E158: 3 Powerful Pieces to Creating and Achieving Big Goals with Rachel Kelly
Meet Rachel Kelly, a community builder, goal getter, and master of puns. Rachel helps entrepreneurs find community and the courage to build businesses they once dreamt of. Within just 5 years, Rachel has done a lot: summiting the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, opening a brick and mortar coworking space, launching an online community, and even getting her motorcycle license. Not to mention the Forbes feature, or partnerships with big wigs like Instagram, Bumble, and Nike. Rachel’s signature ‘dream big, be kind, get sh*t done, people first’ style is what makes her community, the Get Sh*t Done Club, so desirable and hold a waitlist of over 100 entrepreneurs at any time…
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[1:43] Valerie LaVigne: Hi Rachel! Thank you so much for being part of the Women’s Empowerment Podcast. I have been wanting to have you on the show for a very long time. So I appreciate you being here with me today.
Rachel Kelly: I’m so excited to chat with you, Val!
VL: I have been following you and your business and you might not have known this already. But I've been following you in your business for several years, and I have been really enjoying watching your journey and your transitions and how you kind of ebb and flow to all these really unique and creative things.
The way that you bring people together the way that you share your story the way that you like empower others has been motivating for me and I know for sure for all the other people who are following you and who've been a part of your your, your memberships and your communities and all of the things that you're doing.
As a business owner myself, I feel like there are so many things on the back end to make what you do look so effortless and so successful. And I would love to talk a little bit more about this with you today because like, how do you do it?
RK: Oh my gosh. It’s really funny that it comes out like that, but I’m so glad that it comes off that way. But surely I am just a girl staring at her laptop asking it not to die on her. And for everyone listening I hope you got that reference from Notting Hill.
VL: Amazing Yeah. So some of the things that I know that you have shared, kind of like here and there is the power of knowing your business being clear on your goals. You know, knowing that vision and where you want to be forward. And if we kind of peel back the layers to that. Something else you shared with me is the power of looking at your numbers. Can you tell us a little bit more about what that means and how we do that?
RK: Oh my gosh, okay. So, you know, touching on the vision thing first, I think it's so important for anybody who is starting a business or you know, thinking of starting a business is just having a bit of a clear goal or idea of where you want to be. It's so much easier to work backwards from there and create that recipe that you're going to follow and don't stress. If it's going to change, life happens all the time.
But truly, like there is nothing more powerful than understanding where your numbers are at. It is the sexiest thing ever. Maybe it's not a sexy activity. But it is truly so attractive to understand where you are financially in your business.
It's a regular thing I always do every week. I'm always checking in with our QuickBooks account, reviewing our bank statements, understanding who owes us, who do I owe? Where's our money going and it helps me make sound decisions moving forward. So that's really it in a nutshell. I would say, you know, have that meeting with yourself on a regular basis. It may seem scary at first, but you're going to be so much more empowered to make decisions moving forward.
VL: Interesting, I'm very curious about this, but I do want to circle back to what you said about having a clear goal and vision. If you could share one or two things, or one or two questions, maybe we could ask ourselves to help us get clear on that goal or vision public those one or two questions be?
RK: So this is a question I asked myself. I was nodding my head along to that too. This is a question I ask myself regularly, especially when I kind of like those down-functions but also you know when things are going really well too, but I asked myself a simple question. If I had everything, and I had everything I ever wanted in my life. What would that look like? And I start writing all the things out I'm like, I want a cute yellow Volkswagen van. I want a motorcycle. I want to buy a cute Airbnb. I want to go to the beach regularly. That is like, who am I talking to? What kind of food am I eating? Where am I spending my days like I just tried to get started off at a very high level and then start to get very, very specific with that. And that's how I really tune into what I want.
You know, when it comes to a lot of the path to I guess creating freedom for ourselves freedom and a big, heavy quote there too. If you know it could be starting your own business or freelancing or doing something a little bit unconventional and out of the box.
Like this is a special reminder for entrepreneurs that this is all about creating a life that you want, that is going to support the way you wake up every day and how you feel.
