have to wait until January to reset. You can start today. Listen to this week's episode of Do It My Way and let's reset together.

Have you ever felt guilty for saying "no" to a client? I used to think every opportunity was one I had to take. If they had a budget, I could make it work. If they wanted to hire us, I should say yes. But after years of building my business, I've learned one of the most freeing lessons of my career: You are not for everyone. And neither is your business. These days, I don't just ask, "Can we help this client?" I ask, "Should we?" Do I genuinely enjoy them? Do I believe in their mission? Are they willing to be coached? Do we share the same vision for where their brand is going? Because the truth is, the wrong client doesn't just cost you money, they cost you energy, creativity, time, and sometimes even your peace. In this week's podcast, I'm sharing how learning to be intentional about who I work with has transformed not only my business but my life. If you've ever struggled with people-pleasing, felt pressure to say yes to everyone, or wondered how successful businesses choose their clients, this episode is for you. Remember... The goal isn't to be for everyone. The goal is to be unforgettable to the right people. I can't wait for you to listen.

What does it look like to build a career rooted in purpose instead of a title? Anna America, Deputy City Administrator and Director of Parks, Culture & Recreation for the City of Tulsa, shares the remarkable path that led her from starting college at just 15 years old to leading one of the city's largest departments. Growing up in a family of seven with limited resources, Anna learned early how to adapt, ask for help, and create opportunities for herself. Throughout the conversation, she reflects on the mentors who believed in her, the lessons she learned as a journalist, nonprofit leader, and public servant, and why the best leaders are willing to ask questions, listen, and change their minds. She also shares the stories behind some of Tulsa's most meaningful community projects, including Hope Playground, and explains why creating spaces where everyone belongs has become one of her greatest passions. This episode is a reminder that meaningful work starts with caring deeply, saying yes to opportunities, and choosing a life driven by purpose rather than obligation.

What if the next generation could tell us exactly what they want from leaders? This week on the Do It My Way podcast, we turned the microphones over to our two college interns for one of the most honest, and surprisingly insightful, conversations we've had. We asked them the questions every business owner wants answered: What's the biggest misconception about Gen Z? What do young professionals really want from a boss? What are the biggest red flags when interviewing with a company? How is AI changing college and the workplace? What advice would they give CEOs trying to hire and retain young talent? Their answers challenged some assumptions, confirmed others, and gave me a fresh perspective on what leadership looks like for the next generation. Whether you're hiring interns, leading a team, raising young adults, or simply curious about what's shaping tomorrow's workforce, this conversation is full of practical takeaways and a few laughs along the way. You might be surprised by what they had to say. Tune in to "What Gen Z Wants Their Bosses to Know," this week's episode of the Do It My Way podcast and join the conversation. I'd love to hear which insight resonated with you most!

If you've ever wondered why building a business feels so much harder than you expected, this week's episode is for you. After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur, I've realized something no one warned me about: Entrepreneurship doesn't just change your bank account. It changes you. The hardest part isn't finding clients, making sales, or growing revenue. It's letting go of the version of yourself that can't take you where you're trying to go. In this episode of Do It My Way, I'm sharing the biggest lessons I've learned about becoming the leader my business needed including: • Why people-pleasing will hold your business back. • Why no one is ever going to give you permission to start. • The leadership lesson I still have to remind myself of every single day. • Why confidence isn't something you wait for, it's something you earn. • The surprising truth about what entrepreneurship is actually building. One day you'll realize the greatest thing you created wasn't your business. It was the woman capable of leading it. Listen to this week's episode and let me know which lesson resonates with you the most.

Summer has a way of reminding us what's really important. Long dinners on the patio. Family vacations. Kids laughing in the pool. Watching the sunset instead of another spreadsheet. And yet... so many business owners never truly experience those moments because they're still answering emails, checking Slack, or "just taking one quick call." Sound familiar? I know that feeling. As entrepreneurs, we've convinced ourselves that being available 24/7 is what makes us successful. But what if it's actually holding us back? Here's the truth: If your business can't survive a week without you, you haven't built freedom, you've built dependence. Your team doesn't become stronger because you answer every question. They become stronger when you trust them to find the answers. Your clients don't need an instant response every hour of every day. And your family doesn't need another expensive vacation. They need you. The memories they'll cherish won't be the hotel or the destination. They'll remember whether you were fully present. Whether you laughed with them, played the games, watched the fireworks, and looked up from your phone. Is Your Business Stealing Your Vacation? In this episode, we're talking about: Why successful leaders know how to step away. How to prepare your team before you leave. The difference between urgent and important. Why taking a real vacation might be the best thing you do for your business. How to be fully present with the people who matter most. Here's my challenge for you this summer: When you're with your family, be where your feet are. The emails will still be there tomorrow. This season of life won't. Go make the memories. You've earned them.