Gear up for an exhilarating episode of “Fearless Females” where we crack the code of work-life harmony with Mikell Wilcox! With a bold 32-hour workweek, she’s not just balancing books; she’s balancing lives, championing a corporate culture where time for hobbies isn’t a luxury – it’s the norm.
Tune in to hear more about Mikell’s story as she transforms fear into a groundbreaking business model that challenges gender norms and redefines professional success.
Get ready to ignite your drive to revolutionize your own career!
Show Highlights:
- What does a reverse midlife crisis look? [02:47]
- Discover the ultimate investment in yourself. [04:20]
- Balancing passion with practicality in career choices. [07:22]
- Explore how one entrepreneur’s unexpected skills led to success. [10:40]
- The journey of self-discovery [14:29]
- The significance of building a valuable skill set. [16:48]
- How to deal with gender based performance pressure and challenges [19:04]
- What if you could work full-time in just 32 hours a week? [21:42]
- The importance of setting boundaries regarding work and personal life. [23:55]
- Did you know that work can be fulfilling too? [26:15]
- The importance of setting clear and flexible goals. [28:00]
- Here is the ultimate secret to staff empowerment. [29:10]
For more information about Mikell, go to http://www.aqtoro.com/
If you enjoyed this episode, please go to Apple Podcasts and leave a review!
For more information about Lorie Jones, go to http://fearless-females.com/.
00:01.17
Mikell
Um, day.
00:01.77
loriejones7
Yay! It didn't get of you happy day. Um, oh and something else I forgot to tell you is that we do a I've got a podcast editor. So after we get dead. He'll make sure we don't have any green things in our teeth and we yes he edits great stuff. So it's amazing.
00:11.86
Mikell
Okay, great.
00:18.98
loriejones7
So um, we're here with Mihel Wilcox from you're gonna have to say that again and at work. Um I should write it down I'm gonna write it down Louise say it and I'll start again. Okay, perfect. Yeah, um, so we're here with.
00:25.21
Mikell
Actoro It's actoro.
00:37.76
loriejones7
Mihel Wilcox today from atorro I'm super excited to have a chat with you Mihelle I've I've gotten to know her over the last little while and I've just she's got some just amazing ideas on um, ah, a workplace environment that is really friendly ah to women which is my sweet spot but to. Ah, men as well and I'm just I'm really excited to have this conversation. Thank you so much Michel for joining us today. So.
01:02.72
Mikell
Yeah, of course, thanks for inviting me Lori I'm excited.
01:08.57
loriejones7
The first question I always ask is 1 near and dear to my heart I have a book stack about 5 or 6 high on the side of my table so tell me I am a reader I love any and all suggestions. What is your favorite book.
01:23.93
Mikell
I am also a huge reader I just go through weird reading binges I've recently reread all of Stephen King which he's always great. Um, but I have 2 books that I kind of go back to again and again. Um, one is Dale Carnegie's how to win friends and influence people. It's a little dated but I think it's just it's such a good book on you know I even want to say just networking but just like being a good person and um, yeah I love it and then one I really use a lot is radical candor by Kim Scott
01:42.87
loriejones7
Shift.
01:57.97
Mikell
It's so good and it's just you know, especially for you know you know, not all women of course are like this but I have a hard time with hard difficult conversations and it just kind of walks you through you know it's not. It's not helpful to anyone right? like it's.
02:06.32
loriejones7
And.
02:13.20
loriejones7
Yeah, yeah, yeah I actually was we were watching a television program not too long ago and one of the the people it wasn't his he was doing something with cooking and he normally does something with movies.
02:15.23
Mikell
Ah, way out for me and it doesn't help people grow. So.
02:30.80
loriejones7
And so um, he was trying to master a skill and they were you know, just telling him how great he was doing and he turned around and he said that's not helpful. He said I need you to be honest with me because I'm not going to learn.
02:42.11
Mikell
Yeah, absolutely yeah I mean you know the biggest growth periods of my life here is when someone told me I did something wrong right.
02:51.75
loriejones7
And that's great. Well I'm going to add them to my list and I actually have ah a book list. We're starting with this podcast so that everyone can see all the great things that we're reading So tell me a little bit about your journey.
02:57.39
Mikell
Sad. So.
03:04.97
loriejones7
Um, how'd you get where you are today. How'd you start out talk to me who's who's Michel and.
