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Scenic Route
Life's one helluva ride — why not enjoy the view?
The Scenic Route Podcast is your audio chill pill, serving up mindset shifts, laughs, and 'aha!' moments that fuel your soul and your wallet.
We're all about:
- Finding purpose (without the fluff)
- Embracing the soft life (because hustle culture is so last season)
- Real talk (sugar-coating? Not around here)
- Actionable insights (for when you're ready)
- Daring convos (we go there, babes)
- Building resilience (without the toxic positivity)
- Mindfulness for real people (with real problems)
Whether you're feeling lost and emotionally exhausted, hiding from your kids in the bathroom, need a break from the chaos, or want to zen out, we've got you covered.
Join Jennifer Walter, sociologist (MASoc UCC) and pathfinder, on this journey to inner peace — with a generous side of potty humour.
Ready to care less about others' BS and more about your own bliss? Hop on The Scenic Route. Trust us, the view up here is *chef's kiss*.
New episodes drop every Tuesday.
Your next chill session awaits. You coming?
Scenic Route
Avoid Bore-Out: How to Thrive as a Multi-Passionate Professional with SaCola Lehr
Ever wondered how to juggle multiple passions and side ventures successfully? Or have you ever been shamed for your side hustle? Like you don't take it seriously enough?
Join us on the Scenic Route Podcast with our brilliant guest, SaCola Lehr, as we demystify the stigma around side hustles and redefine what it means to be a multi-passionate professional. SaCola opens up about her incredible journey from finance to education, inspired by her family's entrepreneurial legacy. Together, we brainstorm a more empowering term for "side hustle" and share invaluable advice on proudly embracing your diverse professional pursuits.
Key Takeaways:
- Dual Career Success and ByeBye Bore-Out: Discover strategies to thrive as a multi-passionate professional without burnout.
Side Hustle Alternatives: Learn why "side hustle" often carries negative connotations and how to reshape the narrative.
Career Fulfillment: Explore how embracing multiple roles can lead to greater job satisfaction and personal growth.
Work-Life Balance: Tips for juggling diverse professional pursuits while maintaining equilibrium.
Multiple Income Streams: Understand the benefits and challenges of diversifying your career and income sources.
"We need to stop feeling shame around the term 'side hustle' and start owning our multi-passions." SaCola Lehr
Don't miss this insightful episode on reframing your thoughts about your side hustle into a more powerful and serving narrative.
Connect with SaCola Lehr
Website
Instagram
Listen to her podcast, Work it, Live it, Own it!
Tune into my chat with SaCola about great branding
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Desire to find your Scenic Route? Visit jenniferwalter.me — a welcoming space for the emotionally exhausted to rest, discover, and playfully embrace inner peace. Embrace a softer, more fulfilling life today!
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Tap into your inner wisdom and let it guide you.
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Curious about what insights await you today? Dive in and let your scenic journey unfold, one affirmation at a time.
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Ever wondered if you should downplay your side hustle? Or have you ever been belittled for your side hustle? Or do you just completely hide it from anyone else? Join us today on the Scenic Route podcast, SaCola and and I challenge the stigma around side hustle and why we absolutely love that name, and we can also come up with a new one. So stay tuned, and we're just encouraging you to own your multi-passion pursuits with pride, confidence. So, hey, let's get into today's episode.
Jennifer Walter:Hi and welcome to the scenic route podcast, where we believe in embracing life's journey with purpose, curiosity and a bit of potty humor. One's own cool mom and I'm always looking out for that perfect slice of gluten-free rhubarb pie. Every week, I get the joy of sitting down with dreamers and doers who dare to take the road less traveled in pursuit of their own magic. Together, we dive into the inspiring stories of soulful entrepreneurs and visionary leaders who boldly share their beliefs, lessons and fuck-ups. Excited, so am I. You're exactly where you're meant to be and now, now let's take this conversation off the beaten track.
Jennifer Walter:Okay, so today Scenic Route enicRoute R S Rtheceic S oute R podcast, I'm talking to SaCola and we're gonna go. We're gonna go deep and fast because we have I've had the pleasure of being on her podcast before and we went like down the rabbit hole and down where it hurts really fast but with like a chuckle, and it was great fun. So I'm going to link the episode as well. So go have a listen. And today we're going to talk about the relationship between what we do and how we define us, or how it defines us, or how we let it define us, and how, especially if you're in the online world, how there's so much shame around if you're doing something as a full gig or as a side hustle and the word per se gives me the heebie-jeebies like I can't with that word. And we're going to talk about all of this from and you're going to hear from me and Zicola, who both have like a gig, a side gig, a side hustle, non-paid hobbies
Jennifer Walter:yes, we are for sure so, like tell me how, how did you realize? Okay, there's something else I would like to do, as like professionally. I'm not calling it a side hustle, because A I don't like the word side and the word hustle, and it's just. Maybe we'll find a better term once this conversation runs its course. Maybe we'll find a better term once this conversation runs its course. But for the sake of keyword bullshit, bingo, how did you find your side hustle? Or when did you realize? No, this ain't it, there's got to be more.
