Episode #8: 6-Figure Focus
Why is the idea of earning 6 figures of revenue so coveted? And why are we willing to make *so* many sacrifices to get there?
In this episode of Mistakes That Made Me, I interview self-transformation coach LaYinka Sanni about how she dropped thousands of pounds on a coach that promised her she could make 6 figures A MONTH…when she wasn’t even making £1000 a month.
LaYinka quickly realised she wasn’t ready for this programme, and she was left feeling worse about her ability to run a successful business.
You’ll hear how LaYinka came to terms with her mistake and how she eventually achieved business success. We also break down why she was so focused on earning 6 figures, so early on in her career.
Listen to the Episode
Show notes
Links from this episode:
Join Like a Boss, my 12-week mastermind for copywriters (Doors close TODAY on 30th January)
LaYinka Sanni on YouTube: @LaYinkaSanni
Episode 7: Rejecting what made me rich with Tarzan Kay
If you loved this episode, take a screenshot, post it on Instagram and tell everyone you know that this is the podcast to listen to. Don’t forget to tag me! @emancopyco.
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Eman Ismail
In 2022, my business made six figures in revenue. And that was with me taking a little more than four months off work. Now, I wasn't necessarily aiming to hit six figures that year. In fact, because I had a brand new baby, I decided I wouldn't set a financial goal at all. I didn't want the added pressure. So I was just planning to go with the flow and see what happened. Well, by October, I realized I was pretty close to hitting 100k. So I went for it. A month later, I'd secured 21k in sales and flown past my six figure goal. I'd always thought something would shift inside and the moment I hit 100k. I don't know if I'd expected balloons to fall from the ceiling for music to start playing. And for cash to start blowing all around me, like in one of those wacky game shows, but nothing happened. Nothing immediately changed. However, within a few weeks, something did start to feel a little different. I mean, minus the pressure I now felt to keep growing my business and earn more and more and more. I felt a little more confident as a business owner. I felt like people would take me just a little more seriously. I started taking myself a little more seriously. Why? Not that there's any shame in wanting to make more money? I am so for it. I am interested to know though, why six figures means so much to me, to us as a community of business owners. Why is the idea of six figures so coveted? And why are we willing to work so hard and in some cases sacrifice so much in order to get there 2022 was the one year I didn't join a mastermind or pay a business coach a lot of money to help me achieve my business goals. But I can totally understand how having this hyper focus on six figures can lead you to making some bad choices and bad investments. Kinda like Liam Cassani did when she first started out in business six years ago.
LaYinka Sanni
I'm remembering, throwing 1000s of pounds at a business coach to make six figures a month when I was barely making 1000. In my mind at the time, I just thought I had no idea what I'm doing. And so I saw Okay, let me get someone who is seasoned. They call themselves a business coach so surely must know what they're doing. And who can fast track me, let's fast track this train. Let’s do this.
Eman Ismail
On today's show. Self-transformation coach LaYinka Sanni talks about how desperately wanting to make six figures in her business made her spend thousands of pounds on a high-ticket coaching program she wasn't ready for, and that ultimately left her feeling even worse about her ability to run a successful business.
LaYinka Sanni
I think there's this perceived door that one enters into when they have entered the realm of six figures. And that that life is where everything that you have thought or everything that you saw was impossible or accessible to you is now accessible by a wreck who recognizes that you have to have been in a particular income bracket or like your family had to be in a particular income bracket for six figures to be attractive to you. Otherwise, it's just a number.
Eman Ismail
Welcome to mistakes that made me the podcast that asks extraordinary business owners to share their biggest business mistake so you know what not to do on your road to success. My name is Imani Smile, and I'm an email strategist and copywriter for online business owners and ecommerce brands. My podcasts deliver a piece of Indra, a proud mama of two. And I have this radical idea that if maybe as business owners were a little less guarded and a lot more open about the mistakes we've made, we could help each other grow a business that brings us a more joy and less regret LaYinka cat I have to tell you that Eman is a teenager maybe 1718 years old. I am reading stuff that you have written in publications that I love and read. And I'm looking at you and I'm thinking okay LaYinka Looks like me. LaYinka was a hijab headscarf like me. LaYinka is a writer like I want to be. Maybe I can do this. So I need you to know before we do anything else how pivotal you have been in my career and just having someone to look up to, and to see someone doing it. And to know that, okay, playing crews do it, I can do it too. So that's how much this means to me, you being here today. So thank you so much for being here.
