72. Empowering Women Entrepreneurs | Mentorship and Success: Lessons from Celia Lopez

Episode 72: Richard Di Biase and David Moskowitz are joined by Guest Celia Lopez. Have you ever wondered how a background in kinesiology and urban planning can fuel a passion for entrepreneurship?  Celia Lopez, a dynamic former athlete who transformed her skills into a thriving business empire. Celia's transition from running successful boot camps to founding Placemade, an innovative co-working space for health and wellness professionals, will leave you inspired. She shares how her unique vision for healthier cities took shape and the pivotal roles that her education and early entrepreneurial activities played in her success.

Mentorship can be a game-changer, and Celia's journey is a testament to that. Growing up in the Jane and Finch community, she broke free from societal and familial expectations with the help of Kathleen, a mentor who believed in her when others were skeptical. Discover the parallels between mentorship and coaching in sports, and learn how a strong support system can help defy generational norms. Our conversation sheds light on the importance of community backing and how overcoming skepticism is a crucial step in entrepreneurial success.

Navigating male-dominated industries can be challenging, but Celia shares insightful anecdotes on overcoming gender bias and finding her voice in the business world. We discuss the critical importance of self-talk, mental well-being, and strong female representation. Hear about the real-life struggles women face, from being overlooked in meetings to needing male counterparts to close deals. This episode emphasizes the need for clear communication and transparency in business relationships, ultimately fostering a supportive network for women everywhere. Don't miss out on this empowering conversation that aims to inspire and equip women in all fields to stand firm in their endeavors.

Chapters

• 0:00 The Entrepreneur's Journey
• 9:31 Navigating Mentorship and Overcoming Barriers
• 23:21 Empowering Women in Business
• 34:44 Navigating Gender Bias in Business
• 45:28 Building Connections and Engagement

Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:00

This is the Making Waves Mindset Show with your hosts, richard DiBiase and Dave Moskowitz, learn from our journey, as we share the ups and downs of being your own boss.

Speaker 3: 0:13

And, honestly, for me, the what keeps pushing me through is we have such a different, unique model that these this is their livelihood, it's how these guys are making money, and that, to me, the fact that I provide that opportunity and they can continue to make money that way, that that's kind of my motivating thing is like well, if I close down, 40 of my coaches are also trying to scramble to figure out what to do next.

Speaker 1: 0:40

Well welcome back. We are live the Making Waves Mindset Show in person Dave, without me.

Speaker 2: 0:48

I know right, we are in person, but not in person. We are in person, but we are at our wonderful place of business, which is awesome, supporting small businesses myself with Celia Lopez, did I say?

Speaker 3: 1:04

it right, you did, you did. Okay, good, good, you got the role. Yeah, I think I've known you now long enough that I got to pronounce it right.

Speaker 2: 1:13

It's not like I'll get a slap with a slipper. Well, we are at Mobility House today. Richard is on the Orlando in the little Max Hendricks box. But welcome back to our show and thanks for joining us. Make sure you subscribe and make sure you follow and share and if you don't like the episode, share it anyways. There's got to be people out there who want to hear some stories, especially today's story. This is going to be one of the best episodes we've done, on top of all the other good episodes, yeah for sure.

Speaker 1: 1:50

This is the place for the entrepreneurs out there and those stuck in the nine to five who are sick and tired of the grind of working for someone else instead of seeing those achievements in your own books. So we have many people in the show. If you go back to our library of episodes, those who are thinking of leaving the nine to five in the middle of the transition, of leaving the nine to five, are those who are decades ahead of Dave and I and who have shared incredible insight and experience. So this is the place to come. We want to listen and learn from everyone. This is going to be a great episode, so, dave, please take it away.

Speaker 2: 2:24

Yeah, so I won't do too much of an intro, but I want you to introduce yourself. Celia Lopez is a wonderful woman in relation to just being a great human being, and that is by far probably the best thing that brings people together is, if you are a good human and you're a good person, then business then becomes easy for you in relation to the tribe that you're building throughout your business. So I was introduced through Celia, through a good friend of ours, james, and we know him because he was our podcast, our two podcasts ago. He was our host and our studio host and he introduced us and that's how we became acquainted and since then we've partnered with businesses together.

Speaker 2: 3:13

And you know, I don't know if I said the whole thing, but we're at Mobility House today, which is a chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage therapy clinic which I am a co-owner of, and Celia owns a business which we'll get into, which is a partner agency of Mobility House. So take it away, give your pitch of who you are, and then we'll get into some questions. I'm sure you've been asked this hundreds of times.

Speaker 3: 3:43

Yes, I feel like we could have a long story but I'll give you the short version. Well, a condensed version. So my name is Celia Lopez, I'm a former athlete, turned personal trainer and now the founder of Placemade. My background is actually as a kinesiologist and urban planner.

