Ep.12 Rhonda Elkins: Showing Up for Yourself

After decades of corporate sales my guest Rhonda Elkins decided to seize the opportunity of a volunteer layoff and severance package to do something for herself.  She now helps families secure their futures with financial planning.  Listen in on our conversation as we discuss the corporate game, habits, money, security and social media. 

To learn more about Rhonda and all the ways to find her, full show notes here.

Resources:  Want to know 7 things you can do today to make leaving corporate easier?  Grab it here!

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Transcript

Jamie Stephens: 0:05

Okay. So Rhonda, thank you for coming on the show. I just want to have you introduce yourself to everyone and kind of tell us a little bit of your corporate background, and then that'll get us started. And we can go from there.

Rhonda Elkins: 0:25

Okay, yeah. So Rhonda Elkins and I have spent 19 years in corporate sounds crazy. And I'm actually that all that true story. And that was with three different companies. And let's say about probably I say, 12 years ago, it was my first attempt to get rid of the corporate job, escape corporate mentality in the whole thing. And this is where I say God hasn't been sense of humor. So I made the decision, and I left the company I was with, and I moved from Oklahoma City to North Dallas and Plano area, and was interviewing with a small company that just much smaller, more felt like a family by type thing. And my son was second grade. And it was just, this is a better fit for me raising him and, you know, I can take him to school every day, pick him up all of that, well, I got that position. And then six months later, we were purchased by the largest food company in the world. So that's where I say God has a big sense of humor. So I landed myself right back in corporate. And I spent 11 years there. And it wasn't until COVID hit. Because I, I enjoy the position. Enjoy the company, the people I work with, and everything, but as you know, it's just always gonna be no matter what. It's always. It's not what you did today. What do you know, it's not what you did yesterday. What do you got for me today? Yeah, like thing. And when COVID hit, I had moved to Florida. And I was covering 14 states at the time. And Florida wasn't one of them. But because I spent every day or every week in an airport, I thought, You know what, my son's going to go away in a year to college. And what am I going to do? I don't want to just be living out here in suburbia, you know, single in Frisco, Texas. So I've always wanted to retire in Sarasota. So why don't I just go there now? Yeah. And so I did. And then a year later, COVID hit. And we couldn't travel and all of that. So it just pushed me to make some decisions. And I just made the decision to you know, it's time to go. And so I left again. And I say again, but only the last time that I left corporate. And so that's been it was October of 2020. Nice. I spent my last day there. And I've been venturing and doing a whole new thing.

Jamie Stephens: 3:17

Awesome. What was it that you were doing in corporate?

Rhonda Elkins: 3:21

And I was a regional manager for Nestle? Gotcha. Oh, yeah. Food Service sales.

Jamie Stephens: 3:27

Sales. So probably just crazy goals all the time. I mean, like, obviously, we're just, we're cog in the machine. I mean, that's, it's all it is. And, you know, I was laughing the other day, cuz somebody and like, a group I was in was just kind of like, so. What's like, I've never been in corporate like, what, what's so bad about it? Like, why does everybody feel like they have to escape corporate and I just kind of had to laugh because it's like, if you know, you know, but it's, it's just so prevalent, especially, I would say for women and just trying to play the game and keep up with everything before you realize it's just like, it's so hard though. Because of the money, the benefits, all that sort of thing. Yeah.

Rhonda Elkins: 4:19

You know, what I always think of is the movie when a what's his name? My gosh, you know, him tie. He says, How much did they pay you to give up on your dreams? Yeah. I love that scene. And it's because it's so true. What happens? Do you think I thought for a second, I would be there for 11 years? No way. No, it's a blank and it's, you know, and they always set you i If I could get a penny for every time somebody tells me. This isn't personal. Well, I have an issue. I take it personal. It's like, I don't know how to pour my heart into what I do if I don't have some kind of personal attachment to it. And so, you know, but yes, corporate is notorious for red tape, right? And just how do you get something done? Because they're just pushing the forward button to this person to this person to this person until you're in this mad circle that nothing's getting done. Yeah. And so it's not I don't miss that. Not at all.

Jamie Stephens: 5:33

Yeah.

