Take the Elevator
This podcast is purely about elevating people through individual life stories and experiences in the Elevator. In the Elevator, what's key is maybe changing your perspective; having self-actualization; embracing your purpose; and acting on it as we grow from one another. There is a whole different point of view when you look up to elevate.
Take the Elevator
331st Floor: Stay True to Yourself When Facing Change
Are you ready to embrace the inevitable changes life throws at you?As the cooler weather offers a refreshing change after weeks of heat, we reflect on how to prepare for significant personal and professional changes. Kory shares his intuitive knack for staying prepared, while Gen delves into the importance of self-reflection and awareness. Together, we explore leveraging past experiences, recognizing strengths, and maintaining flexibility to navigate life's twists and turns.
Imagine seeing change not as a threat but as an opportunity for growth. We unpack the concept of embracing change, contrasting the resistance many feel with the benefits of welcoming it. Practical strategies like reframing thoughts and taking small risks can shift your mindset from fear to excitement. By staying curious and open-minded, you can foster a sense of discovery and engagement, helping you navigate the ongoing transformations in life with more ease and enthusiasm.
Lastly, we dive into our writing journey, especially Gen's newfound passion for co-authoring our books in The Fuzzy Furry Forest series. From a passive supporter to an active writer, Gen shares her strategies for embracing this new role and connecting with readers through storytelling. We emphasize the importance of honoring oneself during times of change, setting intentional goals, and celebrating progress. Join us as we toast to change, personal growth, and staying true to ourselves while pursuing our passions and goals.
hey, it's gen the builder, and kory and hello. Everyone in the podcasting world, welcome to take the elevator yes, welcome welcome we're so happy to have you here at the end of august. You know what's a trip is that? I don't know if anyone here has apple photos on their phone, amazon photos, google photos, whatever app you have. Typically, what they do now is remind you hey, some years ago on this day, here's what happened.
Kory:Yeah, this is what you did on this date.
Gen:That's right. So guess what we did on a certain date four years ago.
Kory:What was that?
Gen:This podcast.
Kory:Four years ago Four years ago.
Gen:So what a trip that we are over the 300th episode Wow. Well over. Let me just clarify that are over the 300th episode. Well, over let me just clarify that well over. In fact, I'm really excited about episode 333 that's coming up, although it's not this one, but we're almost there.
Kory:I think this one's gonna be like 331 oh well then, we're very, very close to 333 yeah, yeah. So I'm glad that you know before we get to three, three, three, there's a lot of really exciting things happen. Let's first address this weather thing. Today was one of the first days, and maybe two or three weeks, that it wasn't in the high nineties, low hundreds and I'm very grateful for that and I'm very grateful for that.
Kory:Check. Check, check.
Gen:Check, check, check. Hashtag, gratitude, hashtag, bring on the cooler weather.
Kory:Bring it on. So, Gen, you know we've had a few things. That we've been always do is we look at the bigger picture of life and what's presenting itself to us and what's going to be presented, and sometimes it's really good stuff and sometimes it's stuff that we hadn't planned for, hadn't planned on looking at. And with that in mind, you know we have to be flexible. And with that in mind, you know we have to be flexible, we have to be able to maneuver with the times and the changes and the things that are happening, not only in the regular world, but in the employment world, sometimes in the political world, and even sometimes Especially in the political world. Right now, absolutely, there's a lot of things happening and, no, we're not going to jump political. That is a red zone.
Gen:We have done really well about staying away from that.
Kory:Absolutely. But, Gen, let me ask you a question, and I'm not talking about doomsday prepper or anything like that, but how do you prepare for a big change or any kind of change? But keep in mind the big change that you typically prepare for Another job, a baby coming into the family, buying a house, buying a high-priced car. How do you prepare for those type of changes that are happening? Take going back to school or maybe even adding on to the degrees that one may have I'm definitely going to answer that question.
Gen:Um, there's a question on my mind. Are you sensing that there's changes happening?
Kory:I am so glad you asked that. I have an intuition and I have been known to have sense and feel things that are on the horizon, and so I'm a prepper. I've always prepped for whatever it is, any kind of good change, regular change, which is the normal day-to-day things, or even for bad change that is going to happen. I'm typically always on guard and I'm checking the water temperature, I'm checking the room temperature at all times just to see what's different in the in the air. You know I'm not from the indigenous people called indians, but I do tap into my indigenous self from time to time just to throw the leaves in the air and see which way the wind is blowing and I like that analogy because I kind of feel it in the atmosphere, right.