You know where we shouldn't have to be grinding so hard or not even enjoying ourselves. So ask yourself that question if I had everything in my life ever wanted, what would that look like and work backwards from there.
[7:14] VL: Mmm that is a very deep question. And I've done something similar like that before, and I like how you're like get really detailed with it and break it down and just keep that kind of free flow journaling exercise.
And how cool would that be to look back on, if you're doing it again in the future?!
Oh, I did get the motorcycle or Oh, I do want to go to the beach every day. It would be so fun! So how often are you doing something like this?
RK: I would say for me personally, I kind of tune into that question, maybe one to three times a year. Typically in, you know, December, January sort of thing.
That's when I start to really reflect on that I start to think about what my goals are, you know, and I try to make sure that like some of the goals that I have for myself for a full year are things that I can actually check off as opposed to something a little bit more emotional, like, for example, my goals for two big goals or for 2021. And I wrote them in the front of my notebook. I wrote them on my mirror, I just had them everywhere. I saw and one of them was to get a motorcycle and get my license. And then one of them was also like to share from the heart weekly. So it's obviously a lot easier to check off a motorcycle like okay, I studied for the thing I do the thing I get it, sharing from the heart weekly is a little bit wishy washy, like how do I actually quantify that? So there's so many different ways to kind of think about your goals and what you want to achieve. So I would say sharing from the heart weekly was more of like a reminder for myself on a regular basis and then you know I got a motorcycle, it was something I actually want to do and I know I can achieve it and that's something you can get like a big check mark, after.
VL: Yeah, it almost feels like the share from the heart weekly would be an ongoing habit. And I love those kinds of goals too, because I find that they really leave room for creativity, like what does sharing for the heart feel like for me today? Or what does that look like for me this week? And sometimes what happens is because we've already created an intention, and then we start to build that habit out, it does actually become a little more automated and we're like, oh, what can I do this week? Wait a second. I was on a podcast this week where I shared openly about this journey of mine and they're like, Oh, I already did the thing. And that's a really cool experience too. And then just as I had a mentor, I would add to that, not only writing the goal out in your journal but also learning like each week of how you show up that way. because I think looking back on that too and seeing that proof like obviously the motorcycle is the proof that you've done it and yeah, you can check it off but you can check off the the more emotional goal as well.
And you could probably do, or take action on it a little quicker than maybe just like, I'm gonna buy motorcycles today.
RK: So true, obviously, like going after the motorcycle was quite a process too. Although I will say within a week of getting my license that I bought a motorcycle. I wasn't planning on doing that right away. but I love that. So it's like adding some proof to the thing I actually did. you know, that really ties into a big piece that I talk about a lot about.
Overcoming imposter syndrome and self doubt is regularly celebrating our wins. This is not just like being stuck to like there is actual science behind and obviously you definitely know this alreadymVal, but like when we actually recognize our accomplishments big or small. It's actually helping rewire neurons in our brain so that anytime other hardships or bigger roadblocks in our way, we're ready realizing that we can, we're recognizing that we can accomplish whatever task is in front of us.
[11:24] VL: 100% I'm so glad you said that because yesterday I had a meeting with my coach and she was like, let's do an inventory of all your fears around this new project you're doing and I was like, Okay, question. I was like, Okay, so, pen to paper. Let's write it down. So I was like, okay, and then I wrote like, I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm feeling nervous. What if this what if that and as I was writing it, I mean, I've done a lot of this work already. I'm doing my coaching certification, everything but sometimes you need to have a conversation with another person who doesn't have that same emotional tie to what's happening. But as I was going through it, I'm like, I already have proof that none of these things are true for me. And I felt I was sort of laughing when I was writing these fears down like no, these aren't real. These are just, you know, staying small. And it's funny because part of us like that imposter syndrome keeps us where we are. But one of our biggest fears might be to stay exactly where we are. Right. Well, I know that people listening to this podcast probably felt that way or would agree. So yeah, I love that.