SaCola Lehr:Well, I started out my career in finance, Didn't plan on going into finance straight out of college. It just happened that way and a lady came in and said why don't you become a teacher? Cause I didn't look happy on my job. And she noticed it and I was like teachers don't make money. And I, even when I thought about becoming an educator, my mom was like don't do it, you don't make money. And I've seen her do multiple things in education. And I went home and I told her what happened and she was like oh sure, why don't you become an educator? I was like, wait, I wasted four years of college doing speech, theater, broadcasting, for you to tell me oh try, education. So I did, Quickly realized that I went from getting paid twice a month to once a month and I already knew I took a pay cut doing it.
SaCola Lehr:But I didn't know how that would actually look after taxes and everything. So it came out of necessity and in the field of education, particularly in most areas of the United States, most educators have a side gig or side hustle because of necessity. They're trying to make ends meet. So for me in my field, it wasn't uncommon, but at the same time it's also fulfilling a need in me, this desire to do something, to be a creator, to actually formulate an idea and bring it to reality. That's what I love, and I come from a long line of entrepreneurs on my mother's side. A lot of them run their own businesses, paved their own way, and I saw that as an example and I just said, wow, what if I did that? What if I followed in those footsteps? So it came as a desire, but primarily as a necessity.
Jennifer Walter:Which is as a, as a European, which is so wild to me, that there is a necessity beyond the incredibly. My partner is a teacher. So, right beyond the incredibly demanding profession of being an educator and working with kids and supporting them, that you need something else to keep you financially stable is beyond, like. I mean, they're not the, they don't earn the greatest paychecks here too, but at least like they can survive of that thing which, yeah, it still boggles my mind. Um, but I feel we could go here into a big system critique episode we have we're gonna save this for another time, I suppose, but I'm how.
Jennifer Walter:So we kind of like talked into the necessities that you kind of like had the both, the two of them, and, as you were like starting it up, your side gig or the main gigs, your different gigs, what challenges had you like did you have to face? And in managing both roles? Right, because we have two hats on. You have I mean, you have more than two hats, but you have these two business hats on. And with both roles come expectations either the ones you have you place on yourself internally like, oh, this better succeed, or else or you have society's expectations, expectations from your parents, your friends, your partner, like how? How did you navigate all of that and how you overcome it?
SaCola Lehr:Well, I didn't start until I was married, so it wasn't something that I did when I was single and so I had to think is this doable? So I had to think is this doable? And I never knew about anyone working from home. And so I had a friend and I just asked her, just casual conversation. I knew she was retired military. I was like what do you do? Do you still work? Or she was like oh, I work from home. Okay, so what? Are you a telemarketer? Because that's what I was used to. People who work from home could do telemarketing, work from home. And she says, no, I am a certified coach's virtual assistant. You mean like an athletic coach. What type of coach are you talking about?
SaCola Lehr:I was so new to the coaching industry. She said, no, there are business coaches, life coaches, health wellness coaches. I was like what? There's a whole industry about that and I started delving into it and I was like, oh, okay, people are well, how is this different from a therapist? This is when you still have that stigma. Okay, what is the difference between a coach and a therapist? And a lot of people were still trying to figure it out and I said I want to learn how to do that. And so I went through a program and it was her program that she created and I became a certified coach's virtual assistant, got my first client through her.
SaCola Lehr:I guess you could call it nepotism in a way, but it was like here's a client that I can't really focus on right now. She just needs paperwork done behind the scenes and just keeping up with things. And so I said, okay, sure, I started out doing that, and then I learned quickly by starting a business that it wasn't just oh, let me do a website, let me do business cards and all of that other Fluffy, glitzy, glamorous stuff that you see. It was really trying to hone in on what keeps my clients awake at night, how can I help them solve those problems? But, more importantly, what services or packages could I put together to help my clients?
SaCola Lehr:Overall, running a business has really taught me more about myself as a person than I did as an employee, and what I mean by that. Because when you're working a nine to five, you're kind of like a worker bee you go in, you do your tasks, and for my job and what I do because I'm a school librarian now I left the classroom a while ago. I have certain big projects throughout the year that I focus on. So I know every school year this is what I do. I'm good at that. I got it down, I figured out a system, how that works for me.
SaCola Lehr:But running a business is totally different, because not only are you identifying your niche, your target market, your audience, what do people come to you, what are you good at, what do people usually come to you for to figure out what you're good at, and then you turn around and figure out okay, how have I helped them get to that point and get that feedback. So doing that market research was I was like, okay, how do I do this? And then, talking about yourself, identifying who you are, how you help people is, I think, a thing that a lot of people who are going into business even myself, sometimes, when I want to do something new and different I struggle with, because you're trying to hone this down and figure out okay, who am I in this particular space and time?
Jennifer Walter:Mm-hmm.