Rhonda Elkins: 5:36

And it's also a thing to like, you say that crazy numbers. And our numbers changed every year, I never worried about it. I always hit my numbers, whatever they were, but that year, I was number one in the country. And this is such a classic. A unlevered, free forget, when I finished the year is number one, when it came rolls around. And it's like, March, April, that's when COVID really started to hit. And we had our reviews, you know, talk about, you know, those yearly pay. And the way that my boss sold it to me, or tried to sell it to me, like, we're so lucky, we're in a pandemic, people are losing their jobs. And not only are we not losing our jobs, but they're still giving us a raise. It's not the traditional bet. It's one and a half percent. Are you freaking crazy? Oh, I traveled every year or 52 weeks last year, I'm number one in the country, and you want to tell me that I should be grateful for one and a half percent? Okay. Yeah.

Jamie Stephens: 6:55

Just like classic corporate bullshit, hopefully has, like, I had like a very similar thing. I mean, it was just like, work your butt off, do everything, you know, just give and give and give, knowing that they're raking in record breaking profits on shorter staff, less cost, because they're not flying everybody. They're like rolling in dough. And then they try to do this bullshit. Like, here's one and a half percent, here's 3%. And it's just like, I know what I contributed, you know, financially, it is just such a slap in the face. And all that just make goes all over me.

Rhonda Elkins: 7:39

I know. And you know, and it was a struggle to at the beginning of breaking out and doing my own thing, just like mentally. I mean, I knew I wanted to, or, you know, I thought this is what I want to do. But subconsciously, I think we question ourselves too. And I find what I found myself, like, why am I not working as hard for myself? I would kill myself for the company. Yeah. But why do I take it so much more casual? Women's, for me, I deserve to have just as much success as I've given them. Right? Right. Right. So it's been a mental, you know, like, Hey, you deserve this. Just keep doing it. I think

Jamie Stephens: 8:25

that's what separates a lot of people too. Because I mean, that's, that's just our brain getting in the way our ego getting in the way and just the sabotage to keep you quote unquote, safe and where you are, even though safe is comfortably miserable is how I like to describe it to where it's like, yeah, this sucks. Like, I like my job just fine. And like the people I work with, but like the corporate stuff just kind of sucks. But at least I know what to expect. And, you know, but that only gets you so far. Whenever you're like, No, like, I can't, I can't do this another 11 years, I can't look up and have another 11 years gone when I'm just you know, unhappy. And, you know, I get that. It's tough. So what are you? What are you doing now and kind of how are you working on that mindset to keep you kind of moving forward?

Rhonda Elkins: 9:25

And well, I got I have my license and let's see. Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas. And yeah, six states and seven. I can actually work pretty much anywhere not Mexico. I found. I went to Mexico twice this year, and it was difficult to try to do any work there but that's going to be anyway right? You're in Mexico to have vacation not work. But I just help families protect their financial futures, with life insurance, life insurance, annuities, just things like that just protect their financial future for their loved ones.

Jamie Stephens: 10:12

Gotcha. So how did you come to that from working in, in sales and corporate and all of that? Like, how did that translate? What did that transition look like?

Rhonda Elkins: 10:24

I had looked at it several years ago, I would say five or six years ago, I had my license at one time, and I just did a little bit of it on the side. And I enjoyed it. And when I was thinking about the direction of where do I want to go? Now, like, and I did do a couple of interviews right off the bat, but I wasn't feeling it. And I had a friend that was working for the company that I'm with now. And I reached out to her. And so I loved the idea. When people say, what's your Wi Fi? What do you want? And this is my why always, is just what do I want to live, I want to be able to do whatever I want, whenever I want. That's just like I want to be able to pick up, you know, fly to Florida today, whatever. I want that freedom. And so I like the freedom that this offered in the fact, especially now I do everything virtually, I have done done in person, I can do it in person. But I can touch so many more people by working virtually. Yeah. And just just like you and hire, you know? Yeah,

Jamie Stephens: 11:37

I mean, it's so events. It's just so normal these days. You know, I do think that that's something a lot can be said about COVID, obviously, but there are some silver linings and things that that came out of it as far as the way that society got pushed forward as in the things everybody already knew. It's like I can do this job from my house, like I don't have to do all of these things and jump through these hoops to get in an office. Not to say that there's not benefits of the camaraderie that happens and an office but yeah, no. It's nice within the normal thing.