03:08.55
Mikell
Yeah I like to joke that I had a reverse midlife crisis. So I feel like a lot of people start an accounting and then it slowly like sucks the soul out of their body and then they just quit and open a restaurant in some cute small town. Um, I started in the restaurant industry. So I went to the culinary institute of America in New York and I hated the restaurant industry. It's just it's a challenging industry I will just say it's a lot of hours. Not a lot of pay kind of weird times. Um, so I left.
03:37.38
loriejones7
Is.
03:45.71
Mikell
The back of the house where the kitchen is went to the front of the house like you know, waiting tables to that's where the money was and then from there I got into wine went to a wine store and they promoted me to closing down the store at the end of the night and I was closing down registers I was like oh is the greatest thing ever. You know it balances everything matches and there's it. Started my accounting journey from there. So. That's that's kind of how I got where I was and I love accounting. It is absolutely the place for me I've been in it 1112 years now and just adore it.
04:14.49
loriejones7
I love that I think it's so funny we have clients that come in and and we're like okay, we're gonna have your annual review go through your annual plan and you could just see their whole faces. Dr oh no finance, we're gonna talk about fun and I maintain finances the best it's.
04:25.88
Mikell
So.
04:31.29
loriejones7
So much Ben I'm so excited to find someone who loves accounting so.
04:33.77
Mikell
Yeah I think when you get you know when you get your thing. It's your thing and it doesn't matter. You know what anyone else thinks it's it's where you belong for sure.
04:43.56
loriejones7
Yeah, yeah, that's true. So what is throughout this journey. What is the best investment you've made in yourself. Um I go ahead.
04:45.77
Mikell
You.
04:53.50
Mikell
Yeah that's an interesting question and I've definitely spent a lot of time and money at various parts. So I have my Mba spent a lot of money on that you have a cpa that takes a lot of time to study for absolutely and those are both really important and I'm glad I have them. But I think the biggest investment in myself and it's going to be really like low key and easy but just setting time aside to figure out what you want like who are you like what makes you happy what are your goals and then how do you get there. You know like what? what are the steps. What books do I need what further education I need and I think you know people don't often look at you know it's they tell you a lot in entrepreneurship right? You can't just work in your business. You have to work on your business and so a lot of it's the same with investing in yourself like you can't just do the things you have to work on yourself and so I think that's the biggest investment.
05:38.10
loriejones7
We.
05:47.56
Mikell
I've ever made is just realizing that I need to set aside time to plan first.
05:52.60
loriejones7
So do you do that like I will set aside time to plan to I set aside time to plan on my desk and then the phone rings and my kids come in or my employees come in and there is no more blinding done. Do you do like a retreat or how do you carve out that time.
06:02.87
Mikell
Um.
06:09.50
Mikell
You know it's I um, wish I was more organized like retreat that's sounds amazing. Um, my big secret is first thing in the morning right? Don't ever try to plant anything important but not urgent in the evening because it just you won't get done. It just won't.
06:19.28
loriejones7
Um, is.
06:24.37
loriejones7
And it.
06:27.18
Mikell
So first thing in the morning are my important but not urgent things so things like you know, working out. Um or you know planning both my day and you know making sure it aligns with kind of my longer term goals are definitely morning things. So.
06:41.39
loriejones7
Ah, how long how long do you do it for? do you like plan for 5 minutes every day or do you take an hour each day or is it fluid. What does that look like and.
06:49.34
Mikell
And an hour would be amazing. Um, no, it's really more like ten or fifteen minutes um you know and then ten or fifteen minutes to kind of plan the day and then just checking in if it is still working for my larger term goals and then I'll have you know I guess more serious like. Like annual kind of sit downs with a good book that I found you know because I do read a lot also on you know, goal setting or things like that and just making sure that you know I am where I think I need to be.
07:10.63
loriejones7
And.
07:21.70
loriejones7
That's it's interesting because I am a big reader but a lot of times. Um I Forget what I read so that idea of sitting down with a book and like making it stick so to speak? yeah.
07:29.63
Mikell
Yeah I tried to alternate fiction and nonfiction for that exact person like if I read too many nonfictions in a row I Just don't do anything with any of them. So.
07:41.70
loriejones7
Yeah, so um, so I love this question and I ask it a lot but what is the worst advice someone gave you and did you take it what you learned.