Speaker 3: 3:58

I went to school for kinesiology and urban planning. My intention was to build healthier communities and cities and urban planning. My intention was to build healthier communities and cities through urban planning. But as I got involved in that sector a little bit more, I recognized that that wasn't the type of lifestyle I wanted to lead. So I turned to what I knew, which was health and fitness through sport. Went to school out east in Halifax, nova Scotia, dalhousie University, was able to land a soccer scholarship out there for a couple of years, um, and came back to Toronto, started my personal training career, um, and it was actually through a client that said hey, you know, you're really good at what you do. Would you ever consider trying to do your own thing? And I was like, oh, that's crazy. What do you mean? Fast forward? Uh, uh, started boot camps in the park down by lakeshore charging five dollars a class, nice, uh, tons of people were coming out.

Speaker 3: 4:49

I'm like this is amazing. But like, how am I going to feed myself? Uh, so, through this friend or this connection that had encouraged me to kind of do my own thing, she said, hey, let me hook you up with a mentor, somebody who could potentially show you the ropes. Um, and it was through this woman who kind of changed my whole life. She taught me business and development, marketing, like pretty much everything from pricing to understanding who your target market is, and through that process I fell in love with entrepreneurship and business development.

Speaker 3: 5:20

So luckily in Toronto we have a lot of funding opportunities for youth in terms of trying to learn how to build their own businesses, lots of grant funding. So I was able to tap into a bunch of programs, accelerators and incubators. Starting off with the personal training business. My intention was to just try to understand how I could build that business, potentially open my own gym, and it was through these incubators that these mentors that I was continuing to meet pushed me a little bit further and said, hey, this has already been done before. Like how can we change what's happening? And then I stumbled across, you know, the shared kind of co-working space model. And then I've been working on Placemade, which is the first health and fitness co-working space specifically designed for health and fitness professionals in Canada. So we launched our first location, thank you.

Speaker 1: 6:10

Congratulations. Yeah, thank you.

Speaker 3: 6:12

Launched our first location three weeks before COVID happened. I was like okay, and had no choice but to continue pushing through. We had to get very innovative and creative, as you know, and then we're now able to have a second location that we just opened almost eight months ago, and that's how we kind of connected with Dave and Mobility House Wow, there's a lot that has come from COVID.

Speaker 1: 6:40

Yeah, yeah, yeah there's a lot that's come from COVID. That's where things just have exploded for people. But what a timing.

Speaker 2: 6:47

I know, I think COVID gave a point in life for people to just reevaluate their lives in general, because they were either spending a ton time alone or they were restricted on where they can go. So they started getting into their minds and I actually don't look at it as a bad thing. I think it's a good thing. Oh, it's great. Could you imagine this stuff that has come, the innovation, the, the entrepreneurship, or just people, people getting out and doing stuff that they weren't doing before? Yeah, yeah, just incredible. It's incredible. So I think a lot of good came from COVID. There's a lot of. We could probably go do like five episodes of good came from COVID.

Speaker 3: 7:25

There's a lot of.

Speaker 2: 7:25

we could probably go do like five episodes on the diet of COVID and what it did to our society. I think in general, if you look at just the aspects of it, there was some good that came out of it, for sure.

Speaker 3: 7:33

Well, it definitely proved to us that our model kind of can exist Right, even like people still want to work out, they want to feel good, especially during that time. Right, right, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 7:46

What? What do you contribute the innovation to? To that? Was it strictly just this one person saying, hey, you should do some something novel, something niche, or was it? Was it like a mix of a whole bunch of things?

Speaker 3: 8:00

Yeah, so it's actually through my own experience. So, starting the personal training business, I was renting studio spaces from different studios. I was getting the shitty times. I wasn't getting the quality of a facility that I thought I felt would feel proud to bring a high-end client to and just be like, hey, this is where I train. You know it's dirty, it doesn't smell good, the showers. You can tell a lot by a business, by their washrooms Right.

Speaker 1: 8:29

Oh yes, the washrooms and showers are not, you know, up to par.

Speaker 3: 8:35

And my clients don't feel comfortable even showering or using the bathroom, like that says a lot also on me, sure, and I'm, you know, charging these clients, and so I figured, okay, something needs to change. And it wasn't me who was only experiencing this issue. I've had other friends in the industry who are all still. We'd have like three or four different studios that we'd be at, depending on where our clientele is Right. So, and it's like timings as well.

Speaker 1: 9:10

So I figured timings as well, so I figured okay something needs to change, and I want to try to be the one to change it.

Speaker 3: 9:13

And so then here we are. Yeah, yeah, you're doing it, you're doing it. Clean washrooms, clean showers, you know good smell, good smell, high like quality equipment. Uh, good use of space. Like you've seen, our space we're pretty efficient. Um, we don't overcrowd. People feel comfortable, like just little things like that absolutely what do you think?