SaCola Lehr:And how can I help people? And is it clear to other people? Is the messaging clear to other people? And I know you can appreciate that as a branding strategist and what you do, but it's all about clarity, not just for your clients, but also for you it starts with you.
Jennifer Walter:You need to like be clear on what I mean, what most of us know, what we're good at. If we're, if that's the usually the first kind of layer, you're like what do I what I'm good at? And then it gets harder with the things. I feel like what do I actually like doing and what do I want to be doing? I feel these get a bit murkier, at least for me.
SaCola Lehr:Yeah it does, because just because you can do something and get paid for it doesn't mean you enjoy it. And when you don't enjoy it, it comes across to other people. And when you're talking about what you do, there's no courage or conviction in your voice and people can sense that right away. They may not be able to put their finger on him like, oh, she really doesn't enjoy what she does. Yeah, it's just like eh, no, and this is not the right person for me, so you have to enjoy what you do.
Jennifer Walter:That I think that's the whole reason why you go into business in the first place is because you really enjoy what you're doing yeah, this is so crucial and folks, you've heard me say this too just because you're good at something doesn't mean you have to do it. I mean, this doesn't just go for business, right. Just because you're good at remembering shit doesn't mean you have to remember your partner's doctor's appointment. Like no, they grown up, they can handle it right. It's not your job to take care of things. Just because you can, like I don't know, stitch this on a pillow or something I don't know. But you said you said this beautifully before you entrepreneurship, business taught you things about yourself that you didn't know, and I feel the same. It was a rough learning curve through the body of tears. What, like what would you say? What was the greatest learning that you learned about yourself going through entrepreneurship and still going through entrepreneurship?
SaCola Lehr:that my business and I are one and the same.
Jennifer Walter:They're not two separate entities.
SaCola Lehr:And and you can't hide behind a website and think that just because you put that up there, people will see it and read all this text on a website and say, oh, that's the person I want to work with. I had a friend who is an online brand strategist. She used to help people launch their product services all over the world, and this is how I got introduced to Simon Sinek. She was a facilitator, a trained facilitator, and so she said we're going to do a few sessions, I'm going to break it down. And it wasn't just about breaking my business down, it was actually breaking me down.
Jennifer Walter:Wow.
SaCola Lehr:And it was like a therapy session. I was like, if this is what a really good therapy session is like, I need more of that to uncover things about myself. And I quickly realized why I was hiding behind a name, a website, and not putting myself forward. And I actually rebranded. I went from being a virtual assistant to a video marketing strategist because of a fear that I had when I was in college and I was scared and it was something that I thought I just knew that I would be great at. And people were like, oh, sokola, you would be so great at this. And when it was time to actually commit to doing it, I froze and my professor said to me later I found out we were actually related said to me it's great that you know this now Instead of you showing up on an interview and this happens. And so I just shied away from it. I changed the whole trajectory of what I thought I was going to do for work because of that fear and I said what if I got over my fear of being in front of the camera and learned? And then I learned I was an introvert. I didn't think I was, because as a kid I was more outgoing and didn't know a stranger could hold a conversation, and it doesn't mean I don't know how to hold a conversation, I just like more personal, one-on-one, in-depth conversations. But I started shying away and becoming more withdrawn into myself as I got older. Like some people, do we change. But I allowed that fear to change me and I said what if I overcame my fear? What if I did video?
SaCola Lehr:Youtube was still in its beginning phases. This was around 2015. And I started doing videos and I said what if I came up with practical tips and suggestions? Because public speaking is something my mother always had me doing since I was a kid, and so I took those lessons and I said this is how you can come across. But you can come across on video and a lot of people.
SaCola Lehr:I was trying to get other realtors. I was like, guys, you need to start doing video, start doing video tours of homes. And they were like, what? No, I don't want to do that. So I was like, well, maybe that's not my market. And I was like, well, I work with coaches. What if I worked with coaches and said, hey, let's get people warmed up to you Through my video. They see your face, they hear your voice, they get to know you, your sense of humor, your personality, and let's do it in a strategic way, your personality and let's do it in a strategic way, and then that's how the video marketing strategy business came into play, all because of a fear.
SaCola Lehr:But then I let fear, cut me out of it again.
Jennifer Walter:We could talk about that later yes, we'll, we'll talk about this again. Um, but was there a specific switch or thought process that led you to, kind of like, stand up against your fear the first time?
SaCola Lehr:I did have someone I was working with and they were just pushing, pushing, pushing and they were just like, no, you have this gift. You had the pain. Now put in the work and get yourself out of it. And what would you do to get yourself out of it and how would you help others? So I was given a challenge of doing 10 videos. Just do 10 videos, put them up there on YouTube. And I was like, oh my goodness. So I went out, invested in a web camera and I didn't want a big camera and face, I just did a web camera. And then I said, talking to a camera, you gotta, you gotta, make love to the camera.