LaYinka Sanni
Oh, gosh, straight for the heart. There you
Eman Ismail
and thank you so much for it. It's just amazing Muslim women like you and Nyima be Robert and Khadija Haley, and Janet Kozak and I broke up on wax, these women just lead in the way and show me what is possible. And all of these women were business owners, your business owner, all the women I just named, you know, brilliant business owners too. And, you know, I tried to do this whole business thing, like at least two times before, the third time actually worked. And it was watching women like you doing it and thinking, Okay, it's possible, I can do it, they can do it, I can do it, keep going. So thank you.
LaYinka Sanni
Thank you. That means a lot. Tell us who you are and what you do. I am a self-transformation coach, and I support women to become the next best version of themselves. And I like that term, because life is a continual journey of growth and healing.
Eman Ismail
I love that. Okay, so tell me a little bit about the transformations, the self transformations that you help women achieve.
LaYinka Sanni
So a typical woman will come in, on the outside, she looks amazing. On the outside, she's getting stuff done. She is there for her people. She's holding it down, she looks like she is made. But on the inside, she is battling self-loathing. And self-doubt. She is battling what sort of beliefs that she can't do, that she can't make it, that she's not good enough, that she's a failure. And the transformation is not an outside transformation. It's an internal transformation, which sometimes can be the most difficult. Because it's how we feel and how we think and that can't be quantified externally so easily, right. But she knows those women, they come and they know that Oh, Today feels lighter than that inner critic. She's not there so much. I'm able to be warmer with my family, able to be present, able to actually engage in conversations, able to say yes to what drives me and no to what doesn't vibe with me. And those give her the indication that there's been healing there. And there's growth there. And there's movement there. And I've stopped that mess. And that for me is these are the gems that I love to hear and for the woman to really excavate the light that already is within them and all the things that I believe already exist in them and to bring forth their gifts whatever their gifts look like. You
Eman Ismail
I have been described as a Muslim influencer. I once heard someone say, "Yeah, okay. This is why I'm asking you because that face that you made that the listeners can't see is what I'm interested in. So you are your business so not you I mean, I go on your Instagram and you have 50,000 followers. You are very well known within the Muslim community especially amongst Muslim women. You have a YouTube show called honesty talk. That is amazing. Brilliant where you discuss issues that pertain to Muslim women that maybe we we discuss with each other but wouldn't see you know, we discuss with our closest friend but wouldn't see rarely women discussing on a public platform like that is so needed and I heard someone call your Muslim influencer and I feel like this is the first time we are actually speaking like this face to face, but I already felt like I knew enough about you to know that that's not how you describe yourself. So what is it about that term that made you make that icky face?
LaYinka Sanni
Okay. What is it about that term? I think there is a connotation of that time. If there has been a superficial-ness, if that's a word, and when I hear influences a lot of the time it's especially for women influencing in regards to external beauty and lifestyle. Nothing wrong with that. That's your vibe, Do you baby. But for me to be associated with that word. I've come a long way. Actually, I don't Like the word but I've come to recognize that in the position that I have with a number of people who, if I were to put them in a stadium, it would blow my mind. How many people are actually following me on socials, and how I couldn't recommend a book. God, I'm not going to cry on the podcast, I probably will cry on the podcast, but I can recommend a book. And there'll be someone who will DM me and say, Oh, I got the book that frightens me to know that something that I put up, like, everything I put out there is being watched. And there are people taking what I say, as almost direct commands. And so I'm cautious. That's why I generally don't recommend things online, like on my platforms, because I don't want to be, I don't want to be responsible. But also recognize, okay, if I am considered an influencer? How can I use this position and this platform to influence people? And so when I flip that fear, and that little bit, it kicks around the world, and I use it in a way, and I think about it in a way, that's empowering, that's useful. That is that can be life-changing transformation, or that can be hope, fueling, it brings me a sense of ease. Like, okay, if I am seen and perceived in this way, I'm to embrace the fact that I am a person who influences what influence can I help them? So it's hot today?