Rhonda Elkins: 12:18

Yeah. And that's the other thing with the company that I'm working with, we have just we have great people. And we make a point, we have this app called crew. So we're all on there. And we'll share stuff and and we'll get on Zoom. thing. Sometimes we're going to do one today, just like we huddle up just to Hey, talk about our week or what's going on. And so we reach out and help each other. And it's very big about personal development. And I've always been a huge advocate of personal development, like you're only going to grow as as much as you're willing to grow mentally. And so I do I do a lot of reading. Have you heard of the book? Atomic habits?

Jamie Stephens: 13:04

Yes. Yeah. Have you read it? I've read it. Well, I listened to the audiobook last year. And then one of the girls that I'm podcasting with, or one of the women that were like in a same podcasting group, she's doing a book club on atomic habits, or she just did one in January. So I was kind of hit and miss with what I could keep up with. But yeah, I mean, it's all coming back and stuff. So,

Rhonda Elkins: 13:29

so good. Yeah, I just finished that book. Yeah, really good.

Jamie Stephens: 13:34

What was your favorite kind of takeaway from there? Like, what is one thing that you're implementing from there?

Rhonda Elkins: 13:40

And, you know, it's I love just the simplicity of it. And somebody was using this example the other day about, you know, Jim Rohn, and how, you know, his thing, I think it's like, you know, five goals five, despite it, the thing is reality when we put, and we want to change every facet of our life. Overnight. Yeah. setting ourselves up to fail. Yeah. So it's like, I love the simplicity of take one little thing. And just do it every single day, and fall in love with the process. And so it's a little simple things in how it talks in the book, you know, it needs to be easy. So, it there are certain things that we do every day without thinking about it, which is, you know, get up brush your teeth, or, you know, I have coffee, sometimes two to three cups. So I have a big glass like a big, huge champagne glass. That's like my gratitude glass that says yay, on the front. And so I start every day with a cup of coffee. And so I put that gratitude glass by the coffee bar. And I just write something down every day that I'm thankful for. And I put it in the glass and I've heard People are doing this for years that they start out in January. And they do that. And then at the end of the year, they read all their. Yeah. And I maybe have done it for a week before. I don't know, yet. This time, it's like I put it right there on my coffee bar. There's ink pen and paper. And every morning while the coffee is brewing, it's, you know, what am I grateful for? So it's a good place to start your day. You know, just being focusing on something that you're grateful for.

Jamie Stephens: 15:30

If I recall, that was part of the habit stacking. Is that right? Like, where you're taking one habit that is so ingrained, like making your coffee, and then just adding something really simple, like having that visual cue? So oh, here's my coffee. Here's my gratitude. Here's, is that right? If I'm

Rhonda Elkins: 15:48

up to like, an extra task, or anything at all, right, because it's just like, it's just going along with our natural, you know, understanding there anyway. Yeah. And that's naturally every day I do the same thing. When the sun starts to come up, I open all the curtains, let the sun in and, and so another thing I've been doing this is now I have COVID. This last week, so I haven't been doing this. But prior to that, I bought a well, I didn't buy it, I got it for Christmas, but one of those mini trampoline rebounders. And so like when I'll take in, you know, first thing in the morning, go open the curtains. And then I'll just get on that for two minutes. Nice. And two people that you know, what's two minutes? Well, I'll tell ya, your heart rate gets up there in two minutes on that, but then throughout the day, and I just I just make a little, like a little hash mark, whatever. Yeah. Yeah, like did once, twice, three times, whatever. So the goal is to do that five times throughout my day. And you know, before I end the day, and that, so that ends up being 10 minutes, and it's just like, over time, and just, you know, it's just a little something extra that can help. Yeah, right. But I haven't done it since I COVID.

Jamie Stephens: 17:10

Yeah, cuz that that might be tough.

Rhonda Elkins: 17:13

I was so I feel so so much better. But I was absolutely I've never, I never been so tired. I slept for like three days. Yeah. Yeah, no, I

Jamie Stephens: 17:23

think that I had it. Like, before 2020 hit like, I remember, like, in 2019, the end of 2019. Like, I was out for like three weeks almost. And I thought it was pneumonia. But it wasn't pneumonia. And you know, it was like that time period before, a couple months before it really kind of hit the US. But, you know, we work with a lot of work with a lot of international people that like, took international flights and all that sort of stuff. So I'm like, It's possible, like could have had it back then.