SaCola Lehr:I think my very first video was how to make love to the camera and put it on YouTube, and I shared a tip on there about putting a picture, a small picture, on your webcam. Or now people use their phones. Phones weren't that high tech back then. They weren't that great of quality. But I have a picture, a small photograph, when we actually would carry around small wallet-sized photographs. Oh, I remember those days, right, and I still carry a wallet-sized photo of my husband. I keep it in my wallet. We keep a photo of each other in our wallets, but I had a picture of my friend or my pet and I put it right up under the video.
Jennifer Walter:The webcam yeah. So, kind of like you're talking to that specific person.
SaCola Lehr:Exactly, and so it was a little trick. Exactly, and so it was a huge little trick. Yeah, it was a huge mindset trick and shift. For me, it was like no, this is how you make love to the camera. And then sometimes, when people say, well, I forget to actually look at the lens, I'm looking at myself, especially if you're using your computer. I said, okay, we'll take a little post-it note, draw a little arrow, and I stuck it at the bottom of the webcam.
SaCola Lehr:Look up, look up. So it was a constant reminder to just look up and smile and even and people will say when I was doing my videos, they were like, how are you not even editing your videos? And I will say, oh, great tip, here's a tip that I use, here's a strategy that I use. So I'm more comfortable with what I'm getting ready to say. But does it mean I don't have my cheat sheets, I don't have my notes, and I try to use a teleprompter. It works for some people, some people don't. My eyes are big, so you're going to see when my eyes are shifting If I'm using a teleprompter. But I would stick little post-it notes around my monitor and I would say, okay, topic one. Okay, here's a suggestion, here's a tip, here's your next tip. And so or I would write it on a note card what my tips?
Jennifer Walter:were the classic way Right.
SaCola Lehr:So if I needed to glance down at my notes, I could just quickly glance down at my notes and do it. So I got over that fear quickly glance down at my notes and do it. So I got over that fear and I helped. I was able to help women all over the world, which was an amazing thing, and I'm still in contact with most of those women to this day and they are killing it. They are so phenomenal and it just makes me proud and that's that coaching and mentoring part of me that says I don't want to just keep this to myself, but I can pass it on and I'm proud to see other people move forward and progress.
Jennifer Walter:I definitely feel there is a light in both your face and your voice when you talk about it. A light in both your face and your voice when you talk about it. So how? How do you want to talk about how and why the fear came around a second time?
SaCola Lehr:Sure Do you know like you stopped.
Jennifer Walter:You're right, I did.
SaCola Lehr:I did Cause it still it still has this like gnawing, nagging or dark pit inside of me as to why I stopped, and it was because when I did my research, no one no one was doing what I was doing. No one that I found on the internet was talking about this, and my target market was particularly women who were not confident on camera. It wasn't necessarily introverts, because I'm an introvert myself and people like you can't be an introvert Doesn't mean that when I do something I don't bring my A game, cause I'm one of those women. When it's time to step up to the plate, I'm gonna do what I gotta do, but I just need a week or two and don't bother me afterwards, I'm going to be a recluse, yeah, prep time and a cool off time.
SaCola Lehr:I need a prep time and a cool off time period, but I would do it. But then, all of a sudden, when people started seeing me and I'm doing interviews and I'm doing lives on Facebook, I'm on YouTube all of a sudden, women that were following me all of a sudden were coming up with their own formula of doing it. Or they signed up for my free weekly challenge and then was taking what I created and, look, there's nothing new under the sun. Okay, things that I was taught for years. I implemented it, I honed it, but I presented it in a way that worked for me.
SaCola Lehr:They were doing this and they had no background in video or audio production like I had, and now some do. But at the time, there were people and my coach was even calling out people and saying you're a lawyer, you're an attorney, what do you know? She would get out there and lamb based people and I just shrunk back because I was like they're stealing it, they're taking it, and I just walked away. I folded, I closed up shop because every time I was turning around, I'm seeing Facebook ads for it now because every time I was turning around I'm seeing Facebook ads for it.
SaCola Lehr:Now I was seeing and I was doing everything organically. I was marketing organically, I was sharing tips in Facebook groups when Facebook groups were still this huge thing and not to say that they're not now, but I was doing, it has shifted, yeah right and that's how I was doing it.
SaCola Lehr:so my following was from blog posts that I was writing, talking about the video equipment that I was using, and it was getting traction. I think one of my largest views is like 7.7 and a half thousand and it was all about me showing you how to use a particular software where people didn't want to show their face on video but they could if they so choose. But I just I got so dismayed and I got so discouraged that I said every it's like they were watching me, tracking me, and I said I can't, you can't track me if you don't see me. And I said I can't, you can't track me if you don't see me. And I walked away.
SaCola Lehr:And it wasn't until, I say, about a couple of years later and someone reached out to me to do some video editing, because even with my clients that I had, when they were ready to launch something or do videos, I would do small editing for them because I knew how to edit as well. And I was doing an editing thing for an expo coming up and the guy asked me why did you stop? And I said because everyone was copying and doing what I was doing. And he said and so you walked away? I said yeah. He said that was at the most pivotal moment where you shouldn't have walked away, because your breakthrough was right around the corner.