07:51.20
Mikell
Ah, yeah, So this might be controversial and you kind of know my origin story already now like a superhero. Um, the worst advice I ever got and I did take it was and it's common advice to follow your passion and I think it's advice that sounds good. But now that especially now that I'm you know getting a little bit older I think passion has to be tempered with some practicality so you know I Love cooking I Do I Still love Cooking. It's how I relax. It's how I you know it's my love language. Um, it's just not. You know it's not the career for me. It wasn't practical for a number of reasons.
08:15.46
loriejones7
Um.
08:28.16
Mikell
And as I am you know once I kind of realized that I need that practical part of you know my journey It just became a lot easier. You know I like being able to pay my mortgage and see my kids in the evening and to me you know that is worth way more than any you know huge passion I have.
08:35.62
loriejones7
Ahead.
08:47.94
Mikell
So I think it's important to enjoy what you do? um but you know sometimes following your passion can be not a very comfortable road.
08:49.52
loriejones7
This.
08:58.46
loriejones7
Yeah I tell my kids that all the time. Um, my daughter has ah a passion for art and I'm like okay but you got to make it you got to make it work for you because ourving artist is not a profession.
09:04.91
Mikell
It is not a profession and yeah I mean you know is there a way you can make it look a little bit different or if you can't make it look different. You know I after I graduated you know once I realized restaurant industry wasn't for me I didn't cook for like 5 years like I couldn't stand to be in the kitchen. And it took me a while to get that love back. So you know sometimes a good way to kill your passion is to make it a career.
09:31.15
loriejones7
Well and it sounds like from talking to you that you do love accounting that you know so maybe there's dual passions or you can develop a passion. So um, what.
09:35.52
Mikell
Um, you do? Oh yeah, yep, agreed.
09:47.60
loriejones7
What about your regrets is you look back kind of on the lessons that you've learned um, anything that you would have maybe done differently if you could go back and talk to yourself in the past.
10:00.10
Mikell
I I don't know that I would have um you know I definitely have decisions that weren't the best you know I paid for the student loans for my cooking degree for a while. Um, but I think I think giving yourself grace is very important and you know i. Made the best decision I could at the time with the information I had and yeah you know, looking back with the information I have now it was the wrong decision but I didn't have that information then and I think you know it's all just the journey that that led me to where I am now. Um. You know, looking back I probably would have bought into Apple. Um I did not so you know maybe maybe that's my biggest regret? Um, but you know I don't know that I don't have any I guess huge things I would change I think. I had to get here in my own way and I think that's true for a lot of people.
11:00.25
loriejones7
So um I actually um, they talk about we have question of the day and we do time travel. Where would you time travel to and mine is always I would go back and buy Apple Stock beginnings yeah
11:13.21
Mikell
Yeah, that's that's that's it like that's my biggest regret is that it buy Apple stock. Um, but you know a lot of people didn't.
11:18.21
loriejones7
Ah, yeah, yeah for Sure. So Um I like that I like that you've taken those lessons and that you've kind of learned from the journey that you had and that you don't regret that. Maybe even the mistakes are not. Really mistakes. Sorry.
11:42.83
loriejones7
Um, they'll have to edit that out and so I like that you you talk about um, learning from the journey and maybe not even the mistakes that you make or things that you would do differently. Knowing what you know now are are not are not so much regrets. But more learning experiences.
12:07.34
Mikell
Yeah, definitely you know? and maybe there are things that I wish I had known earlier, especially you know now that I'm an entrepreneur one of the you know I didn't actually going back to Apple like I thought that's what you had to do to be an entrepreneur right? like you had to come up with the next Apple or the next Facebook and. And't realize you could I mean I knew I knew it's because obviously there's plumbers and electricians all over the place but it just didn't even cross my mind that oh I could just you know do what I do for a living and you know make a business out of that so you know I wish I had come to that realization a little earlier but I picked up really good. Pieces of knowledge and experience on the way. So that's I'm okay with it.
12:52.33
loriejones7
Um, one of the books that I read several sorry several years ago was um, talking about making ah you know looking at what you do day to day. You usually figure out where the holes are and where the need is. And so you know changing that seeing that need and being able to fill. It is basically an entrepreneur.
13:15.15
Mikell
Right? And I think it's really important you know, seeing that kind of mindset that all right, something's needed here here's what can fix it and you know regrets you know, but I don't make the best decision all the time but sometimes I think it's important to just make a decision. You're probably not going to make the worst decision right? You will make the second best decision or maybe the third best and just roll with it. You know it's better to make that decision and move forward than just sit there and and kind of not do anything because you are scared to you know to regret it later.