Speaker 1: 9:29

sorry, go ahead rich. I was gonna say you know the mentor aspect I I was really like gleaming when I heard that, because our past episode guests have all said there's been a mentor, there's someone who's been at. You know, do you truly credit that moment as being, you know, a breath of fresh air that somebody is willing to show you? Or did you kind of feel that you were going in the right way, but that person just elevated you and pulled you to the next level, which is kind of what a mentor is for? You know, was that, um, a very, a very helpful process for you?

Speaker 3: 10:04

For me it was twofold Because where I come from so I was born and raised in the Jane and Finch community it's not a community that really pushes people to continue to strive for better. So I really had to put myself in positions and I that was through sports to kind of see the world outside of where I grew up. Yeah, and so finding a mentor who actually believed in me to personally try and do my own business when I come from a generation, generational families of you know, working for somebody that is they're immigrated here into the country.

Speaker 3: 10:47

So they think, okay, we have to work for a company for 30 plus years, get a pension and we're retired, and so that was that changed for me in terms of meeting her and her being like well, I want to try to get you out of this whole circle that you've known your whole life and also show you the ropes in terms of what.

Speaker 3: 11:08

How easy can it actually be if you just follow these steps? Yeah, so she did definitely take me to the next level and gave me the confidence I needed to start believing that I could start to change the narrative, not only for what I thought that I could be, but also for my family to understand that we don't necessarily have to continue this tradition of working for somebody.

Speaker 1: 11:33

Yeah, so one of the biggest hurdles that we hear from our guests too at that point is you're breaking the mold, you're doing something that your family and friends are not accustomed to. Did you come across any type of roadblock?

Speaker 3: 11:54

or barriers with your friends and family trying to talk you out of it All the time so until I had my first actual location excuse me was when my family actually believed that I was doing something for all these years. Yeah, and so what I? What I really tried to do through the process, even through the incubators, the accelerators, any type of event that I was doing, a pitch competition, I really tried to bring them to see like I'm not alone, I'm not crazy, Like these are actually.

Speaker 2: 12:22

This is real.

Speaker 3: 12:24

And so for my mom and my family to actually start coming with me and then seeing, oh, like she's knows what she's talking about, there are other people her age kind of doing this thing and then meeting other families that are also supporting their, their kids, is that kind of was eyeopening for them. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 12:42

That's huge. That's huge. That's one of the biggest hurdles people trying to talk you down and then you realize that you're feeling trapped in a fish tank. You know, and I'm sure Dave does this, as I do, when you meet people and you kind of go like, what are your goals and aspirations in life, they're all like, yeah, I want to do this, but I'd rather go back to school because my family wants me to do this. And it's actually it's funny because I was interviewing an employee recently.

Speaker 1: 13:06

I kind of shared with Dave a few weeks back. You know, their family wants this employee to continue to pursue additional schooling and he doesn't want to do that. He wants to work with his hands in the trades, which is something I can offer him. So you know, you see him come out to the job site, but he's still listening to those little voices telling him no, don't do that, get back in the fish tank, stay within that wall and don't, don't be free, don't. Dream bigger. And that's why, on our show, it's to make waves, dream bigger and take action. You have to do that or you'll be trapped in that fish tank.

Speaker 3: 13:38

Yeah, and I think that's that's where you need to tap into those communities, like you know those. For me it was the incubators and accelerators, other people like me just starting on their concept. For us, it's even still continuing to connect and building our own network of people in Toronto and just like touching base. And just because this journey is not easy, it's probably one of the hardest things anybody can ever do, because it challenges you in every aspect.

Speaker 2: 14:08

Yeah, yeah, I want to. I want to jump back to the, to the mentor, for a second, and we we've talked about mentorship a lot because I, in my opinion and and anyone that I've talked to about business, having somebody as a mentor is so pinnacle to your development as a person, but it's also pinnacle to development of business as well. Just like in sports, if you don't have a coach, then you're not going to succeed to the levels of professional athletes. You're not going to be able to succeed past that level. To be the winner of that race or the winner of something, you always need a coach, and mentorship in business is the same as having a coach. What kind of trust level did you have to build with this person? Because someone I'm sure someone down the line said okay, go see, I don't even know their name, let's give them a shout out Her name's Kathleen.

Speaker 3: 14:53

Okay, Kathleen.

Speaker 2: 14:54

So when someone said, here, go see Kathleen, what kind of trust builds and what kind of feelings did you go through at that time to find Kathleen?

Speaker 3: 15:02

Yeah, so my one client who's now been my friend for 10 years. She was the one who pushed me. So because I had already developed a rapport with her, training her at the studio that I was at, I already immediately trusted her and her circle.

Speaker 2: 15:16

Right.

Speaker 3: 15:16

Cause she? I felt like she did a really good job the energy I got.