Rhonda Elkins: 17:58

But I think I had it before it became a thing to Yes, there was a time I came in from a trip and I was so sick. And I was sick for like really sick for like a week. But then I went back to work, but I still have like the breathing problems, you know, like a congestion for probably a month. Yeah, but who knows, this was bizarre this time I got this rash. And I my son works with me too. Now and he just turned 20 In December, we barely leave the house. Right now, you know, grocery store, and go figure he so he started feeling really bad. And he went and get tested. And he brought a home test. And sure enough, we both had it.

Jamie Stephens: 18:38

Yeah. I think it's just kind of getting to the point where it's like, everybody's gonna have it. And it's at some point, right? Yeah. Hopefully at that point, we'll get some sort of immunity built up and yeah. I'm tired of it being a thing. I am so over it. Yeah. So, um, I kind of got off track there. Um, let me look at your

Rhonda Elkins: 19:08

I can't even remember what all I wrote to you, because we've talked about doing this a few times. But yeah, I

Jamie Stephens: 19:13

know. Oh, it's, I thought this line was pretty funny. And it's like, I have too much of an attitude to ever depend on a company taking care of me. Do you want to speak to that a little bit? Because I kind of feel like the same. I mean, like, I feel like we're the same in that regard to where it's just like, No, yeah.

Rhonda Elkins: 19:33

I have a lot of sass. Yeah. And so, you know, and so I I've never been good at the politics that's involved with corporate because I have a really hard time being fake. So it's like what you see is what? I'm here to do a job. I work hard and I'm going to get the job done. Don't get in my way. And don't expect me to be doing some kind of real Uh, you know, March or whatever that I don't believe in. I just know. So that's I, I have a, and I, my last boss I, he could handle it pretty well. And so I've been lucky so far that I've had people that could, but I just know that I've always told everybody, like, I'm just that person, I always have something in the background, okay. Like, I've always had life insurance outside of work, and things like that, like, don't depend on the company to take care of you. Because it when I first decided this corporate, not for me, it was the company before. And I had been there was five years, I stayed five years, that last year, two district managers got cancer, the same year, I watched the way they were treated. And they had given 20 plus years of their life to this company, and the way they were treated. I was like, you know, what, that? If I don't get out? That's what I'm going to be faced with? Yeah. Because you give them your life. And then they don't care.

Jamie Stephens: 21:18

No, and that's, it's, it's sad, you know, it's sad that that's what it really becomes, and it just makes you feel, or it made me feel just like like, just a number. I mean, and not just like, I know, that sounds very cliche, but like, you know, whenever you give and give and give and give, you expect to be taken care of like you expect that reciprocity. And it's just not something that happens. In my experience with corporate especially like, if you are one of those people that just speaks up and speaks the truth and does the job and doesn't put up with the bullshit or play to the bullshit. Like, you know, it's, it's not, it's not, it's not a great place to be honestly. No, and

Rhonda Elkins: 22:20

people think it's, you know, they talk about the security, but there's not, there's no such thing as security.

Jamie Stephens: 22:26

Yeah, no, it's definitely like, a made up version, you know, it's, it's secure to your mind, it's secure to your ego, but it's not something that's actually real. Because, I mean, how could it be if how can it be secure, if you're just a number to them? If it's just like, you just play into the p&l? And it's, like, not personal. You know, it's okay, right.

Rhonda Elkins: 22:58

Got it. You spoke of it earlier, it's so true that it's all companies are downsizing. But you know, they're using half the people. But still expecting the same results. You have all those numbers. So people are spending more and more time, where, you know, and I trust me, I have a girlfriend in Dallas, and every day, she she'll call me at the end of her day. And she sounds exhausted. And she's working from home. And it's like, but it's the she's working for corporate. Yeah. And it's the grind and free day, and she's mentally exhausted by the end of the day. Like, I don't miss it. I do not.

Jamie Stephens: 23:46

Yeah, cuz there's like eight zoom meetings a day scheduled. And then your meeting? Yes. And then it's just like, Wait, when am I actually supposed to do my job? I mean, that's what it is, you know, so it's really, you know, it's, I really want people to just kind of reevaluate that quote, unquote, security, you know, and just be like, What are you? What is the trade off here? Like, honestly, what is the trade off because whenever you end your day like that, I mean, you know, after you give and give and give, and then enjoy your day like that. It's just like, you don't have time, or like the mental bandwidth to really continue and do anything that you want for your own desires for your, you know, it's just like, Oh, I just want to watch Netflix likely.