13:50.26
loriejones7
Yeah, that's a really good point I Love that that's that's something that I think that more people. Um, there's a lot of perfectionism going around and sometimes waiting for the perfect decision is actually the wrong decision. You know So I like that.
14:03.83
Mikell
Yeah, we we definitely have our share of perfectionists and accounting. So.
14:10.70
loriejones7
Ah, yeah, finance in general. So what? Um, what if you could go back and give yourself a piece of advice when you started out at age 20 but. But maybe since we you know you since you went through the whole culinary experience because I bet your advice don't go through the whole culinary experience. Well you can go back to the beginning of your accounting career when you were first starting out there and and give yourself a little bit of advice.
14:37.80
Mikell
Yeah, yeah I mean you know if I knew where I was going to end up I would probably tell myself you know to to try to develop some more skills around entrepreneurship um working with small businesses that type of thing. Ah, you know when I when I first started I really wanted to do corporate accounting cfo and a large company and so at the beginning that's very much what I tailored kind of my resume. My experience my education all of that to to developing that skill Um, but. You know that skill is also it's it's useful now. Um you know I am able to talk with people very easily I am able to to bring some higher level analysis to my clients that maybe I wouldn't be able to if I had just focused on small business so you know, but it. It also never hurts to have a crystal ball. So. That's if I could tell myself anything That's probably what it would be.
15:28.70
loriejones7
Yeah I know I get asked about a crystal ball about once a week So I feel feel that equally that is exact. Those are my exact words I would be on an islands somewhere where if I had a crystal ball. So yeah, um.
15:30.44
Mikell
Yeah, do you tell people that you'd be on an island somewhere if you had what? yep.
15:46.12
loriejones7
Did you now did you work in the corporate world before you started your own business with um.
15:53.93
Mikell
I did yeah I was um so you know my plan was to to be a cfo at a fortune 100 company and um, you know I went to the right school for the Nba you know was working my way up and it's a lot of hours which I didn't necessarily. Disagree with you know it it always and never liked it. But I understood that was just kind of a requirement but then I got you know I was fortunate enough to to get into a fortune 100 working very closely with the Cfo and I realized I hated his job. Um, you know it wasn't even it's not even accounting anymore at that level. It's just ah, a lot of shareholder management and I love accounting. That's not what I wanted to do so you know I think covid kind of gave a lot of us the opportunity to reset and rethink about what was important so I started this company.
16:40.69
loriejones7
So was there an aha moment where you're like yeah this is not the path for me I'm turning around or was it just a series of like little aha moments where ooh he looks like works a lot.
16:51.55
Mikell
Oh yeah, it was definitely a series of little aha moments I mean that wasn't even like you know that almost sounds like an aha moment but it definitely wasn't um, you know we all got sent home for Covid I Got to see my family more which is great. A you know. Picked up the ukulele because that's what we did during Covid and I had time for Hobbies again. Um, and then we were having our kitchen redone and our contractor was complaining that he couldn't find any good accounting help and was like I can do that and you know I started picked up his books and kind of realized there was something there so it was definitely a whole bunch of. Ah, little moments that led up to it.
17:29.62
loriejones7
Huh So did you end up then not going back after Covid you started your own business.
17:35.69
Mikell
I Essential I went back briefly. Um, so my plan was to go back for a little bit and then business just just got so many new clients so quickly that was like ah there's not much point to it might as well. Ri the bandaid off. So.
17:51.54
loriejones7
That's that's a great problem to have ah.
17:53.62
Mikell
It is there are there are definitely worse problems I will I am very aware.
17:56.46
loriejones7
So so what scared you the most at the beginning when you started your career and and does it still scare you.
18:06.60
Mikell
So I you know I wouldn't say um at the beginning of my career I don't think anything was scary right? Ah, first off, you're young and nothing scary when you're young, but second accounting is generally seen as like the safe career.
18:17.57
loriejones7
Then.
18:20.27
Mikell
So There's nothing too scary about going into accounting starting your own business is pretty terrifying I was definitely the breadwinner for my family. Um, so that was you know, just a ah, very different deliberate action that had to be made and you know some lifestyle choices that we had to give up. And um, but yeah, just the uncertainty. You know it's It's especially once you start building your company and you're hiring people. You know you have people's payroll in your hands and you have to make the right decision or a lot of people's lives get impacted. So um. Yeah I don't think anything too scary at the start but it certainly gets scarier.