Eman Ismail
That's so interesting. And I think as you were talking, I was thinking, That's power. And that is scary. And I, from my perspective, as someone who likes looking in on the outside, I feel like I'm always a little wary of people who seem to be seeking influence and fame. Because it's just, it's a little for me, it's like, it's a little distressed, why they're just like, why do you want it so bad? Like, what? What is it that you're seeking, right? But with you, you're magnetic, like you people are drawn to you, you know, you're not seeking that people are just drawn to you because of what you have to say. I mean, I was going through your Instagram and your videos, and you just have a way with words and with people as well. And so I know this, this interview is going to be great. Just kind of dive into the behind-the-scenes of your business. So tell us a bit about your business. Tell us, you know, tell us about how you got started. Tell us what your team looks like, if you have a team, I think you do. And tell us you know how you get paid. How you make your money.
LaYinka Sanni
I love the fact that I always say to my team, I've got a team of five women behind me. And I say I'm just a pretty face, guys. You guys are doing the work. You know, I couldn't do half of the things that I do without the phenomenal women that I have on my team. And I'm grateful that it is a woman-strong team that has definitely been intentional in being able to further the lives of other women. It's yeah, it's a dream. How do we get paid? We get paid by Talking. Talking and asking questions. The little LaYinka’s dream, you know, to just ask questions and make money. I thought I was going to be a lawyer. But no, wow. I Well, no, no, my Uncle Phil, I was gonna be a lawyer. And I did study law for a year. And I was like, yeah, no, no, that that isn't. And so I went into teaching. And so when people asked how did you start here, and I didn't plan to you, I, it was brought to me, I started in the client seat myself, working on my own issues, focusing on my own transformation and had no intention of helping anyone else at all. So when my therapist or the NLP practitioner that I'm working with at the time, she said, why aren't you doing this work? Because I don't want to and what do you talk about helping people change their lives, you understand the responsibility, because at the time I was a teacher, and also doing writing, coaching and editing on the side, and editing is editing and teaching easy. You have defined outcomes, you know, you can tick the boxes, you know, it is smooth to get to those outcomes as long as you follow the trajectory and you know, so it was nice. Now coaching, what, how, what's the outcome number one, and how do I get to this stuff? and outcome number two, how long is it gonna take to get to this? I haven't got all of my life to get someone to a defined outcome. And it was just petrified. I remember describing it to her, like standing at the edge of a cliff and I will jump and where will I land? It sounded petrifying. And she directed me to the fact that it wouldn't be I wouldn't be flying solo, you know, I'd have my Creator guided me to and through it all. And so what's the thing to fear anyway? And so I thought, okay, I trained in NLP or neuro linguistic programming. And I started to get clients. That's a lie. I didn't start to get clients. I started hustling hard. And clients.
Eman Ismail
We know about that hustle. Let's keep it real baby. We know about that. laughs
LaYinka Sanni
No. Pain, six bigger magic wands. And I invested so much in different things. Because you know, when you start a business, no one tells you the truth. Those business coaches, yeah. No one told you the truth of the offseason, your training and obviously you set up your website and off, you set up your calendar. And after you've done all of the things, there are crickets for days. Yes, yes. There are legit crickets for days, and then that you have to get people to believe in you. And then you have this whole Am I good enough story going on in the background. So you have to go and see a therapist about dealing with all of your childhood wounds around being good enough. It was, I wish there were more truths being told, and I love this is why I love your podcast, I love the fact that we can bring it real. And we can talk about our journey. And we can keep it 100. And we can say it's rewarding, and there is money in it. And it might take some time. You know, there are clients out there. And you might have to stand on a corner with a placard to say my services I hear, you know, like that, that the realness of it is that I? I invested in ADS straight off the bat. Why? Why did I need to invest in ADS? I
Eman Ismail
I did it because my ads were to get more Facebook followers and more Facebook likes on my Facebook page. That is, I don't even use it anymore. I had no clue what I was doing. None.
LaYinka Sanni
None. I was throwing money left, right and center. Because you have to invest to get money out, you need to invest in to get money out. So I was thinking right, so putting my face all over the place, not knowing what the heck I was doing with Facebook ads, that was a fun money wasted that was Yeah, and did it bring me clients, I think I may have in my first year I may have made I might have had like 434 clients in my first year because I just didn't know what I was doing. But then fast forward to now where six years down the line almost seven affected and impacted 1000s of women worldwide. In countries that I have vowed that I need to create a list of all the countries so I could go and visit every single one. It's phenomenal to think you know of the journey and how far seven years in the making, basically, to get to this place of being able to serve women to come with heart and love and women to come with their heart and love and to transform lives. And I always call it an honor to do this work. You know, I don't call it work. The work is the business side of stuff, you know. But even then, when I kind of sit with the purpose of it, and I just send myself and grind my ground myself into the why, you know, why am I fighting Texas? Why am I, you know, having to deal with this paperwork or reply to that email? There's a large reason that this all feeds into so it's not frivolous. It's not nonsensical. It has a purpose. It serves a purpose. And it's part of the purpose that I feel that I've been created to serve. So it helps those days of filing the tax.