Rhonda Elkins: 24:36

Keep the pajamas on. Yeah. It's like, Yeah, her boyfriend wants to go to dinner and out to dinner and stuff almost every night. And she's like, she didn't want to go on like, wow, yeah, you know, but you can't tell people you know, they have to figure it out. And the reality is, people are scared to do something different. Yeah.

Jamie Stephens: 25:01

How did you not be scared? Like, how did you get over that fear of being able to just be like, You know what? I'm so done with this.

Rhonda Elkins: 25:13

And it was not in agreement. Remember when COVID first hit, and they were talking about things, they were going to downsize and stuff, and they were looking for volunteers to. And based on whoever didn't, that first phone call that we had nationally. I remember feeling that scared, like, I wanted to hold on, hold on to the job, like, Ah, I hope I'm not one that's cut, or, you know, whatever. But I just took the weekend and just prayed about it. And I don't know what it just hit me. Like, you know what, that's a pretty good package. I might not get that offer again. And it's that makes it prime time, me to take a package run, and go do something for myself. And so I just then I just took a leap of faith. And I mean, I knew that I could do it. You know, it's just that goes back to that 1%. It's falling in love with the process. And so if you put in the activity, you're going to get the results. Yeah. And so I just focus on that daily, put in my activity, and the results are gonna come, it'll build over time.

Jamie Stephens: 26:28

Yeah, no, I agree that it's nice that you had a severance package to kind of walk away with I know, that makes a big difference. And, you know, even though it is scary, because you know, you're going from something known to unknown. That certainly makes it easier.

Rhonda Elkins: 26:46

They were shocked. They were shocked when I volunteered. You're like,

Jamie Stephens: 26:51

Okay, I got you.

Rhonda Elkins: 26:53

I'll take it. Yeah, they're really shocked it I, I have no regrets. That's awesome. regrets at all.

Jamie Stephens: 27:02

So how much of your day because I've kind of had the experience that entrepreneurship was just one big therapy session was really have to, like, work out all the things with yourself and like all of the mental blocks, and all of the limiting beliefs and all of that stuff. Like, how are you handling that part? Is it something like as far as your activities that you're doing every day? Are you do you have? Like, I mean, obviously, you have your gratitude practice and that sort of thing. But like, what kind of other things are you doing?

Rhonda Elkins: 27:39

For me, it was huge. I've, you know, I've worked remotely for years independent, you know, sales and stuff. So you have to be self motivated and disciplined. Yeah, in order. But like I said, I found myself easily, like, not being or putting as much time and energy and stuff in to myself as I would have if I had a company that I was working for. And so for me, it became very important, I wanted to create a schedule that I stick with. And so that starts, what it is, is my work day, at 8am. every workday, I'm at my desk, and that's the plan. And I I need to set appointments. And so that's I start at eight o'clock in the morning, just working on getting appointments, that part of it out of the way. But you know, the picking up the phones, not always the funnest thing. So you get rid of it first thing in the morning, and just spend an hour just focus on just doing it. And those activities, the daily activities, you know, it it reaps the rewards, you cannot fail if you continue to do the activity. Right. But enough activity and in something's gonna happen doesn't matter if you know enough know anything about it or not?

Jamie Stephens: 29:05

Yeah, it's just that active showing up and doing it and being consistent. And yeah,

Rhonda Elkins: 29:12

in which we our company has started this coaching call as well, that we do five days a week, and it's at nine o'clock Central. So all I do my scheduled for eight to nine, I work on getting appointments for myself for the day, then I get on that call that's helped a lot. Because it brings you in with people all over the United States and talks about how they're doing it and what, you know, where they're finding success. And so I look forward to that call every day. That's really helped me with my schedule, too. Yeah, to keep it consistent.

Jamie Stephens: 29:47

So do you operate more as like an independent contractor? Is that how, yes, Okay, gotcha. Yeah,

Rhonda Elkins: 29:53

I'm, I'm totally 1099 You know, that's now that's the that's the difference. Hey, when you have a guaranteed paycheck or you don't, right, we don't get paid unless we get up and go to work. Right? Yeah. But you build it over time.