Speaker 3: 15:22

I felt like she did a really good job vetting the people around her so I felt like she wouldn't introduce me to somebody who wouldn't be worth my time or that didn't really vibe with kind of her energy and so I trusted that immediately and that's essentially how it's happened organically is through a referral from somebody like meeting you through James, I trust James, I work with James, so it's like why would James introduce me to somebody who I wouldn't really connect with Because he also knows me and my vibe, so, and so that's. Thankfully I haven't had any bad experiences with mentors but it's happened organically in that way, even through, like my most recent mentor who helped open our second location finance mentor. You know, been in finance for the last 20 years. I wasn't even going to open the second location but he was like listen, the numbers make sense.

Speaker 3: 16:17

But I met him through my business networking group and we connected through soccer got it we connected through soccer and he was like I wouldn't have not, like we wouldn't have never really connected if we didn't already have something that we could ground it in, yeah, yeah, which was just talking shop about soccer, sure, and so he coaches kids soccer and so, and and then he was like, because we connect that way, let me try and help you. And so he, yeah, he was big in terms of helping me open the second one.

Speaker 2: 16:48

So that eased the trust issue, because you're referred by a trusted party yeah, trusted party. Looking back, do you think you would have found a mentor? Yeah, organically. Or do you think that was the only way to find? Like there's going to be people listening to this and watching this who are like I don't have any trusted people in my life. I only have you know, maybe, maybe they only have their family and their family are negative, saying stay in school or or work this job and don't go anywhere else and don't open your business. So how? How would you have if, thinking back on it, yeah, how would you have gone.

Speaker 3: 17:20

If, thinking back on it, yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:21

How would you have gone about it?

Speaker 3: 17:22

Yeah, I think just tapping into the community groups that are local to your city is huge. I mean, every city has some sort of networking that is happening. I mean, it will probably take you a hundred tries just to get connected to one person, but at least you're going out there, you're kind of you can feel it. I can't even. It's just that it's an energy.

Speaker 3: 17:43

It. You're kind of you can feel it. Yeah, I can't even. It's just that it's an energy. It's an energy, it's a vibe, and you just got to keep meeting people and talking about kind of what it is that you're working on.

Speaker 3: 17:50

I mean, it doesn't even matter if it hasn't, doesn't exist yet I'm a firm believer that if you just keep talking about it, the right people, you'll attract the right people. Yeah, so go on eventbrite, which is huge. Tap in like For us here in Toronto we have a startup here. To website has all the startups, kind of co-working spaces, events happening like. Tap into those things and then you start meeting people organically that way. Yeah, so that's how I would have approached it.

Speaker 2: 18:19

Yeah, which is an interesting thing about meeting people, because I have I think we have about 40 some odd employees throughout all our businesses, and the younger generation sometimes struggle with having those awkward conversations in public, at places where they wouldn't normally talk to people. Whereas I feel extremely at my age, I feel very confident and comfortable in talking to anyone anywhere. Anytime I'll go to the restroom conversations even To me.

Speaker 2: 18:48

I'm okay with that, but our younger generation are struggling not all of them, but some of them are struggling to have these conversations, so it's getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. I think that people need to start understanding.

Speaker 3: 19:03

Well, it's also tap into whatever feels comfortable for you. There are networks on instagram, there are networks on tiktok, like start following these people and then see what they do and what they offer. Maybe go to their events and then that's how you'll find people yeah that you'll also connect with yeah, yeah, yeah, those are good points yeah.

Speaker 1: 19:22

What is a few? There's a few things I love, dave, cause you talks about the vibe. Is your tribe Right? And I and I find here when, when we came down, it's always like, oh, just rely on digital marketing to meet people and connections. It's like you can't. You know you're so right. You have to go in person, even though you think you've accomplished nothing. Showing up every single week and seeing the same people and being inspired, they start to see value in you and the tribe connection is there and then that's where you get the fuel to continue to push yourself and learn and they're taking you to the next level, going hey, have you thought of this? Have you tried that? You know that's huge. You have to like Dave's right. You know that's huge. You have to like Dave's right. That generation, that younger generation, they want to be in the social media side, but you just don't have the same exposure. I think as being in person, like that's tremendous value. It's a great experience, experimental point to share.

Speaker 2: 20:16

Yeah, so placemade one, placemade 2.0. What was the main differences between first and second?

Speaker 3: 20:27

Well. Second, well, we took a lot of learning from the first one. First one, I mean I literally just had an idea in my head of what I thought equipment should be layout, design and then it's been four years of iteration, of completely being open to changing the space as people come in. So, based off of where we are now, now I understand kind of what types of equipment we need. What is the actual good amount of people to feel comfortable in space, and so now we've also built a brand so we're more recognized in the city. People trust us a little bit more. So 2.0 is definitely a replica of one like Placemade One, and just better. I mean, we acquired it from a business that went out of business and that is now our way of trying to open. Third, fourth and fifth is trying to find locations that potentially are struggling or closing, and then redesigning it to our model, as long as the parameters make sense, sure, sure. So definitely yeah.