Eman Ismail
Can I just say one of the most profound things I've ever heard you say and I heard you say years ago, at least three years ago, but it's always stayed with me is if you have a gift or a talent that you are are that you're denying, you're denying it because you want to make yourself small, you know, you wanna make yourself smaller. That is you displaying in gratitude to a gift that your Lord has given you. That he wants you to use. And it was when I say profound, mind blowing, I remember the exact place I was, when I heard you say that. And I have, I have a history of trying to make myself smaller. And, you know, I don't know how to take compliments. I don't know how to accept nice things that people say. The very first thing I think to do is just put myself down to make them feel comfortable to make me feel a little bit more comfortable. But hearing you say that made me just rethink everything. Everything is ingratitude. As you display in gratitude to a Lord who has given you this gift, and as Muslim women, we, you know, we believe very strongly in God and destiny, and the fact that we have that everything happens for a reason. And we have been given, you know, these gifts or specific talents for a reason. mind blowingly Inca mind-blowing,
LaYinka Sanni
As you can see, this is part of my, my, my thing about influence. I forget a lot of the things that I think give me margin, you say a lot. And when people say yeah, and you said I'm like, Okay, that's good. Wow, no exchange shakes me like, Oh, my God, what else have I said that could be not that great?
Eman Ismail
Yeah, it was, it was a real moment. It was a moment. And you know, you spoke about going into therapy and your whole business starting off in therapy. Yeah. And when I heard the reason that you went to therapy, I like, gasped because we don't hear women more this particularly be so forthcoming about something like this, you said, the reason you went to therapy or started therapy was because you had this moment, it was a particular day where you would be an I don't know, passive-aggressive to your kids. So there's just a lot going on. And then you just had this moment where you thought to yourself, if I die today, what will my kids say about me? Like, what will they have to say about me? Will it be good? And you weren't happy? With what the answer would be? So that was it, you took yourself off to therapy? To work on yourself? Yeah. And, you know, that is a level of honesty that we don't see. And I feel and I feel like it was real, it was another moment for me because I My situation right now is my son. I have an older son, six, and a younger son who just turned one, and I don't get a lot of sleep. So I'm sleep deprived a lot. I'm still missing. And it's just a lot. So I felt like my irritability levels were very high. I am not the patient, calm mother, I used to be as a mother of just one child. And so it hit. I mean, I've been noticing that about myself. And so it's something I've been working on. Very much so because I'm very keen to just just work on myself and sort it out. But it was amazing to me that you actually said that out loud. I always feel like oh my god, you said it out loud. Like things like, can we admit things like that? Doesn't that make us a bad mother? Does that make us a bad woman? Does it make us a bad person?
LaYinka Sanni
Yeah, I How many of us are holding what we will label as shame stories, it's a shame story. At the end of the day, that moment that I had this outbursts and this meltdown with my two eldest at the time, and just locked myself in the bathroom. And the bathroom was my safe place at the time because it was the only place that I could lock and they couldn't come in. Just seeing myself and I, that was a question that came over and over again, like, are you I couldn't recognize the woman that I was. And that question was such a pivotal question. I call it a divine download, because honestly, I don't think it's a question that we would choose to ask ourselves consciously. Because it is a soul bearing question. When you have to face the truth of what would be in my obituary if my children were to write one for me. If I were to die today, what would they say? What would they have to remember, what would be those memories that they would have of me and it wasn't good? It was just passive aggression, negativity, always my own Gary, yeah, I was spinning tons of plates at the time, granted, but still, but still, you know, and it was definitely an eye-opening moment for me. And it is also why I share, I share it because number one to show that my journey didn't stop because I wanted to be doing this work and coaching and helping women. It started first by me checking myself and that call to allow women to know the importance humans really are people to know the importance of checking ourselves and being honest with ourselves and not running from the answer. Yes, the answers are ugly, and they are heart-wrenching, and they are heartbreaking, and they can tear you apart. And they are also the splitting like the seed to beautiful growth, if we so choose for them to be that. Well, at that point, we're at a fork in the road, right? We can choose the path, we can choose to carry on self-loving and just being the same. Or we can choose a path of change whatever that looks like, whatever that looks like. It doesn't have to be therapy, but some kind of trajectory towards change. And so I chose the trajectory towards change. And I share that so that others can choose that for themselves and ask themselves the honest question, if you were to write your obituary, if your children, your family, were to write that about your career, or some people just tell them often they're not really nice.