Jamie Stephens: 30:09

Yeah. So what's one of like, Do you have a success story from somebody you've helped or got set up or something that like you can share that just is kind of, like, where you end it? And you're like, Okay, this is why I do what I do. Like, this makes me feel really good. Like, do you have anything like that that you can share?

Rhonda Elkins: 30:29

Yeah, let's see. This one in particular. I guess last weekend, he's a young guy, and truck driver. And I had an appointment with him. And his wife is 23. And she had got this rare, she found out she had this rare heart disease thing. And so she's not insurable now, okay, for life insurance, she stays home, she takes care of their two young kids of three year old, a four year old. And he's the provider. And so it's like, well, if something happened to you, would your wife be able to stay in the home? Would she be able to make the payments? And he's like, Absolutely not. Okay, so we need to put something in place that would give you that peace and security, when you go to sleep at night, if something happens to you that your family's protected. Yeah. And so we got him protected. And it's this company is this does a lot of charity event to a lot of charity work. And so that's a really good feeling. And also because it's has another part of it, like if anything, were to happen to both of them. And part of this charity, their two kids would get $900 a month for it until they turn 18 If they were both to pass, and so just knowing and it's sounds like a simple thing to get that in place. But you know, it's not a lot of money in the peace of mind and brains. And this, he was so grateful. It's like it's something he had wanted to do. And but people put it off. Because not purchasing insurance isn't fun, right? But what's more, not fun is meeting it not having it. Right. And right now, it's more important than ever. Because with COVID, the carriers are being extremely, very picky. And if you've had COVID, in like the last 90 days, I think it makes it harder and harder to get covered. Oh, wow. So stories like that. It's like if people tell you, you know, they they're putting it off. All it takes is one trip to the doctor. And now, they're no longer insurable. And then that one diagnosis one prescription? Wow.

Jamie Stephens: 33:10

How much would you say like the average family actually needs for life insurance? Is that something that you guys go into? Like on your? Like, are most people? I guess if they're coming to you, they're probably not set. But you know, like, I'm just wondering, like, how many people are actually insured enough?

Rhonda Elkins: 33:36

Very few. So we do a needs analysis. And where we look and see, you know, how much is the mortgage? How much equity is in your mortgage? How much is your income every month? So and because you want people need to have enough for I think for at least a year, at least a year. Okay. So if something were to happen to your husband, or your wife or whatever, if they're, especially if they're a stay at home, they need more than a year. Yeah. And so it's not just paying off the home, but it's also the income that the other person's providing, because it's not just mortgage payments, right. It's utilities, all the living expenses of everything. Yeah. And so whatever your salary is, I would want at least a year's worth of salary. No, that makes sense. That's a great question, but I haven't I haven't actually, you know, figured it all exactly out because that's personally Yeah, you know, that's, and we put together plan sometimes because people can't afford to pay the coverage once they're 6570 Yeah, it getting big policy so we put something in place that helps them protect themselves for a year to three, gotcha. Give them time to, you know, like, figure out if they're going to sell their house or refinance or something.

Jamie Stephens: 35:11

Well, that makes sense. College Planning, life insurance. So if people do you have I'm thinking like about wrapping up here. But do you have anything else that you want to go into before I kind of wrap up or tell people where they can find you and that sort of thing. Like if they want to know more? We're having

Rhonda Elkins: 35:39

a virtual hiring event today. But we're going to start doing that every Friday right now. I'm not even on social media, I deactivate every year, a month or two. Just

Jamie Stephens: 35:53

tell me about that for a minute. Because that's interesting. So you do, like how long do you usually stay out? Like a couple months? And then you come back in? And how does that work with

Rhonda Elkins: 36:03

kids? It's I haven't been real active in the last several years anyway. So that's a good thing. Yeah, me, it's different for everybody. But what I find is, if I, you, we spend so much time. So you're looked down and you're scrolling and you're, you know, like, seeing what someone has for dinner and whatever. And all that's great and entertaining, but I find that I'm too distracted. And I've wasted too much time. Just going through that. Yeah. And then you know, there's just talk about politics and social media. Right? You want to get somebody going. You can

Jamie Stephens: 36:45

talk

Rhonda Elkins: 36:46

politics and God or something in the same. And you're saying post and Mutulu. Yeah, the whole world's gonna explode. So I just, I don't have the energy for that kind of stuff. It's zapping. So it's just usually, I tend to do in January. And it kind of started years ago, when we would do this Daniel fast. Have you heard of the day? No. So my church in Frisco, we used to do this every year, like the Daniel fast. And it's different for everybody. And so you would pick something, basically to give up? Oh, yeah, I've

Jamie Stephens: 37:24

had like people doing that, like for lunch or whatever. Yeah, that kind of thing. Gotcha.