Speaker 2: 21:41

I think that's a great model because you're capitalizing on certain amount of money that's already been invested into that business that you could then utilize back into your business. We did it here at Mobility House, where it was. There was parts of this business that were already built out for us that we didn't need to spend money on, were able to get open quicker and and save money on the capital cost of building out, which is a great model. As long as you're able to um move forward with that model continuously, then I think it's it's a great model me personally yeah, oh, it's like flipping houses yeah, yeah, just kind of flip

Speaker 3: 22:17

gyms with our model right, yeah, been there.

Speaker 1: 22:20

Yeah, talk about. You know there had to have been in in um the first, the first process, opportunities or moments where you felt like giving up and and what was that experience like and what did you use? Because people don't understand that. They all see, you know, dave and I we've left policing, we're doing things. They're like, oh, that's easy, you know anybody can do that, but they don't realize, like yourself, there are struggles, there are speed bumps, there are hurdles. Is there any moment in time you want to share? Or how did you cope with handling those moments where you're like I just want to give up? You know what was that motivating factor? Just to keep going, to see that first studio open.

Speaker 3: 23:06

So I mean, I feel like giving up every day that's valid. Yeah, I like honestly it's. Some days are very hard and for me, what I've tried to do or what I'm learning to, is just leaning into it and accepting that. I feel that I think, as business owners, we always have to try to make sure like we're okay, which is, of course, we want to self talk.

Speaker 3: 23:29

It's the self talk you know it's okay to not be okay, right. And then that's where you kind of tap into your network. I mean, like I'm going through something right now with placemade one in terms of with the landlord. It's crazy, not a good dynamic. There's a lot of for me, questionable things happening. You know, I reach out to dave, we grab dinner, have conversations. I'm telling him this is my next step. He's like this is a great next step. Should we also try to do it together?

Speaker 3: 24:00

And so then that's when I think where you really got to work to build some people around you who are also business owners, because, honestly, no one else will understand, kind of what you're going through unless they are a business owner themselves.

Speaker 3: 24:16

As much as you want to talk to your friends and family about it, they don't get it it. They will never really understand and nobody can understand like another business owner. And so I mean, like even justine having conversations with her being a woman in health and fitness, it's a man like a male dominated industry. How do we, you know, how do we take our show up for ourselves in our own way? I mean, I'm still learning how to do that. So, yeah, it's just being surrounded by people who also see what you're doing. And, honestly, for me, what keeps pushing me through is we have such a different, unique model that this is their livelihood, it's how these guys are making money. These, this is their livelihood, it's how these guys are making money, and that, to me, the fact that I provide that opportunity and they can continue to make money that way, that that's kind of my motivating thing is like well, if I close down, 40 of my coaches are also trying to scramble to figure out what to do next and I just feel like I got it.

Speaker 3: 25:21

It's up to me to keep pushing it forward, yeah.

Speaker 2: 25:24

I want to dive into something that I've I'm I'm always been very passionate about, through my law enforcement days up to even opening. This business is promoting women and I'm when I was in law enforcement, I created a women's law enforcement symposium. When I was in law enforcement, I created a women's law enforcement symposium, advocated to bring more women into that industry. I find, throughout my life, women are struggling even to negotiate, to operate, to find a voice, to have conversations, just in general. It's very ironic that it's two men sitting here having this conversation and I don't, I don't, I don't, I'm not agnostic to that, but just I want to.

Speaker 2: 26:11

I sort of want to dive into that a bit and and just so that you can express to people the kind of things that you've seen, that you've gone through coming up from even just you know out in Halifax, going to school, coming back and and getting into to work and then going through that so maybe just touch on that kind of stuff and then we can get into a conversation about that. I think it's very important that we highlight that kind of stuff. I think people understand it but people don't know, sorry. I think people know about it. They don't really understand what actually women go through in business and in life in general, and it's very frustrating for me as someone who I consider myself a good ally of women, and it's frustrating to me because I see and I don't understand why people treat anyone different than just if you're a human, let's treat you as a good human.

Speaker 3: 27:04

Yeah, that's the way my mind works, so maybe if we can just dive into a little of that, yeah, I don't think I experienced the contrast of being being, I guess, like a woman, um, until I started placemade um and operated our first location. I mean even just coming in with going actually to visit commercial spaces with my real estate agent and I'm his client, and we're going to these spaces, I'm dressed pretty nice, like I'm presentable, yeah, like you know, and then we go in and they immediately talk to him as the real estate agent and I'm the client, right, and I'm looking around taking, and they are asking him what the business is and I'm just like what, like what, and so I already knew that that space wasn't for us and so it was just like little things like that, and then even like negotiating contracts. Now I know, like the second location I learned from the first one I wanted somebody to speak on my behalf. He was a guy, we were communicating back and forth, but he would go and do the negotiations for me.

Speaker 3: 28:16

And actually we got great deals because of that right and which is pretty shitty to say, but it's kind of the it's a little bit of the reality. Construction that's huge, so trying to find contractors to come in and like get work done again, I'm it's. I. I feel like where I grew up and where I was raised really set the tone for me in terms of how to be a strong person and really land in my own like, be, really feel empowered.