That practice that I did and how it ties into that proof that we were talking about with proof towards your goal proof to building confidence for taking leaps and making changes.
RK: You know, this really reminds me of this conversation I was having with somebody else the other day:
It's funny like this theme has really come up a lot this week about fears and having the proof. So if you're looking for ways to kind of combat your fears or you know kind of like rewrite it and like look for like tangible like how do I actually conquer that is like looking at like the the nice notes like a friend has sent you or look at testimonials you've received so like you're saying like with these fears that you had, you already have the proof that all of these things are not true. And I love this reminder somebody shared with me. It was you know, these negative thoughts. A lot of the time they're not even your own thoughts. They're probably a third grade teacher. Who said something that just stuck in your brain a certain way, but it's not actually your true belief. It's just hanging out there. And I thought like, when somebody said that to me that way, it just, it just kind of clicked for me.
We all battle with our own versions of self doubt and imposter syndrome, and there's so many different ways we can work towards getting rid of it.
VL: Yeah, that's a great reminder. How many times have I heard something? I'm like, Ooh, yeah, that feels good on me. You really like it, but no, it doesn't.
Listening to other people's fears and projections I can really without creating a healthy boundary or without recognizing that hey, this is no this is not minor. It's no longer my story and really being able to release it. So yeah, those are some great practices.
Okay, let's jump back to working out our numbers because there's kind of a two part thing. So we have our goal, and we are starting to build that proof toward that goal. Part of the process is looking at the numbers, a lot of our goals, I will admit that a lot of my goals are quantifiable, or they do have to do with money or something where I need to, I mean, my business just in general, I need to be looking at my bank statement, bank statements, what's coming in what's coming out. So where do we start with this? You said you do this weekly? Is there a little ritual that you can walk us through and how you do it?
[15:15] RK: I wish I could say I have a ritual, but it's like, not very exciting. Once upon a time I used to play like the money playlist that was created by a wonderful woman in our community named Lisa Zamparo her company is called the The Wellth Company.
And we're the kind of today and I actually like to light a candle at the same time as like, Okay, I'm going to you know, this is the time when I'm actually focusing on my numbers. Now, for me, it's a little bit more habitual, and I just kind of go in and I run through it. I have everything set up in QuickBooks for us, but I think for a lot of people starting out, it's a matter of just printing off your bank statements, or downloading them on PDF. Let's keep it eco friendly.
And reviewing okay, what like, where's the money going out? Where's the money coming in?
Who is who owes me were like, do I need to follow up with those people?
And then I also review always, and the reason I do it weekly, too. Is just like the nature of my particular business. I think at least a bare minimum is to do it on a monthly basis. There is nothing worse and I see this all the time in my community. It's the months leading up to tax season and everyone is like I've got a shoebox of receipts and I don't know what to do and I'm chasing everybody for invoices. I get emails all the time. Hey, can I have my invoices for the past year? And I'm like, You got to save those right when you get those emails because it is so important to have that. What else was I gonna say on this topic?
Oh, shoot the thought just last month. It just escaped my brain. But if I remember, I'll bring it back.
VL: Sounds good. Yeah, I think it's so important to have more to get into the practice of looking at your numbers and especially like I do for myself, I do it monthly but then I might glancing at it. Maybe more often than that, and looking at like, where what category each of those expenses are at because one time I noticed that I was spending so much money at coffee shops and like why we spend so much money on coffee shops, like what am I doing? And what I noticed is that I was having meetings with people at coffee shops and personal meetings, work meetings, whatever it was, but we would always go somewhere like that. And I thought no, I can't. I can't be spending like this is an obscene amount of money to spend on coffee. So I changed it into walking meetings which served another goal that I had which was more movement. So when people asked me , I said Okay great. Let's go for a walk and it was like if you're not willing to go for a walk they are jumping on the phone and I'm going to be walking while that.