Gen:It's like, oh man, tension's a little high, but yet it doesn't feel stressful, but it's almost enough to, okay, brace right, like, just be prepared, just in case.
Kory:And one more little bit of an analogy. It's like Pocahontas, when, um, the ships were coming in and the dream she had was clouds were coming, and so there was some change on the on the horizon, as I said, and so, um, being prepared for that is a great thing. You know, again, it doesn't have to be bad, it doesn't have to be good, it doesn't have to be anything, it's just something new right.
Gen:Well, and then, like we just had friends whose kids went back to school, we have friends who are with child for their first time that's huge so you know that makes sense. I think a lot of people right now are going through change or, if they're not already, we know that those things happen right.
Gen:So I really like that question because it helps get us in the mindset of the what. If so, to answer your question, there's a few things I do when I'm preparing for change, and the first thing I always do is actually self-reflection and awareness, right, so taking time to reflect on past experiences where change came especially unexpectedly Right, and what I did in those moments, how I felt, what I wish I had known back then. You know bringing that forward into what could be back then. You know bringing that forward into what could be so, um, and then I always recognize, during moments of change, the moments that actually made me feel most energized and fulfilled, even in the middle of the pivot um, oh, I like that word pivot nice yeah.
Gen:So I think that is it. And then really honing in on my strengths during that time and how I showed up for myself and other people and maybe things that scared me, and just recalling that and getting prepared for something like that again. Right, I mean, I think the biggest one and you know it's it's just kind of crazy how fast time's gone, how fast it's gone by, and we know the biggest one was just a few years ago. That was a huge one, Huge, huge, huge.
Kory:And I'll say this and then I'll ask another question. Most of the time, change presents the same obstacles in any scenario good, bad or indifferent. When bracing or preparing for a change, there's a mental mindset that you have to get into, as you very clearly pointed out. You also have to get into an emotional mindset and sometimes even a spiritual mindset, because you may take this on as, I would say, an attack, that the change is coming, because most people don't react to change very well, and then the body has to normalize once that change begins to take place. And how do you, Jen, normalize your body? And how do you, Gen, normalize your body? How do you not go through the sleepless nights or the emotional eating or the change of mood swings to where you're different with people and maybe a little short and snappy? How do you regulate your physical and your body for the bracing of change?
Gen:That's a loaded question, it sure is.
Gen:It starts with mindset, to your point yeah. So there's this thing and I don't know what the phrase would be, but it's mind over matter where you pretty much have to put your body in alignment with what's going on, instead of your body taking control. So what I mean by that is I think your body naturally reacts right and it's telling you a message like hey, something's up here. Heart rate's getting faster, there's more tension. You know you're carrying things, and so I think there are things that we can do to regulate our body in times of stress the way we eat, the amount of sleep, ensuring that we're getting that exercise in, because we know that when you get the exercise in and you're feeling good, you're able to process more clearly, right, it almost makes you quicker on your feet, it makes you more resilient in those spaces.
Gen:So during those times here's what I learned during the last big crisis I opted to kind of sit back through it all and I just remember the toll it took on me physically for doing that. And then I recall how good I feel when we're getting our exercise in and just how sharp I was. You know, like whatever came my way, I was able to think clearly, solutionize right. So there's that piece um, I also think a supportive environment especially when you're talking about holistically, I think again, the people that you're surrounding yourself with, um that supports the journey of change and the habits they have to take care of their body. I have a great newfound friend and she takes care of her body and man. It's like every day there's just a really sweet and gentle reminder of the choices we make for our bodies. And I know that's not on accident because, like you said, you're sensing a change.
Gen:And so I think people are receiving those messages but not really realizing. That's what it is right. I've talked to so many people, kory, so many people that are like man, somebody's just calling me to try different things or go back to my passions and see hey, is there something there that I can do that will help me bring in more income and bring me joy at the same time.
Kory:You know, Right, I definitely agree and I align with that. I connect with what you're saying. The support system is so huge, so big. Let me share a little something with you before we move on and the people listening. So I was privy to be in a very high-end talk from the creator of the Flamin' Hot Cheeto, richard. Yeah, and this guy blew my mind. He just rocked my world and it's not for the average reason. It's because he really capped my feeling of change coming and it helped me to see a little bit further into the big picture and what he said multiple times throughout this conversation.