Speaker 3: 28:49

And I carry that now from where I grew up to now because I feel like that has helped me kind of be promote my presence kind of thing yeah.

Speaker 3: 29:01

Confidence and and I mean it's just yeah, and so just little things like that I've noticed and just it sucks, yeah, um, but I mean I'm just also doing my best to be strong, being a strong woman that I can be, vocalize whatever I need to vocalize. And now, you know, experiencing what I'm experiencing with our first location, I don't give a shit anymore. I want to be on a polyp, I want to be on a. I feel like as women too, for me, I've just I'm really nice and welcoming, I'm warm and and. But there's a time and a place for that, and so I really had to learn how to. And I again, I've also never worked in corporate.

Speaker 2: 29:42

Right.

Speaker 3: 29:43

So I know corporate lifestyle is different from, you know, actually being a freelancer and it's we're more free, open, so now I know when I need to set that that boundary on that line.

Speaker 2: 29:55

So which is which is a bit interesting. So I know we're mixing two subjects here, but you, you weren't in corporate and left corporate in to go into business. You were almost immediately thrusted into your own business from the very beginning, and I do know a little tidbit about you looking into corporate to go that way a little, so maybe let everyone know what that mindset is.

Speaker 3: 30:21

Yeah Well, I've never been in corporate. Everyone know what that mindset is. Yeah Well, I've never been in corporate. I've always worked for like small boutique, like companies and studios, and that, to me, was felt comfortable at the time. And I think where my mind is at now is you know, it's just you've been doing this for so long 10 years and so sometimes you just want to be on autopilot, go somewhere, like sure, sure you'll have conversations, but like you leave everything at the door at 5pm, let's say, but I know that me being me, I would probably want more eventually.

Speaker 2: 30:59

I can speak from my personal. I always think there's, like I would say, maybe once a month, twice a month, something I'll be sitting at home or sitting in a meeting and think I should just go back to what I was doing. It really is, but it really is. It comes up and and and then there's, it's like a moment of clarity and I'm like no, no, shake your head, get that thought out of your head. Do not go back to the way it used to.

Speaker 2: 31:27

Because if you actually understand what you have the ability to go to and build, then no way in hell would you ever go back to a nine to five strict and I say nine to five but I mean like a corporate environment. And why? Because you can't mold that, you can't reach for the stars in that, you can't grow that to an exponential level that is beyond what you could even think of today. And going back to that route for me would would just regress everything I've done and there's so much opportunity outside of that industries and a lot of people who are in it. Fine, fair, be in it, enjoy it. I always say if you're, if you're in that corporate world, take all of its worth, gain it, keep it inside and grow within it, but then, once you're out, do something else. Right, right, use your transferable skills, that's what Dave and I did.

Speaker 1: 32:26

We took what we both were strong at and transfer them into the entrepreneurial space as business owners. And and I think that's what people forget because Dave and I will invite them on the show and they're like, well, I'm not ready, I don't know if I'm there, I don't have the experience and Dave and I are like, yes, but you already have skills, experience and things you can transfer that you might seem as being so mundane as to being a massive opportunity and you're just not realizing it. We, you know, dave and I are like that mentor at that point, like just come, talk about it, realize in yourself, take action and do it. But it's, it's a valid point. You have those skills already. It doesn't need to be because there's a title in your current nine to five corporate job. You can be whatever the hell you want on the other side, just bring the skills over, you can do it.

Speaker 2: 33:10

Yeah, it's interesting. I was having this conversation about titles the other day, yeah, and someone was saying to me they were saying it was a Facebook group with all the other owners of Stretch Lab. And someone said what do you call your front desk sales associates? Or what do you call your general manager? What's the title that you've put on? So I put in the group that I call them the flying spaghetti monsters and someone was like what?

Speaker 3: 33:37

are you talking?

Speaker 2: 33:39

about and I'm like I'm just kidding, obviously, but really doesn't matter, the title. You know, we, I think we put a lot. At least I found when I was working in law enforcement, everything was about title. It was like, okay, you're a sergeant, you're a staff sergeant, you're you're a corporal, you're a senior officer, and it was like it was like you needed this title. Yeah, at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter, because it matters the work that you're actually doing and the things that you're doing for people and the stuff that you're actually producing really is what matters. It doesn't matter what you call yourself.

Speaker 2: 34:14

I always tell people I don't I own the business, but I work for the people that are in the business. I'm not, I'm not the owner, they don't work for me, I work for them. I spend, like this morning I was putting together a shelving unit for this business because they've asked me, because they need it done, right. So you know, I think that that's the important stuff. I want to get back into, though, the the struggles of women in business, because I think it's really important that we, we, we talk about it.