Eman Ismail
Economics people
LaYinka Sanni
Or those who love and care about you, who know you and truly, kind of see you and experience you, what would they say, you know, would you be happy for that to be your legacy that you leave, and that for me was the thing, the legacy that I leave with my kids? Heck, I know that they're gonna need therapy, when they're old, I go to therapy, fun to them. That mother that I was, you know, okay, kids, I cause I think caused the problem. Let me help you. Let me help you move towards the repair, you know, so I know that they're gonna have things to say to their therapists, I say to my son, you're gonna talk to your therapist about that. Is it? Yeah, okay. It is what it is. I love it, I love it. And we currently do the best that we can do, like, we can do the best that we can do. And there are going to be some experiences that our kids have, right? That is not going to be that which is not in our estimation of things. We were doing our best, we'll agree. But when they sit to be to the therapists, they're like, Well, you know, that look that she gave me, you know, and then it's just, it's just what it is. So I'm like, okay, cool. I'm doing my best. And that's it.
Eman Ismail
That's it. I think I learned that in therapy that, you know, as I was unpacking my life, all my stuff. It was this realization that this is just inevitable, like, no matter what we do, no matter how great we are, or we think we are, there's always that stuff that we hand over to the next generation, as much as we try not to. It's inevitable. It really is. And all we can do is just try to be better. And I think I should give them the tools to be able to work through it. Because I tell you what, there was no one there, well put it this way. When I first started doing therapy, I did not tell my family that I was doing therapy because I was like, they are going to think I'm completely insane. Like this is not something we do. We don't. You just keep it together. And you just like to keep going right? My grandma imagines, gosh, I still to this day, like my family will say my Grandma Grandma has been through so much. And she just lived through it and dealt with it. And so one of the things I always think is I'm gonna imagine if my grandma knew I was going to therapy, she think what's wrong with this generation, you know, pull, pull, you know, get get yourself together, the more we can do is I guess, just create the way for the next generation. So I know therapy is good and therapies. Okay, and now my son will know that that's an option for him as well. And then it's okay. Yeah, and we'll get it.
LaYinka Sanni
Exactly. Exactly.
Eman Ismail
LaYinka let me move on to the reason we're here. Are you ready? Okay, LaYinka, what is the mistake that made you?
LaYinka Sanni
I chose to run before I could walk.
Eman Ismail
You chose to run before you could walk. Okay, let's dig into that. What does that mean? What? What exactly are you remembering or thinking?
LaYinka Sanni
I remember throwing 1000s of pounds at a business coach to make six figures because, you know, the six and it's funny, that number is still floating around six years later, but yeah. We would have moved on from there. But yeah, to make six figures a month when I was barely making 1000.
Eman Ismail
When you're barely making 1000 yearly.
LaYinka Sanni
Yeah, I told you I wanted to quit my job.
Eman Ismail
Okay. I mean, this is so much I want to say so. Take me back to you. Maybe, well, maybe six years ago, five, six years ago. You're making 1000 pounds on? Belly. Okay, belly. Oh, gosh, belly. So what are you thinking? When are you? Have you met this coach? What are you thinking? Or where are you thinking this is going to take you? Why is this a good idea?
LaYinka Sanni
So, in my mind, at the time, I just thought, I have no idea what I'm doing. I have no idea how to run a business, how to get clients, what this entrepreneurial world is all about. At the time, even though I was an editor, I didn't need to hustle for clients. People came to me. They came to me. So I could sit there. And people will say, Oh, I need you to edit my book, because it was word of mouth, right? People see the outcome. Oh, who edited your book for you? I will say, " Okay, cool. And that's all just referrals and word of mouth. I didn't need to put it on, I did not need to advertise my services. In fact, I chose not to, because I had too many clients at a time. And there was a max I could do I could take on while I was teaching. So this whole world of finding clients, and you didn't put stuff on socials, I was not using social media like that, you know? And so I thought, Okay, let me get someone who is seasoned. They call themselves a business coach. So surely they must know what they're doing. And who can fast-track me, let's fast-track this train. Let’s do this.