Kory:And this is what I'm going to say to anyone listening this is not for everyone. Everyone won't get it, because some people don't want change, no matter what. Even if you tell them change is coming tomorrow, they don't want nothing to do with it. So they'll pretend like it's not going to come, it's not going to happen, and so change it, smack them in the face and they'll be like discombobulated and everything. But for that one, or those ones who are hearing what what we're talking about, and understanding, because they've already felt it in their spirits, in their core, that there are things that are happening, there are elements in the space that you're in. That's telling you that things are going to be a little bit different here real soon.
Kory:And so this is for you. I love it because, again, life is all about change. And how do we know that it's all about change, Jen? Because the seasons change. Yeah, the times change, the music changes, fashion changes, everything changes and you can see who can adapt and who can't, and you can see who likes that change and the people that really don't. The person that's had the same hairstyle since they were in the first and second grade and now they're 40, 50 years old. They don't like change.
Gen:Right.
Kory:So let me ask you this, gen, and this is really one of the last questions that I'm really going to serve to you, but I just really these questions are more geared to help the listener okay how do you change from not liking change to liking change? Is it possible being? Closed off to being open to it how do you open that door, or is it even possible?
Gen:it's possible of course it is because, especially with what you just said, right, right, you're, you're changing mindset already was like, yeah, things do change seasons, right, um, our, even our, our, whatchamacallit, the things we like, they say, our taste buds change every seven years, like this is part of creation it's nature. So I say, do a reframe okay right.
Gen:So it's as simple as man. I hate change. To change isn't that bad. Um, if it weren't for change, I'd still be in diapers. Thank God for that change. Yeah, you know what I mean. It sounds silly, but start recognizing when change was actually good for you. Right.
Gen:And I love that question the what if? What if this change is actually going to take me into places that elevate me into the next chapter of my life, right, Instead of being stagnant, maybe? So I think also it's just a good opportunity when, at any point, that you should be in the practice of taking some risks. Do you know what I mean by that?
Kory:Absolutely.
Gen:Yeah, so don't be afraid to try new things like. It really sucks when you're pushed up in a corner and that's when you've got to try it, whereas if you're already trying new things, you're building that muscle right. So when change happens, you've already played in it.
Gen:You're not afraid of it. You're experimenting with different roles, different projects, hobbies, right, discovering new ways to do the thing, discovering you how about that? And then just staying curious and being willing to pivot, and I know these are very generalized terms that we're sharing right now. So I just want to expand on taking risk, because I think even when I say that take a risk, someone might be like oh no, I can't. You know, that's scary, I don't take risks, right, and that's valid if you've got a fear of it. So sometimes the people I work with, if that's something that shows up, or maybe they say you know, I'm just I overthink, I overthink and then I talk myself out of it. These changes, these risks can be so small in the beginning. You know I'm a big proponent of small, subtle interactions or changes are so powerful. So it could be take a different route to work, it could be stay in that conversation for just a little longer. When you talk to someone, now you're talking.
Gen:You're speaking my language now find something new that you don't know about them yeah right it's. It's that powerful. It doesn't have to be so huge and over the top that it's going to freak you out, right.
Kory:Right, Good stuff, Gen. Like I said, you're speaking my love language, You're speaking my natural language. Those are the kind of words that resound with me and provoke my thoughts. Two things you well. One thing you definitely hit on. You said the discovering portion, One of my favorite lyrics that John Mayer has in the song is discovering me, discovering you.
Kory:Wow, just there's that thing right there, so beautiful. And then one of my other favorite lyrics in a Prince song is that there's joy in repetition and you can get used to change being repetition. So you've got to look for that joy in that repetition. So what is this all about? Where does this all come from? So Jen and I had a conversation. I'm just get straight into it, straight down to it. Then we get the last question and we can wrap this thing up.
Kory:Um, gen and I had a conversation and we were talking about how we can engage and bring the audience and the listeners closer to the conversation, make them feel more a part of it. And that listener is you, because you're listening to what we're talking about. And so, as this ripple effect happens and you begin to understand that, yeah, I do connect with, things are changing and maybe I don't like it, or things are changing and I love it. I can't wait for the next thing to happen. It's going to change. You'll get a chance to see that this is what's always happening in my life and in gen's life and vice versa, so that we can connect with different people, not just each other. I mean, it's so important that we connect Jen, but it's even more important because we live together, work together, love together, create together Right.
Gen:Write together, yeah together. Love together, create together, right Right together, yeah, the whole nine.
Kory:It's important that we're able to give that to someone else and bring them into our fold, and then we receive what they have. I'm going somewhere and I'm going to get there quickly.