Jennifer Walter:whenever you feel like giving up and walking away is when you should keep going which is a beautiful message and and I hope the right ears hear it at the right time, because it's so hard to constantly believe in you're doing the right thing, because all the small things you're doing, they don't manifest right away. This overnight success thing, this 100k month after three weeks, two weeks in business online lore sure, it might have happened to a couple of people, but it's not the reality for most of online businesses or businesses in general. So it's really discouraging to have these stories in your face all the time and be like, well, it's not happening for me. Why it's not happening for me? What am I doing wrong? Right, and then you keep on playing certain, a certain cycle, cycle of shame or resentment that is very unique to you. I mean, everyone has their own words they repeat to themselves. So, yeah, I really hope this message comes to someone at the right time.
SaCola Lehr:I hope so, because I know better now I do.
Jennifer Walter:You're going to add that to your sidekick number two.
SaCola Lehr:Which sidekick I have. Some of the women I've helped who are now international speakers and have no qualms about doing video. Now, matter of fact, one of them was doing a ad for a company that she uses and her face was all over Facebook on the video and I was like girl, what is this? I'm scrolling through my Facebook feed I'm like who is this person? And she's one of my biggest cheerleaders and she says we need you. And yes, we do. We need you to come back.
SaCola Lehr:It's just now that marketing has changed and shifted from when I started.
SaCola Lehr:It's like, okay, how can you do it for this time period and how can it work?
SaCola Lehr:But the part about building confidence and getting mentally prepared to go on camera, that that's timeless, that doesn't go out of style, oh, it just depends on who it is. I even helped a woman who is dyslexic and she says I can't use a teleprompter, I can't write notes on a note card. How can I do this? Because my mind will go blank if I'm talking, and I suggested a way for her to do it and she uses that strategy to this day now, and I think that was the educator in me knowing okay, how can I help this particular student and then that's how I looked at it a student to be successful in their own way and different that will tailor fit for them. So there might be a possibility I might write a book about it, some of the valuable lessons I learned from it, and I may bring it back. I don't know, it may just be one of those video classes that you see on one of those platforms and who knows what it may look like, but it's there.
SaCola Lehr:But I've been able to help realtors, believe it or not even though some of them were like ah nah, some have been able to help because now they realize about five years ago, oh, you got to start doing video.
Jennifer Walter:Yeah, video is awesome. There's no way around it, right?
SaCola Lehr:I'm like well, I said that back in 2015. I got receipts, but it's okay.
Jennifer Walter:Yeah, I don't know, it still feels like you could. Yeah, you're needed 100%. There's so much. There's still. Video is omnipresent. You need video for everything and everything you do in business or in life. There's so much video.
SaCola Lehr:And I think the pandemic broke us down For those who were still resistant it broke them down.
Jennifer Walter:Yeah, they were forced to. Yeah, they were just like. No, you got to do it now. And yeah, it feels weird the first couple of times when you do video.
SaCola Lehr:I still get nervous the first couple of times when you do video Like it's I still get nervous, but I feel like a certain level of nerve.
Jennifer Walter:Feeling nervous is good, it's healthy, it is. So you take it seriously and it's it matters.
SaCola Lehr:Yeah, I always feel when. I'm like it keeps me humble. Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off. No, no it keeps me humble, when I feel nervous and I'm like thank you, no, no, keeps me humble. And so I'm thankful for that. I don't just press record. I'm like hi, no, and this mental prep work I still do. But thank you.
Jennifer Walter:Yeah, and that's such a beautiful approach and there's definitely so much space for this approach, for, yeah, for having this authentic desire to share and to educate and be like. You know, this is what's going on.
SaCola Lehr:And people thought I was crazy. And I think that's where that stigma, that stigma of what we call the side hustle or the, we've got to come up with another word. I know that side hustle but I hide side. I hate hustle it's dual career is what I like to call it dual career.
SaCola Lehr:Oh okay, yes okay, I can get behind that, yeah, okay and I think that's where the stigma comes from, because a lot of people will sit here and go well, isn't your your daytime job enough, didn't you? Or why? And it's not that there's anything that's missing from your full-time job, but I think still working a nine to five job is going to allow you to have a cushion job is going to allow you to have a cushion. And it's also financial stability because, as we know, even having a nine to five is not always guaranteed. But it gives you an avenue to try something out and see if it's a good fit for you. And if it's not a good fit for you, then it gives you also time to go back to the drawing board to figure out what else.
SaCola Lehr:But just for someone who decides I want to do a career because I'm really passionate about this or I feel like I have a purpose in doing this, it takes courage, it takes confidence, it takes this inner strength that you may not know that you had.