19:00.65
loriejones7
Were there any skills and as you started that process I have a lot of entrepreneurs that I work with and were there any skills that you wish you had I don't know done before with your crystal ball. Ah that you'd you'd worked on.
19:15.26
Mikell
Ah, you know I Actually so first I've um, been blessed as my mom tells me with an overabundance of self-confidence. Um, so I will actually say I was pleasantly surprised at how many skills I already had um, especially when it's something you care about.
19:29.66
loriejones7
Here.
19:34.54
Mikell
Yeah, the first couple times I had a customer call. You know a potential customer call. It was scary. You know absolutely and I got used to it really quick and it you know it turns out I never thought I was much of a salesperson. Um, you know counting in sales are usually pretty opposite. But. When it's my company and it's something I love you know it turns out I'm I'm really good at talking about it and you know networking is another one I never thought um you know that I'd be any good at that I would like it and again like I like talking to people and learning about their businesses. So. Um, yeah I think I was actually more just pleasantly surprised that so many skills that I had developed applied to entrepreneurship.
20:11.98
loriejones7
I Love that? Yeah and and there is There's a wide range of things that you kind of need to pick up or outsource as you start your own business and.
20:20.12
Mikell
Yes, and I guess that's enough let me let me back up then maybe not thinking twice about the skills that I don't have and just getting rid of you know this process. So like I t. Is a very good one that we were laughing about before we started. Um I have absolutely no I T capabilities at All. It was the first thing I outsourced and I pay a lot of money for it and it was you know I don't even think about it I Just send it to my it department and they handle it. So um. Yeah I you know I know where I should be and if it's not where I should be I get someone else to do it.
20:51.27
loriejones7
Yeah I Love that I Really do love that mindset because you can I Firmly believe you can do anything you set your mind to but I don't know anyone that wants to you know that's that wants to. Do a 4 ah 1 K plan. For instance, you know that's my that's my happy place but it does not seem to be everybody's happy Place. So outsource that stuff.
21:14.97
Mikell
Yeah I mean I guess I can see that a lot of people don't like doing accounting which is why my firm is where it is So yes I agree with that. Also.
21:25.75
loriejones7
Yeah, yeah, there you go. So um, what about unique challenges. Um, maybe in the corporate setting or owning your own business. Um, because you were a woman I know that we have I know that you know we as women have. A lot of times. There's a child care or there's a balance or a lot of too hard on Ourselves. What did you run into any of those.
21:47.49
Mikell
Um, yeah, so you know I think balance is always going to be tough. Um I'm luckier than a lot. My husband um was able to stay home with her kids which was great. And you know, not everyone is able to do that and it just makes everyone's life So much easier. Um, we might you know and the thing that really I think annoyed me the most as far as you know, unique challenges being a woman is constantly having to outperform male peers.
22:21.37
loriejones7
Um, yeah.
22:21.64
Mikell
And I don't know if it's like a fairness factor or what it was but it would just drive me crazy. Um, but it's not like it's a 1 and done right? like you can just show. You know you're more efficient or or whatever 1 time like it's you have to do it constantly. And it's not even you know, especially a lot of the more old fashioned companies. It's not even who can work smarter faster more efficient. You know it's who's there the longest that is almost like the so criteria they use like who is there before the cfo shows up in the morning and who is still sending emails out at Eleven P M like that's the person that gets. Promotion and you know I think that in a lot of cases. That's not the woman. You know we have other other um priorities other things we have to get to and it doesn't matter if we do as much or as you know more in less time like that's still. The only criteria they use and so that was always rubbed me the wrong way for sure.
23:18.80
loriejones7
Yeah I found that as well that a lot of times. Um, we're dealing with how ah you know taking we're the caregivers a lot of times caregiving parents caregiving children caregiving you know, um, employees you so were. We're helping out in those ways but but the the time factor. Um, and it is unique to women a lot of times we cannot give that amount of time. So that's interesting, interesting that you brought that up. So what Michelle are you most.
23:47.40
Mikell
Ah, yeah.
23:53.55
loriejones7
Out of.