Rhonda Elkins: 37:29

And it's usually for like, 30 days. So I can go back on anytime, but I'm not missing it right now. Yeah. It's cuz we I listened to some of your podcasts. And that makes me think something. Because here's what happens, right? We all do it. I don't care how mentally strong we are. You end up you could have a bad day or something. You just don't feel that great. And then you get on there and you're looking and you're find yourself comparing yourself to everyone out there that's like, Oh, you're right. And I mean, I'm sorry. I know these people like and we, we all have good days, we all have bad days. And I know some of these people that are like, you know, and I just talked to them on the phone. And I know they're struggling. We don't want to put all our struggles out there. But that false reality sometimes. Does that make sense? Like Oh, yeah. And that that is so I just don't I mean, it's

Jamie Stephens: 38:37

such a real struggle to because like, first of all, like social media is not my it's not like my jam. It's not something that I I feel like it's part of what I do for my job or what I you know, so it's it's not just something that I tend to post everything personally, that's just not my style. So it but it is, like, there's that struggle of how to show up and be authentic versus how do I not quote unquote, advertise but like, how do I put my best foot forward so that I can train myself to look for the positive you know, I mean, it's it's like, you're not trying to necessarily be fake, but it's almost like it just it does give this false sense of everything. I mean, like,

Rhonda Elkins: 39:38

same way to I'm not gonna post about something negative, like that's not like, it doesn't mean that things aren't happening that aren't that are negative sometimes. But you know, I also believe we get more of what we focus on right? So right focus on the positive try to find the positive and the gyms and things and that I'm proud I'm so excited for you. And I'm glad I was on social media to get that connection with you. And but here, that's another and I look, it's brave, okay to go out there and do something if you would have told me seriously, even two months ago, like I would be interviewing with you. It's not my thing. I don't know. But I'm like, I want to do it. Because I want to step out of my comfort zone. Yeah. And I want if I can be of any help to you to to start something like this, I think it's amazing. And so that's where sometimes social media is good for me. Because it's like, why? What am I doing? Why don't I do something? I can do something more. But, you know, so it's good to see strong women going for it.

Jamie Stephens: 40:50

Well, thank you. Now,

Rhonda Elkins: 40:52

I love your little picture when you're

Jamie Stephens: 40:55

buying. I had a couple of people kind of questioned me on that. And I was like, you know, they might as well kind of know up front what they're getting, you know, take it or leave it. This is who I am. Like, if you are offended by me flipping corporate the bird. I'm not sure people like move along. You need

Rhonda Elkins: 41:14

to interview my friend Michelle.

Jamie Stephens: 41:18

Yes, she's actually on my list. How do you say her last name Turtle? Turtle top? Yeah. Yeah,

Rhonda Elkins: 41:27

it's she's hard to nail down because she's stay super busy. But I have to

Jamie Stephens: 41:32

reach out to her and tell her we had this. And I'll reach out to her again. And maybe if we kind of tag team.

Rhonda Elkins: 41:39

Yeah. Do you get on now? Do you ever get on clubhouse?

Jamie Stephens: 41:44

I don't. I started to, like, whenever it first came out, and I was really excited. And I thought it was really cool. But then it was just like, one more thing. You know, I mean, it's just,

Rhonda Elkins: 41:55

I, I'm not, I, I have one, I have it. I don't know if I have a profile or anything. I have a picture. But I downloaded it, but I don't ever.