SaCola Lehr:There are a lot of people who have wonderful ideas out there, but they don't execute them or they don't know how to look at it and say how can I leverage this to where I can get paid for it? Because, other than that, it's going to be a hobby. But I read somewhere and I can't quite remember it, but a statistic was, I think approximately 45% of Americans are dual career and it is that is a whole lot. Yeah, that is a whole lot. Only because it's not just about making extra money Sitting at home during a pandemic. You have seen this huge influx of dual career because it can provide a sense of fulfillment for people and purpose that might be missing in their lives. Because, let's just face it, when you're sitting at home and you're looking at these four walls, all you have and all you were stuck with was you yourself and your family.
Jennifer Walter:And Netflix reruns.
SaCola Lehr:I mean, we all watched the.
Jennifer Walter:Tiger King, I think that was the first. I don't have Netflix. Okay, good for you.
SaCola Lehr:I'm odd woman out. I don't have Netflix. I do have my shows. Excuse me, sorry, you may have to edit that one out. Hold on, okay, but a lot of people got a good glimpse at themselves and wanted something more and they wanted a fulfilling purpose. So there's no shame in it. But I'm also going to touch on this other stigma too, for dual career.
Jennifer Walter:Yes, please.
SaCola Lehr:Some people might just feel jealous Ooh, okay, they might feel jealous, or they might feel threatened because of the ambition and the drive that people have. And so what I would say to someone who's dual career? Because I'm still dual career, I'm just doing something different. I'm I'm a real estate agent. I'm and you start to feel societal pressures from people that you have to have this presence of having it all together, whether it's having it all together as a single job or a single well-paying job, and what I like to call a job.
SaCola Lehr:Job stands for just over broke. There are some well-paying jobs out there, but I call it just over broke and I came up with that. I even wrote a poem about that because, being in education, you know we would joke all the time that you weren't making enough money. We barely had money for gas to get back and forth to work. But it's the societal pressures that people feel like, well, you should have just got a well-paying job, because that's part of the American dream, right? You go to college and you're supposed to, or you get a trade and you make good money at doing that, and you do that 30, 40 years and then by the time you retire, you're too old to travel and do all the other things you wanna do. And I've seen that happen, where other educators would work past their time, where they could get full retirement, and I'm like, why are you still here? And it's because of necessity.
SaCola Lehr:And then only a couple of years later after they retired. Some of them didn't even get to enjoy retirement because they were sick and they passed away. So I would say this don't let societal pressures dictate to you that you cannot be dual career. I was told when I got into real estate four years ago that don't tell your clients that you have a full-time job. And my core values, having run other businesses, taught me to develop and create my own core values for my life, for my business, and one of my core values is honesty. So that went against everything that I knew, every fiber in my being, and I said I can't lie, I don't want to lie, and you know what I didn't. So my first client it was during the you know the name we won't call where everyone was isolated and staying at home, but I could show them a house. They were out-of-state clients, so a lot of times they would come up on the weekend. Guess what I could still do that they have their jobs too right, they're not showing up.
SaCola Lehr:And a lot of clients, a lot of real estate clients, have a full-time job. But you know what, out of all my clients my very first clients, they were the only ones that didn't know that I had a full-time job. All the other ones did, as a matter of fact, one listing appointment I had. It was an estate situation. The mother had passed away, unfortunately, and it was three siblings, and one of them was the executor and executrix. And then she was trying to pull up all this information that I need, because one you got to prove you are who you say you are and that this you have the right to sell this property. I'm just talking, I'm doing having a conversation with one of the siblings, and one of the siblings is on their laptop and the question was well, what real estate firm are you with? And I was like, oh, she's looking me up. And I told her and she says do you work? Is this your full-time career? And I said I'm dual career. And she, I said I do this, but I also work in a school. And she says well, I'm just concerned that you will have the bandwidth to take on this, you know, and work with us. And I said I can guarantee you I do. And I looked at them straight in their face and I said I can guarantee you I do.
SaCola Lehr:I said because I've structured my business in a way where I will only take on so many clients at a time. I said and I know my bandwidth, I know when too much is too much. And I can tell you right now, out of the clients that I have, one is pregnant. They're out of state. They got to sell their home before they can buy a home here. I said so we're trying to wait on that. Another one, I said they're not really ready right now. They got some things to work on. I said but what I can guarantee you right now is that you will receive full concierge service with me. Can guarantee you right now is that you will receive full concierge service with me because I did not lie, because if you type in my name, you could probably find out stuff.
SaCola Lehr:You know the internet and she could see where I was, where you know things about me. But because it didn't lie, that's how I got to work with them and I never lied. I never lied and people will tell you don't lie. Or even in real estate. And I'm just going to go ahead and put this out here too. If there's anyone who is in the real estate business and you are working with someone who's dual career I have been looked down upon because I was dual career by other colleagues or other business owners who are in real estate Like I'm less than no, that doesn't make someone less than because they are dual career. And some of the dual career agents are some of the top producing agents out there and they're really good at what they do. So you shouldn't downplay or look down upon anyone because they have a full-time job close to early retirement.