23:55.44
Mikell
I yeah have a lot like I have a great life I have two great kids husband's awesome I lately am most proud of my firm I you know think I mentioned we've been around about 3 years um and I tried so accounting is just kind of a tough industry. Um, it's definitely suffering from that hours issue that I mentioned and kids you know I say kids but young adults graduating from college. They don't want to work 60 or 70 hours a week anymore and I don't you know and I think there's you know some viral things. There is some girl. Was complaining about her first forty hour week and everyone was making fun of her. It's not like I don't even I don't want to do that like why are we making fun of them. They're right? Um, so I created this firm um with the idea that everyone was going to work 32 hours a week and so that is our full time is 32 hours a week we are remote very flexible with work hours because everyone's a grownup and as long as you put your 32 hours in I don't care if it's four days a week I don't care if it's five six however you need to kind of juggle um your time to you know, get your work done but then also go and enjoy the rest of your life. You know someone's even working 40 hours a week you know between commuting and getting ready. You know you only have a couple hours in the evening and then the weekends to live your life and I don't think that's you know I don't want that to be the direction industry careers are going. You know I want us to be going in the direction where we have more free time.
25:24.55
Mikell
And um, and it's not just mons. You know we have been you know one of ah gentlemen we just hired has I don't know like 300 dogs or something he has a lot of dogs but like that's his thing like he has his dogs and he wants to spend you know he and his wife want to spend time with him and. Um I think they should be able to and have a fulfilling career and still go and have a whole part of their life afterwards. So we've been building that and it's been awesome. I have a great team that's helping with that and that's very passionate about it and I'm very fortunate to have that and. Yeah, that's what I'm I'm definitely most proud of right now.
25:58.84
loriejones7
I love that I love that theory so they work 32 hour weeks but they get full time pay right.
26:04.11
Mikell
They get full time pay absolutely and you know we're not the accounting career or the accounting industry has good pay. Definitely good pay. We're not you know the top of the the pay scale. Um, but we're not the bottom either you know, kind of solidly in the middle.
26:19.48
loriejones7
He.
26:22.56
Mikell
Um, you know if if you're a person that is looking for that that title and you know the the huge paycheck there is nothing wrong with that and I don't want to say you know you shouldn't be doing that that it is absolutely an okay thing to want. It's just not. That's not our company. Um, so. You know we're We're definitely trying to track those people who have maybe been there done that and are you know have other things that are coming up in their life now that they still want a good pay. They want fulfilling work but they want to be able to spend some time outside of work. Also.
26:52.21
loriejones7
I Love that the the younger generation is actually showing me you know, providing a really good example of setting those boundaries and and kind of taking time for work our generation and and older a lot of times works around the clock and it just leads to burnout a lot of times you're not taking care.
27:10.77
Mikell
Yeah, yeah, and it's you know you can learn something from everyone and I think then that's actually I don't want to say a struggle but something when we're hiring managers. We kind of screen for is that old school mentality. Um, you know.
27:11.40
loriejones7
Health.
27:24.60
Mikell
Asking people how they measure performance and if it smells anything like ours like their daughter manager you.
27:30.30
loriejones7
Yeah, yeah, they're not going to work for you? Yeah, um so what is the biggest advantage you've seen with that. Um, or or what are some of the success stories there with the with.
27:39.80
Mikell
Yeah I you know I think it's it's full circle and so our number one value in our company isn't our clients or customer service or the customers always write our number one values. Our team. And so you know that's kind of how we show it or are these flexible Hours. You know remote because of that we attract really great people I don't have the staffing issues that a lot of accounting firms have right now. Um, we're hiring a cpa and I had like 40 cpas apply like it was Crazy. Um.
28:07.50
loriejones7
Um, me.
28:11.39
loriejones7
Um, well.
28:12.22
Mikell
And you know we get really good quality people. So All of our bookkeepers have accounting degrees. Our taxperson's big 4 and then really good quality. People makes our clients really happy and so our clients are willing to pay a premium because they're getting awesome. You know great customer service. They're getting knowledgeable Results. You know they're getting it timely and so it all just goes full circle so you know I would like to do this even if there wasn't a huge payoff. But I think it's it's something that can work for everyone. You know your bottom line can look great and your employees can be Happy. So.
28:39.16
loriejones7
Okay.
28:49.60
loriejones7
I love that? Um, you know we deal a lot with retirement and I had someone once tell me they said you work and work and work so that you can go you know, live by the the beach or go fishing on the weekend and and so you're working these crazy hours. And and whatever so that you can eventually go fishing on the weekend. What if you worked 32 hours a week and went fishing on the weekend. You know what? if now.