RK: I would add that like I love that you shifted that to walking meetings, but I would also just kind of jump on the coffee thing. This is something that this amazing culture, her name is Rachel Rodgers, really talked about because we know a lot of people, our goals, our financial goals, too. And what Rachael Rodgers says is like, listen, you're not gonna get rich by cutting the amount of lattes that you have. So I think it's still important to remember that we're allowed to enjoy the things that we really want to but I think it's great to like yeah, when you're looking at your numbers and like I'm spending a lot of time out for coffee do I need to spend all that can I cut it in half? can I eliminate once a week, you know, whatever it is and shift up that goal.
I remembered my thoughts from earlier too, which was when it came to like, really reviewing my expenses. What I realized was a huge thing, like the past four plus years of my business is that a lot of my expenses went to professional development. And some of it is fantastic. But if I were to do everything over again, I realized one huge thing, and it's that I wish I believed in myself more because a lot of the time I sought out professional development because I thought it was going to solve the problem that I was having. I was like here, take my money. Give me all the answers, and I'll do what you tell me to do. But at the end of the day, the bigger problem was that I didn't actually truly believe in myself. And the proof was that I spent a lot of money there and I wasn't making a return on the investment either. So my reminder to everybody who's listening is when you are going after big goals and shifting up things in your life.
When you're imagining this when you're truly imagining, okay, what would my life look like if I had everything I want as part of that picture? Is there a price tag on it that you need to invest in X, Y, and Z? Or is it in your vision? Do you really have everything you already need to go after that? And I'm not discrediting all these amazing programs that are out there. Don't get me wrong. I've learned so much in the past couple of years. But truly, I've had a lot of the solutions already deep within me.
[20:39] VL: Yes, I feel like there's a mic drop right here. Because that is so important about something that I was actually going to ask you to be there. Is there something that we don't usually see, or notice when we're looking at our numbers, and it really is like that hidden? Hey, I'm paying for this or I'm investing in something like this, but is it actually supporting me? And I say this a lot because this is I mean, we've had over 150 episodes of the podcast, and it has a lot to do with personal development habits have a lot to do with personal growth and becoming the best version of yourself and you can listen to every single one of these episodes and you can absorb all the information. But if you aren't taking action, then you're not going to see results and that has a lot to do with mindset. So I'm so glad that you shared that because that is something that a lot of people, you know, unfortunately aren't really willing to get into.
Because it's not easy. And I raised my hand. I get that it's not easy, but I promise on the other end of it. It is so worth it. It is so worth it to believe in yourself. It is so worth it to go after your dreams and your goals and to take that really scary action. and for some people looking at your numbers can be a little bit scary, right A lot of us avoid this, this practice but doing it can be really powerful.
There was one thing you shared that we didn't dive into yet just maybe clarify what our “Oh Shit Fund?”
RK: Oh I love that. I love that you're asking, Oh shit like something horrible has happened Oh shit I need to move out of my place Oh shit there's a pandemic and all of a sudden my entire business model doesn't make sense anymore You know On shit I bought shoes.
I really really wanted and now things have gone a little bit awry. You know it is so important to be saving and investing.
But you know having that money there as a rainy day is like something bad has happened and we need to support ourselves. That's what it's all about.
VL: For sure for our emergency fund when we're like oh shit, I love it. I love that you call it that.
Yeah, well, this has been really powerful and really transformative and in my mind I feel like I needed a lot of these reminders. And actually, it's that time of the month for me where I need to look at my own numbers. So this is perfect, perfect timing. Before we get into the final segment of the show, I wanted to ask you, is there something that hasn't been said today that you really wanted to share?
RK: I love that you asked that question because it kind of popped in my mind just as you're talking.
So, you know, I was just kind of sharing about like, we've got that big vision. We're checking in with our numbers on a regular basis. We're kind of starting to develop a little bit of that recipe. I would say the other big thing that is truly important to going after our big goals and kind of living life on our own terms is really having a community that is going to support us and it's not just our friends and our families. Are these people who are going to support us in our business? And we can find community in all shapes and forms. You know whether that's on a, a volleyball team that you're a part of whether you do a regular pottery class, you're part of a gardening group, or you're part of a business community, such as the Gacha done club, whatever it may be, it's so important to have people who believe in your goals and your dreams. And they don't just believe in your goals and your dreams because they like you but because they like the actual mission and the vision that you're going after. as well. There are hundreds of studies that prove that when you vocalize your goal and you're supported in actual communities, your odds of achieving it are so much higher. So I really couldn't, couldn't reiterate more how important a community is and your overall well being and your happiness and your success of achieving goals.