SaCola Lehr:I can count on less than five fingers how many years I have left to early retirement. Lord willing, I make it to that point. But I'm going to walk away Benefits and a paycheck to the end of my days. To me, I think that's smart end of my days. To me, I think that's smart and if that means I want to stack up money for my retirement but I also have created another revenue stream for me when I retire.
SaCola Lehr:So that way I don't have to work out of necessity. I don't have to operate out of scarcity and lack. I can take on clients that I really, truly want to work with that are a right fit for me. I'm not sitting out here throwing money at a bunch of ads, running out here trying to show a home, trying to make a dollar. Nope, the way I structured my business is the way I wanted to run, even after that fact. So I just have to say that I just had to put that out there. Guys, if you don't take anything away from this, don't look at it as, don't let anybody look down on you because you're dual career. If you're taking that dual career to stack up, to invest, to grow, so you can retire early, you speak and you counteract that with confidence, with courage and conviction. And so when anyone comes to you and says, oh well, why are you working so many jobs or being a dual career?
Jennifer Walter:you have to reframe that narrative. Yes, own the narrative, like, own your own story and realign it with your values, as you said right, like for your it's honesty and just being like you know that's what it is, and I mean, yes, amen. I feel like this is the gospel of sakola.
SaCola Lehr:Yes, um just I mean, and if you struggle to to figure out, what should you say when someone asks you this? So the next time someone asks you this question.
SaCola Lehr:Let me see if I can reframe this. You're going to proudly explain to them that your move is a strategic move for your future and that you can share how it's helping you achieve your goals, whether it's financial independence, career advancement or personal fulfillment. When you come from an angle of not trying to play defense and my thing is, instead of being reactive, be proactive you speak proudly and you say I'm setting myself up for financial success, for financial independence. This is going to allow me to retire early.
Jennifer Walter:Or for a fulfilling life for my curiosities and passions.
SaCola Lehr:Right For personal fulfillment and for career advancement, however that looks, and I'll give you a prime example. I talked about this on an episode that's going to be released later. I have a friend I had interviewed on my podcast and she is a pharmaceutical sales rep I've been doing about 20 years. She started formulating her business and she was one of my video clients. She started formulating her business and she was one of my video clients. She started formulating her business on sales, on how to come up with a sales formula, selling with integrity, with authenticity and she structured her business that way on things that she learned from her job. Guess what Now, on her job she's not always going out to doctor's offices or hospitals and things like that she's teaching other pharmaceutical sales reps how to sell authentically and make genuine connections, but that career actually helped, fueled her to have a business, and she was one that I talked about earlier, who's an international speaker.
SaCola Lehr:Now, why not? She's fulfilling. She has a fulfillment on both ends. She's getting a job. She has a job. She has a career, that she's doing something that she loves, but she's also doing this on the side that she loves too. There's nothing wrong with that. So, instead of saying you've got the side hustle? No, you're not hustling. I mean, I grew up in the hood so I know what it's like to hustle. But your dual career and some may say so, kalua, that's just semantics. No, no, it's not, absolutely not.
Jennifer Walter:I feel we all should put dual careerist on our social media profiles. This should be like a badge of honor no but it's I had.
Jennifer Walter:I have a very smart friend, um, and when I was early on in my entrepreneur journey, he, he said it like this you know, actually being employed is not a smart move at all these days. And I mean, I I've seen it so in with so many friends. Right, they invested years and years with a company and then there's one, one bad wind and all they're tossed out on the street without any afterthought and they're kind of like rebuilding. So in our capitalistic system, like they don't, you don't matter, they don't care for you, like it's each of their own kind of mentality. So he said to me you know, it's actually a smart thing to to be dual career or multiple career, because it look at it like this if you only have one employer and one employer, you have a lump risk. If that one's going to fire you, you're out on the street with nothing. If you lose a client or one dual career, you still have another one or another client. Your net is bigger. So it's actually a very smart thing to do.
Jennifer Walter:And I really love this reframe. I'm still thinking for this reframe every now and then I'm like, yeah, he was so right, it was absolutely the smart thing to do and everyone else is kind of gaslighting you into saying no, it's not, it's stupid, and I'm like, no, no. So if you're listening and I hope you feel reassured by Sikoa's gospel and my humble shares that, no, you can actually have a proud batch of dual careerists. Or if you're thinking of starting it like, yeah, learn, I don't know, practice what you want to say. Comment you give you the side eye for having a dual career. Or, like, try to belittle you, which I feel I don't know, mostly happens to my um the clients who, to my female clients, where they're like, oh, oh, you take pictures of wedding that is so cute, like, and she's like, uh, well, thank you, I charge like seven thousand000 for wedding pictures, but yeah, it's my cute little side hustle that sustains my family, thank you, yeah, you know what.
SaCola Lehr:I wouldn't even take offense to that. I would just smile and say yes, and I absolutely enjoy what I do. I get to capture people's memories, memorable milestones in their life, and I absolutely love it. When you shine the spotlight on the positive highlights of what you do, it shuts them down. They can't say anything. I've done that so many times.