Gen:I'm not in a rush. No rush, no rush.
Kory:Well, let me slow it down just a little bit more. With that being said, we have this podcast that we put out every so often, and sometimes it may feel like we're talking about things that just affect us or things that are just happening to us, but in truth is, it's relatable to so many different parts of each person's life. You just have to find how to make that applicable to your life and what we're talking about, and once you get that, you'll understand that we're not really just sitting here talking about what we're doing. We're talking about what we want to see you do, what we want to experience and live with you, what you're doing and how it's impacting you, but we have to give some stories that are relatable to us and things that we've gone through so that it has that level of understanding. Last question Jen.
Kory:Something really phenomenal happened just recently. We've talked about Jen writing with me now, and now I'm actually writing with her, which is so strange. Like JGn woke up and, uh, I think it was like three, 30 in the morning and she was writing the second half to our book and this wasn't impromptu. It was impromptu. It wasn't like I prompted her or I said we got a deadline. We got to get it done, and so that's changed for me. But that's great change for me. That made me feel I felt like you know, superman waking up, and she's in the thick of it, just like going at it. I'm like, oh, she's handling it right now, and so it just you. It just gave me a peace of mind and a sense of joy. But for you, you've embraced that part of change to a point to where now you're championing that change, you're taking the reins. That's the word I'm looking for.
Kory:You're taking the reins, the bulls, by its horns, yeah, you're taking that on and you're just rolling with it. How does that make you feel? And what's next in the change?
Gen:oh, because I know you got something ah, there's so much bubbling inside of me around that I felt very much a spectator in the world of writing. So just some background here. I have always felt like man, write a book, right, just write a book. And this was before what influencers say, because you know, now influencers say you want to get out there, you've got to write a book. So it's almost like write a book to get it off the checklist for me it was totally something different.
Gen:It was to write a book, to share a story, to hopefully connect with somebody and just put it out there and have it documented and have people read it right. And it was scary, speaking of not taking risks, like I was not ready for that change. I was not ready to put my thoughts and my stories on paper for scrutiny, for just the whole thing right, so I just found every excuse to not do it, although I love it. And then you started your journey with A Fuzzy Furry Forest. I was spectator, kind of on the sidelines, cheerleader, when you needed one quality check, when you needed one. You know, just kind of the support.
Gen:Absolutely the support, which was great. And as you were talking about the books and we were working on the stories behind the books, I was drawn in and before I knew it, that was it. I was like I want to do this, but I didn't tell you about it. And then you had mentioned hey, you know, I think you should come on as a co-author, like it makes sense. And so with you, corey, whenever I get to work with you, I do feel a hundred percent supported. So it wasn't as scary. Maybe then if it was my, my own book the first time. You know what I mean. Yeah, so my mindset had changed, I, and then I was starting to build my resiliency muscles and me writing and doubting what was coming out of me, wondering how is this going to jive with what Corey does, you know? So I leaned on my support system, talked about it a little bit with a few people, started strategizing on what this looks like and this is intense because it's just how I work. I set up a little place in my desk and I hadn't told you or in my office. I said this is where I am writer, where I can turn away from my career, turn away from our business as far as coaching and speaking and all that. When I turn to this desk, I'm in writing mode. I'm going to take my iPad with me so if, at any time, I have an idea, I can just capture it instead of putting it off.
Gen:That was another big change, like why put it off when you're thinking about it right now? And that's what I've learned about myself as a writer honor the moment it comes. Honor the moment. Yes, don't let it pass you by. So that was that. So support strategies. And then I just started seeking out solutions like how do I fit this in my time? What can I let go of? Um tying into what brings me joy in this. And so I went back to my roots. I've always loved storytelling. I've always loved honoring my imagination and getting creative with it. And then the last thing is sagacity and, by the way, I just mentioned four S's of resilience, and it was something that my team and how to, and then just navigating through the challenges and staying grounded.
Gen:So, for example, I'm sitting with kory. By the way, when you all are hearing this, it's going to be on a Mondays when this gets released. We're recording on a Sunday, and Sunday is like oh, I'm going to get my nap in. I'm gonna, you know, relax and just kick it, which I did for the most part, but no nap. But there were some relaxing moments in there. Corey says, okay, today on the list, this is what we have to accomplish. So our language has changed. Right, it's we, we, we, and I'm in here as a student because you've been in the game for a while, so I'm just acting as a sponge, taking it all in. Well, I know what it takes to be a learner. I have to be open. You're my mentor. So when you tell me, okay, let's get on this website, I do the thing and you're all okay, gen, for your book, maybe you should already reach out to so-and-so. In my mind I'm like, ah, that's for later. But I'm like, nope, I'm in the space of learner and mentee and that's a part of mindset.