Jamie Stephens: 42:04

Yeah, like I have it on my phone. But I am, it's probably been a year since I've even like open the app. So it's, I like the idea of it. I just like I said, it just feels like it's one more thing I do like that you can have more of a conversation back and forth. My whole thing, though, kind of is it's just like, I like that. But if I'm gonna put in the effort to actually go outside, this sounds terrible. But you'll know what I mean. Like, go outside my comfort zone, and then talk to people like there's no like recording or anything on like, I want to be make sure that I'm bringing value. And if I'm not, I want another way to repurpose it, if I'm going to spend my time there is essentially what I'm saying. It's just like it's there. And it's gone, which I know for some people, that's great. But for me, it's just like I'm trying to do things where I can maximize my time. And instead of spreading myself so thin across multiple platforms just kind of repurposing what I'm doing. And you know, because it takes us multiple times to hear the same thing over and over and over from different people in different ways before it finally sinks in and we get the message. So I really just tried to be more intentional. And that's as of late. I mean, that's not something that I've previously figured out. But I'm just kind of being like, wait, I'm doing all of this work. Why am I posting about it one time, and then I it's just done. And it's you know, and it's like, okay, Jamie, work smarter, not harder. Use what you got. So, you know, it's all those lessons that we're learning and

Rhonda Elkins: 43:57

yeah, and that's, that's basically my Facebook ticket. You know, it's like, if I'm going to do it, I want it to be to also something that is, you know, adding Yeah. value to my life. You know,

Jamie Stephens: 44:11

right. And sometimes that value can be entertainment, but like

Rhonda Elkins: 44:17

Yeah, and I mean, I love Facebook and for like when I get on there and I see the memories when I used to be so active. I know. That's, you know, these little pictures and so it has a lot of there's a lot of good things about it for sure.

Jamie Stephens: 44:33

Yeah, I mean, just it's just like everything right, you know, and in moderation and intentionality and the things that you focus on and the things that you consume. We spend your time. I mean, all of that stuff needs to be intentional. And I'm with you like social media can be get unintentional very quickly. Right? It's like oh, 40 minutes has passed, but oh, I didn't have time to exercise this morning. really, you know?

Rhonda Elkins: 45:03

And I, you gotta be pretty sharp to keep up though because that's like I take you take a month off, and then all of a sudden the rules have changed. Oh, and all of a sudden, I think I'm private, but I'm not sure you world or whatever. They change the role so much like, I don't know, like people can see what they can't.

Jamie Stephens: 45:22

Yeah, that's, that's for sure. I know, I just have my husband to keep me informed because I'm just, I used to be like a news junkie. And then like, I was so involved, and you know, and it was just like, it got to the point to where I would wake up, and I'd hear just this terrible stuff every day as part of my routine. And it's like, I can't do that anymore. Like, just tell me if there's something I should know about, like for real, like, not the sensationalized everything's a issue every you know, it's like, is it going to impact me? Tell me that, right. Otherwise, like, I just, I'm fine with the weekly filtered version. And I can keep up that way. But it's, it's funny when you start, like identifying the content that you consume, and how it affects you and your how it makes you feel right. Ah, yeah. Paying attention to how

Rhonda Elkins: 46:20

you feel every day. Super important.

Jamie Stephens: 46:23

I applaud the social media disconnect.

Rhonda Elkins: 46:27

Well, I'll be back on there sometime, probably this month, I need to create a business page. That's what I've been thinking. Yeah,

Jamie Stephens: 46:37

they don't get a whole lot of engagement, but at least you can have some, like a place to direct people to. Mm hmm. So if you do do that, let me know. And we can add it to the end of the episode where people can find you. Um, is there anywhere else? Like if people want to talk to you about like life insurance or college planning or anything like that? Is there a place where we can send them

Rhonda Elkins: 47:04

really the best? I do have a, I have a link. And I haven't used it, obviously.

Jamie Stephens: 47:14

That's fine. I can put it in the show notes. And we can link you can send me the link. Make sure it's active, all that kind of stuff. And I can just include it in the show notes and part of the wrap up conversation. Perfect.

Rhonda Elkins: 47:25

Cool. Yeah. So for now, just my phone number and email addresses. Okay, but I'll look for the link today. Okay, sounds good. Well, it was great chatting

Jamie Stephens: 47:34

You all right, you too. I'm glad we finally made it happen. Yeah. And, and I'll,

Rhonda Elkins: 47:39

I'll touch base with Michelle and, and tell her.

Jamie Stephens: 47:42

Yeah, that'll be good. Okay. All right. Talk to you later. Bye Rhonda. Bye.