Speaker 2: 34:44

I don't understand the nuances of of being a woman, obviously, and I don't see it. I've seen the aspects of men that when they speak to women they don't speak to them on their level, and I've saw that in law enforcement and I'm sure, richard, you've seen this too. We'd be out at a call and you'd be dealing with somebody and that person would speak directly to you as the man and not the woman, and I'd be, and you would always have to redirect them. You'd be like no, no, that officer speaking to you, you speak to them. What other than you know going into lease negotiations and stuff like that? Where have you seen that? Or have you seen that?

Speaker 3: 35:24

I think for me where I've most felt it is through just the building out of spaces and visiting commercial spaces to kind of find a space. Even actually talking to potential lawyers trying to get better deals, I feel like sometimes we don't really get good deals.

Speaker 2: 35:44

Interesting.

Speaker 3: 35:50

Unless, again, it's through a word of mouth, referral likely from my commercial agents, who mostly are guys unfortunately. Yeah, that's where I've felt it the most and it's through certain conversations with specific vendors. If we're trying to do some sort of event or show they ask for you know who's the owner.

Speaker 3: 36:08

Then I say I'm the owner and then they're like oh wow, good for you, like yeah, they say these things but actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I've had some coaches right like some actual male coaches come in and they're like oh, are you the sales rep? And I'm like no, I'm actually the actually the owner. And then they're like again good for you. Really happy to that. You're thriving, you know, and I'm just like well, yeah, thank you, right, and you're not coming here.

Speaker 2: 36:37

Yeah, yeah, but that's what I'm referring to is there's this underlining thing that that you're not equal to the male right, the male position, because everyone in their mind, when they think business owner, they right away go to a male right.

Speaker 3: 36:54

They also think oh, the common thing that I also get is um who are your partners? Who are your?

Speaker 1: 37:01

business partners.

Speaker 3: 37:02

Yeah. And then I'm like actually, no, it's just me. And then they're like oh my God, it's just you. That's amazing Good for you. And I'm like, yeah, like I can do this, yeah, so thank you.

Speaker 2: 37:12

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 37:13

But that's a big common one. Actually, they'll always ask me if I have partners. Yeah, Interesting.

Speaker 1: 37:18

I'm wondering if I could dive in. I want to play devil's advocate. So do you think it could just be the shock factor, like it's a whole new business idea? They've never heard of this concept before. They're like, oh wow, like it's that. Because sometimes I feel guilty, like I would if I met you and you said that. I'm like wow, like I've never heard. That's where I'm coming from. I've never heard of this model. This is incredible. But I might start putting you know, prodding more. Like tell me more about how you got there, unless that's where they ended it, and that's why it's so weird for me. I'd be just, oh my gosh, like okay, well, I want to know more. Cause I asked Dave, I said explain this to me again. You know, tell me what this model is like that she's doing, because it sounds so fascinating. It's a, it's a niche, it's something that is going to explode in so many markets.

Speaker 3: 38:03

Mm-hmm. Yeah, uh, I, great question. I mean, maybe maybe it is because of that, because it's so brand new. I think also in the health and fitness industry there are multiple like most spaces have multiple partners. It's very unlikely that a person kind of would do everything by themselves. So I kind of understand that. And, to be honest, solopreneurs, like people who just are solo, is very rare. So even when I go to pitch investors, they're always like who are your co-founders, like where's your founding team? And then I always have to say listen, I've tried to find found, I've tried to find co-founders, I've tried to connect with partnership. It's not going to work. Yeah, and let me tell you why because they don't see things the way that I see it and they're not aligned with where I think this could go. So like you need to trust me and understanding like I'm the queen of outsourcing.

Speaker 3: 39:02

So like listen, I know how to outsource. Just give me you know, trust me, and then I will get it done.

Speaker 2: 39:08

Yeah, yeah, do you do you find that? That is why probably most women will then gear their partnership businesses to other women.

Speaker 3: 39:19

I think so.

Speaker 2: 39:20

Okay.

Speaker 3: 39:20

Yeah, yeah. So we've already got like. I have one new coach coming in. She has a staff of like 10 coaches Um she has a staff of like 10 coaches.

Speaker 3: 39:28

Um, she has a location here in toronto as well as in aurora, and the main driver for her to come work with me is I'm a woman, right, and I'm actually happy that she feels that way, because she's experienced also working with men, right, and she's like I just can't, it's not, I can't do it anymore. Interesting, I've had such bad experiences. I was, yeah, I think women and men, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, but I think, for me, what I also know as being a woman is our ability to communicate. Is that much more clear, right? And I'm very transparent about where we are at in terms of where the business is at. I'm always trying to talk to my coaches about what's next and for them to also understand what's coming in the pipeline, what is end goal.

Speaker 1: 40:15

There's a future, there's a goal, there's something to aspire to.

Speaker 3: 40:18

And so then that's how they also get tapped in, and I know that with, sometimes, men, communication isn't really a strong point. It's either black or white, yes or no. That's it. I'm not telling you anything else.