29:14.77
Mikell
Right? Yeah and we also we have kind of a lot of um, ah you know older applicants that are. You know, looking that they don't want to retire. They enjoy what they do um and they're just looking for for something a little bit more relaxed so because work can be fulfilling too. You know I think it it absolutely can and you know maybe even should be part of a you know a full life. Um, and.
29:26.76
loriejones7
It is.
29:42.25
Mikell
But it shouldn't maybe just be so much of it.
29:43.83
loriejones7
Yeah, maybe the Rat Race maybe get off the the treadmill and take a little bit of time. Yeah I love that I I'm really I'm really excited about what you're doing there I think that's and that it does lend itself really well for my sweet spot which is you know women in the workplace again with.
29:49.91
Mikell
Yeah, yeah.
30:03.00
loriejones7
Um, a lot of women taking time off to to raise kids or or taking more of the caretaker role with their parents. Um, that gives them a lot of flexibility to be able to still continue to have a career and um and yet raise the kids or or. Being present in their lives.
30:23.59
Mikell
Yeah, absolutely and that's exactly who we are trying to target you know with with people joining our team is you know, really talented. Awesome workers that just don't want to do it fifty or sixty hours a week anymore and you know just knowing that there's a home for them also and they. The home is not dropping out. You know there there are alternatives I guess.
30:48.13
loriejones7
I Really wish that there had been something like that when I was raising my kids because and one. Yeah yeah, we're we're that generation. So um.
30:50.61
Mikell
Same.
30:58.36
Mikell
But you know we get to build it. So um, there there are worse things at least it's wherere I think we're starting to go in the right direction. Yeah.
31:04.17
loriejones7
Yeah, passing it down I agree. Yeah so any advice for a young lady who's just starting out on her journey something. You could tell her so that she could end up successful like you What what would you like to tell.
31:22.60
Mikell
Yeah, you know I guess just going back to that investment I make in myself. You know I can't overemphasize how important it is to sickles um and know that. It's going to change. You know your life is going to change what you want is going to change you know before I had kids I thought there's you know what else am I going to do thought nothing wrong with working fifty or sixty hours a week and after I had my first kid I was like absolutely like I just want to stay home Twenty four seven ah you know absolutely like I don't want to work at all and then when I had my suck I was like okay I need out of this house a little bit so you know it's and all of those are okay, right? They're all they were all me at the time and you know just knowing how to set goals and how to achieve them. Lets you adjust and pivot to the different places you are in your life. But then I would also say you know having the the wisdom to know like I don't want to close a door. So knowing that you know maybe quitting maybe dropping out completely is going to close a door. You don't want to close. Ah, you know seeing if there is an ah plan b or like something different that you can do to get the same results. Um, but that's what I would tell any young person is you know, really spend time figuring out who you are um, you know, be reflective and set goals.
32:42.24
Mikell
And figure out how to get those goals.
32:45.48
loriejones7
I love that I I just spent um a couple I do coaching with all of our staff. So every two weeks you know they come in and we kind of talk about where they're going and and what they want what they did well how they you know? what? they. Would have changed those sorts of things and 1 of the things that I found most fulfilling about that is just talking about their goals where they're going and and I can come up with about 14 different ways for them to get there but I can't give them their goals. They have to you know they have to give them to me and and i. I've loved that journey. So I think that's great.
33:22.64
Mikell
Yeah, and just checking in with those goals. You know a goal you set It doesn't have to be your goal forever. You know, um, it's once that goal just doesn't hit anymore. You know take some time and figure out why you know? maybe it's not the place you're at in your life anymore and that's okay.
33:38.22
loriejones7
Oh.
33:40.60
Mikell
Your life is going to change. Yeah I mean who you are at 18 is not who you are going to be at 30 or 40 or 65
33:47.84
loriejones7
Yeah, yeah, and I think that's where um, your idea of kind of taking time to work work on the business but also work on yourself. You know, take those ten or fifteen minutes a day to kind of.
33:55.70
Mikell
Hey.
34:01.16
loriejones7
Think big picture and what do I want out of life am I still on the right track it does is this still what I'm planning on doing well I love that. So thank you so much Michel for your time today I've really appreciated. Thank you? okay.
34:07.57
Mikell
Yep.
34:20.28
loriejones7
So um I can just I think I can pause and I don't I think you'll stay in.