VL: And I shared this with Rachel too, but I was part of the she. You also have a monthly challenge in 2020 and I think I was there for two or maybe three months. But it was like me again, I'm feeling a little bit emotional about it. It was the one thing that really gave me purpose during a time where I really felt like I had lost my purpose and I didn't have a plan and I didn't have people sort of I wasn't surrounded by anybody because of the circumstances and being able to meet this new group of people who were going through maybe something similar or at least could understand where I was at, and then also kind of mirror for me the possibility of what I could do and the things that I could get done, and the things that I could create and believing in me.
So many things changed for me that year. And again, like the one thing that really kept me positive and pushing forward and trying different things and getting out of my comfort zone and like the most random and the biggest, most uncomfortable ways was that group it was like community and tribe just ever grateful. you can use this clip as a testimonial for your community.
Where can we find you, follow you, and support your business?
RK: WEBSITE | http://www.makelemonade.ca
INSTAGRAM | @makelemonadeco
The way you can support me is that if you are a small business owner or do you know a small business owner and you feel like they would suck if they would benefit from being part of an awesome entrepreneurial community then send them my way. Another way that you can support is at some point in 2022 I will be alerted to launching some merch, which will be a super fun and exciting way to connect with the community and beyond. So those are the two ways you can Yeah, you can you can join me on the internet
[27:23] RAPID FIRE ROUND
1. What are you currently reading? OR Favourite book?
It's I got it from my birthday. It's a book about a woman in Hawaii at its at it was just when there was the attack on Pearl Harbor. And these women were recruited to be part of like a secret operation.
Anyways, it's it's really great some something I really talk about to you is that I read a lot of fiction. I love personal and professional development books, but anything with a plot is really where the sweet spot is for me. So this one I'm pretty sure it's called the radar girls.
2. What do you love most about being a woman?
Oh, that's an interesting question. What do I love most about being a woman you know, like, obviously, there's a lot of differences between between men and women and everything in between.
I don't know like I've never really thought about like, this is what I love most about being I just think of myself as me like I'm I'm just me.
And I don't think that because I'm a woman. That's what makes me, me!
Yeah, I've never really thought about it that way. Or if I have like, I've always had a hard time answering it like I like just being me.
3. What does “empowerment” mean to you?
Empowerment to me, I think is is just like feeling confident or not even competent, but like just feeling like on the precipice of being able to go after things that I want, wherever they may be. I think competence is like a really nice cherry on top. But the truth is a lot of the time when we go after the things we want. We're scared shitless can totally agree with that.
4. What are you currently working toward?
Am I currently working for you know, when it's so simple, like I'm always just working towards finding joy. And like my own personal mission is to just find joy daily. That's it.
VL: Thank you so much again for taking the time today. This has been an outstanding conversation. I wasn't expecting anything last but I'm always blown away by your speaking and your knowledge and your wisdom. So I really appreciate you taking the time to share it with us. Thank you so much. This was this was like really soul filling. So thank you so much, Val. It was great. Good. I'm so glad that you felt that way. And I before I let you go. I just wanted to say thank you so much again for creating the community that you have and for growing it and bringing people together in this really beautiful and unique way. and super supportive way as you said, you are appreciated by myself and so many other people and I really, really, really want to emphasize that to you before before you go. so thank you so much for changing my life and changing a lot of people's lives.
RK: Well you're just gonna make me cry. Thank you.
Podcast Host
Valerie LaVigne
Valerie is the creator and founder of Valerie LaVigne Life and the Women's Empowerment Show. She helps busy and empowered women create healthy habits so that they can become the best version of themselves and transform their lives. Learn more about Valerie here!