Speaker 3: 40:32

But, sometimes for me, what I've noticed is a strong suit for myself, and how I think we've had Placemade grow so quickly is just sharing the realness of kind of what's happening and what I think could happen. This is where we're going to go, this is what I think. Asking for input all the time Um, yeah, I think that's totally helped.

Speaker 2: 40:54

I think that's just signs of a great leader too. Yeah Right, Someone who's open, transparent, honest with the people that they're working with, with the people that are working for them, or with them. I should say, Um, I think that that is a sign of a good leader, someone who does that, whether male or female. But I think those attributes that you possess are just obvious signs of a good leader, thank you.

Speaker 3: 41:17

Well, I think I've also had bad leadership again male leaders. Bad leadership came from male leaders and I was just like I never want to be like that. And so they taught like. This.

Speaker 2: 41:28

One company just taught me a lot in terms of what not to do, and I think, I think that's actually what I've been doing over the over the past three years in terms of business, was I would just do the opposite of all the supervisors, all the bosses, all the you know. I would take some of the good things that they were doing, but most of the stuff that I'm doing is just the complete opposite. Yeah Right, where where you didn't, where I got bad treatment, I treat people better. Where someone had, where I struggled with some, I would make sure that they don't struggle. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 41:56

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 1: 41:58

Awesome, what, what you know. As we come to a close, what takeaway could you give to our listeners and viewers? Uh, to help them navigate, you know, the business world. You know it's. It's such a scary step forward. It's like jumping off a cliff. Maybe there's a key takeaway in yourself that you saw, that you're, you know, willing to pass along just to help keep those people going to get from one side to the other side.

Speaker 3: 42:28

Honestly, for me, finding mentors is massive, like that is literally going to change your life. I mean, like change your life in every way, because these guys have been doing it for 10, 15, 20, 30 years and the amount of information that they and these people want to share this with you. All you got to do is ask, and because they want to uplift other people, you know, and so they are more than happy and willing to share kind of any tips. But the key is to get out there and whatever your business idea is, don't be afraid to just start talking about it, even if it doesn't exist. Just talk about it and then just see what happens through conversations, uh, with people, organically. Like you'll start to maybe get oh, like, oh, I didn't think about that. Or like, actually, yeah, that's a great idea.

Speaker 3: 43:20

Maybe I'll pivot and go this way, right and so doing stuff like that, and then just again tapping into your local networks. Like there, every city has tons of networking groups and opportunities. You're bound to find one that you can connect with. So get out there. That's would be my biggest thing is get out there and start following people on Instagram or TikTok. You know people on your feed or TikTok, you know people on your feed. If you're really wanting to push yourself, like seeing that every day of like somebody starting their business, motivational quotes, whatever that can also psych your brain and jumpstart it into thinking okay, I think I can do this, because that's literally what I'm seeing every day.

Speaker 2: 44:03

Yeah, convincing yourself, convincing yourself.

Speaker 3: 44:05

Yeah, totally Awesome. Yeah, well, thank you for having me.

Speaker 2: 44:10

No, thank you for being here.

Speaker 3: 44:11

It's. I hope that was helpful. Yeah, no.

Speaker 2: 44:13

I, like I said I think from the get go, I think this is going to be one of the better episodes. I think it's very motivational for people to listen to this story. People need to hear it, People need to understand that there's if they're scared. It's that first step that's scary. The rest of it will come to place.

Speaker 3: 44:31

Yeah, yeah, and I think, too, another big thing that I wanted to add is just plan, plan your next five steps. I mean, like, is it a website? Is it like a landing page on Google, my business? Like, is it a telephone number? Like literally, one, two, three. It's just following the steps. Yeah, that's it.

Speaker 1: 44:50

Yeah, awesome. Where can our listeners find you? If you have any socials or LinkedIn's or websites, it's your opportunity to reach out and let everyone know how to connect?

Speaker 3: 45:00

Yeah, for sure. So people can find me on Instagram, celia Lopez Fitz, so C-E-L-I-A-L-O-P-E-Z-F-I-T. And they can also follow Placemade, so P-L-A-C-E-M-A-Dco, and visit our website. So all of our website links are also attached to the Instagram profile, so you can find us there and just feel free to send me a DM.

Speaker 2: 45:26

Wonderful.

Speaker 1: 45:28

Dave, where can our listeners find you?

Speaker 2: 45:37

Well, I am on LinkedIn and Instagram. David A Moskowitz. Come to one of the three places you might bump into me, or getting a horrible workout and killing my body at Placemade. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 45:48

Yeah, one of those places and you can find yours, truly richard dibiasi, on instagram and linkedin. Or, unless you're in orlando, florida, uh, where it's tropical every day, guys, I'll be here, uh, well, everyone, if you love the show, you know what to do subscribe, share, comment, write us a question. If you have something for dave and I'd like us to address in an upcoming episode, or some guest ideas, we are all ears and, as always, dave, we want you to dream bigger, make waves and take action and life. We'll talk to you on our next episode.