SaCola Lehr:Do you honestly think in my job there are people who know what I do and I don't broadcast it a lot on my personal profile number one, because I limit who's on my social media personally, especially when it comes to my colleagues and even those who may want to connect with me. If I know you're messy on my job, then you're not going to connect with me in my personal life anyway. So I'm careful about who is around and who knows what I do, first and foremost, but I also do my job. I don't let my other career interfere with my job, because that is the bread and butter right now. However, just be cognizant about who is in your corner and who is not, and sometimes the worst feeling is when you think your family and friends are supposed to be in your corner and then you find out that they don't.
SaCola Lehr:Can I just say this piece here that, no matter what happens, always make sure that you have your own back, because if you don't have your own back and you're out here expecting other people to validate what you do, you will be lost. Stop seeking external validation from other people. You have to show up, you have to be consistent, you have to have your own back in your life and in your business. Have to have your own back in your life and in your business. And when you show up and you have your own back, then people will watch and support. And a lot of times when they are watching and supporting, they may not say anything, they may not comment on your post, but when you are consistently doing what you're doing, they're like oh, this is legit, this is real. And I've had people kind of say that to me because they'll go oh, sokola, you've sold another house, oh, you've helped another client, and they look really happy. Yeah, I'm not just saying it.
Jennifer Walter:I'm not saying I'm just a realtor, I'm actually doing it.
SaCola Lehr:Yeah, and I love it. I love that feeling. It's euphoric. It's a lot of stress to get there, to get the clients to the finish line, but when they do it's so sweet and it's memorable. And don't let anybody give you shine and grief about being dual career. Make sure you got your own back, first and foremost.
Jennifer Walter:Yes, thank you so much. If you're listening to, if you've listened to a couple of episodes of the CineGraph podcast, you know I've been preaching this too. No external validation can make up for lacking internal validation. None, not the shiny house, not the bag of money, nothing. So thank you, sekola. If my words didn't land before, I hope they do now. They better now Because you've been heard a lot of times. So if people are now like, okay, I need to hear more of Sekola, and if she ever is going to do Teach Me video again, where can people find you online?
SaCola Lehr:Well, you can connect with me at work it live it own it on Instagram. That's work it live it own it. You can also hear get a feel of my personality a little bit more in depth on my podcast as well, called the same thing work it live it own it. So Instagram is where I am primarily, but also on LinkedIn. Those are my two sweet spots. I've kind of limited where I am on social media because, again, I got to be cognizant of my bandwidth. But, yes, I would love to hear from you guys If you have any other comments or suggestions or questions on this conversation.
Jennifer Walter:have any other comments or suggestions or questions on this conversation, send me a dm on instagram. Okay, we will link both to linkedin and instagram and to your podcast on the show notes make sure also to check out um the episode so cola recorded with me on branding and like authenticity and aligned action. So that's very much in the spirit of this conversation too, but from a different angle yes, we need to put a link down to that one as well.
SaCola Lehr:If you don't mind, I will yes, absolutely I will.
Jennifer Walter:And before I let you off the hook, I always have one last question. Okay, what book are you currently reading, or what audiobook you're listening to?
SaCola Lehr:see, you would ask me that, um, I am reading a book because I like to escape, so fiction mysteries is what I like. One fiction is laura childs. She does the tea shop mysteries and it's a setting in, and I can't think of the name of the title of the book, because she has a whole series of books right now but look it up it in Charleston and she runs a tea shop in Charleston.
SaCola Lehr:But she also solves the mysteries. And then I'm also currently reading believe it or not, two weeks notice by Amy Porterfield oh, and that's a great book for those who are looking to do an exit strategy on leaving their day job oh, that's a line timing it is. It is I. I take in information and glean from others too, because when it's my time to exit, I will perfect.
Jennifer Walter:We're going to link both books and the T-Shap series and the Cinegraph Book Club. So if ever anyone is saying who's like, oh dang, I just finished another book and you're anything like me, like, have I love series, because then I don't really have to think about what to read next, because I'm just going to go with the series. Have a look on the Cinegraph Book Club website for all the books mentioned by my lovely guests. And well, sekola, thank you so much for being on the Cinegraph with me. Talk soon.
SaCola Lehr:Talk soon. Take care everyone.
Jennifer Walter:And just like that, we've reached the end of another journey together on the Cinegroup podcast. Thank you for spending time with us. Curious for more stories or in search of the resources mentioned in today's episode, Visit us at scenigroupodcastcom for everything you need and if you're ready to embrace your scenigroup, I've got something special for you. Step off the beaten path with my scenigroup affirmation card deck. It's crafted for those moments when you're seeking courage, yearning to trust your inner voice and eager to carve out a path authentically, unmistakably yours. Pick your scenic route affirmation today and let it support you. Excited about where your journey might lead, I certainly am. Remember, the scenic route is not just about the destination, but the experiences, learnings and joy we discover along the way. Thank you for being here and I look forward to seeing you on the scenic route again.