Gen:I think that's so important when you know your role, you're able to function in it. I'm not here to buck the system. I'm sure eventually I'll learn some things too along the way that I'll share with you absolutely. But it's just knowing your lane while you figure everything out, and I'm enjoying being in this seat. It's a new. It's a new experience for me, one that I've wanted for decades, and it's happening, yeah, and I just want to be ready for it.
Gen:Absolutely I don't want to. I don't want to waste any more time saying no or not, yet Not yet.
Kory:Yeah, I'm going to say my closing remarks and I'm going to turn it over to you, gen. The one thing that what you it's. You said multiple things. I um been speaking my language this whole time, so I appreciate that and and thank you for talking to me, um, and and if you don't know what I mean, listening to that, sometimes you hear people talking and you know right away they're not talking to me. That's not my language, that's not how I uh receive things, so it's for someone else. But when someone is speaking your language, you, you better pay attention because there's something there you need to be hearing, and so open your ears, open your heart and listen and hear wholeheartedly.
Kory:But the one thing you said was honor the moment. What does that really mean? Because you honored the moment by writing, when you felt like the story was there to write, but for everyone listening, what does that mean to you? Does it mean honor the moment to write when it's time for you to write? Possibly, but everyone's not a writer, jen. So does that stand for someone who cooks? Absolutely, for someone who draws as an illustrator or an artist, absolutely. Or maybe it's working on something that you've been putting off, but that inspiration struck you at two o'clock in the morning.
Kory:Gen will tell anyone that you just don't know when Kory is going to pop out of the bed and go to the studio or go somewhere in the house and start working on something. And there's been moments when she's come out of the room and said honey, what are you doing? And I'm in the thick of writing something or putting something together, and I'm just inundated with that thought, to the point to where I know if I stop right, then I'm going to lose it. So honor the moment in everything that you're called to do, who's calling you, whatever is inside of you, whatever you're serving or however you're giving to this. Honor that moment and that's just a nugget for anyone listening. I hope I'm speaking someone's language out there, but that's, that's what I got.
Gen:I'm gonna say you are nice, I'm gonna say you are, and so my closing comments, um, for today's episode is this is as you honor the moment, it's about honoring yourself, and let me give you a for example. I like it. I'm not going to speak for all the women, I'm sure as heck not going to speak for men, but typically when you meet people and they're talking about their goals in life, like where what they want to do, usually we see in a very limited space, right it's who I am as a mom, who I am as a wife, where I want to go in my career, at my current job with my current company, and we limit ourselves in all of that.
Gen:I'm learning at this age and I heard this from another speaker who said and I heard this from another speaker who said I'm 60. I've lived well over half my life. Over half my life is done and I don't know how much time I have left and there's still so much that I want and need to do. So if you feel that there's a need, that's when you know man, something's speaking honor. It Honor you in that moment. So one of the things, and it's everything that you've ever done before. So for me, I know all about setting intentional goals right. So now these goals, I'm honoring and using and developing my natural gifts, because that's something I need to do and developing my natural gifts, because that's something I need to do.
Gen:Like if anything were to happen to me today, it would definitely there'd be a void there, because there was so much that I needed to do and just hadn't done it. So, focusing on these areas and I'm speaking to everyone listening focusing on areas where you have the greatest impact, and guess what that makes you feel most energized we forget while you're serving people or while you're doing what it is, you also matter in that equation. Like it's so amazing to serve people and be about others while also taking care of yourself. You don't have to give yourself up for the sake of another.
Kory:You mean, I don't have to just completely forget about who I am to help someone else.
Gen:Hello! So, lastly, break down these goals into very manageable steps. Again, you know, take the risk Step. You know, take your toes out there, get out of the zone that you're in, see what it feels like and, believe me, it's going to be worth it. And then celebrate progress while you're making it. There you go, celebrate you.
Kory:And here's to change.
Gen:That's right. Cheers to change, here's to change and cheers to change, that's right.
Kory:Cheers to change, here's to change, and cheers to change.
Gen:Well, you know us at Take the Elevator, we say look up and let's elevate Every day, elevate, every day, elevate, every day, elevate, every day, elevate.