Eman Ismail
I don't have time for all of this stuff to the destination, please.
LaYinka Sanni
Get me here to over there in the quickest time possible. And yeah, I threw money. I do want to talk about the practice of telling someone who clearly is in a challenging financial situation that they aren't investing because they have a money mindset issue. Let's talk about that. i Okay, I get it. Sometimes there are those of us who feel like putting money down for anything that could be for flights or shoes, like we're scared of putting money down. There are some of us who have that. And there are some of us who are more strategic with how we spend our money, maybe we use a particular budget, and if it's not fit in the budget, then it's getting put in, put aside the pool. But there are also some of us who the heart yearns and wants to invest in that thing and wants to buy that thing, or whatever it is. And we check the bank balance. And we see it's not reflecting. It's not reflecting the thing is, we've all been it. And so you're looking at the bank balance. And you're like, I want this thing. I can't go rob a bank, you know, and then you have someone who will tell you go and get a loan. That was a position I was put in. But I didn't get to learn.
Eman Ismail
Thank God. So God can I just say, so I had TAS on K. I don't know if you know TAS on K. She's a copywriter. On the show last week, we recorded an episode. The entire interview is about the worrying practices in the coaching industry around launching this. So if this is something you're interested in, go check out that episode. And listen to Tarzan talk about her experience, because it's fascinating. She was one of those coaches, maybe not telling people to go get a loan, but she sees herself as being one of those coaches who was in that kind of, you know, position. And she moved out of that and is now on the other side of it and is, you know, rethinking the way she did everything and how she launches, how she coaches all that good stuff. fascinating conversation. And I am just so glad you did not take that loan. And I think it's despicable that people are in that position, telling you to do things that are despicable.
LaYinka Sanni
It's disgusting, I think and someone is coming to you for help. They're already in a vulnerable position, whatever that help looks like. They're already in a vulnerable position. And then to suggest a loan, which is a financial vulnerability. That just increases any sort of anxiety you may be feeling ready about getting help, right? And so I'm grateful that I didn't, it's just that my mind was just like, no want to do that. But I did, I did instead propose another way to be able to get the money without having to go down that route. But the idea, but even then I didn't realize how problematic it was to have someone tell you that this is what you should be like, if you aren't doing that, then you aren't committed enough, then you don't want it enough, then you're not dedicated enough. And I still went ahead and worked with this person, even though she had told me that because you trusted her you Because? Because I trusted her I did. I just thought, Okay, I'm just not going to do this. But even through that whole thing about mindset, and if you're not making the money, the clients will come in, it's because of your mindset. That was definitely I don't know why I didn't see the flags, the red flags were flagging. You know, they were all over the place. But I didn't see that. Because I just saw someone who I assumed was making six figures. Heck, I don't even know he was making six figures. I did not clarify that.
Eman Ismail
That's a whole different conversation, isn't it? Like, how much do you make him?
LaYinka Sanni
Yeah, how much are you making? Can I see your receipts, please? You know, because there are a lot of people who are business coaches, and their business is failing. They're not. They're not thriving in their business. And then they're using the desires of other people to get ahead and speed up ahead. As you know, they're just calling them in sadly, but yeah, I decided to run. And to try and go gung ho. It was, I wouldn't say traumatic, but it wasn't fruitful. I don't even know. If I got a single client in that time. I don't remember. I just remember it being very stressful and journaling my heart out. While they were tears splattering on my channel page, because feelings of failure are massive. For me at the time, the money was and the number of clients coming in. Were a reflection of me. That's how I that was how I saw myself and what I believed. So if people weren't working with me, is because I was a failure. It's because I wasn't good enough. It was. So all of these buried things. So I said all of the buried things that I had about myself, were just they just surface and I know that that then posed as a block. Because with everything that I put out, there was doubt riddled in that, you know, you probably could tell from the copy or from whatever I put out there that yeah, that she doesn't even believe in herself. Sadly, and that relationship ended, there was an opportunity to renew and I just thought, No, I'm not, I'm not going to do that. I've learned from this that I need to take it back a notch and embrace where I am right now, rather than looking at this shiny object over there. That I don't even know if it was visited at the time, I don't know if I really believed in it. Or if it was just because it was the number at the time what the thing that everyone was promising that made me just go for it, or the desperation to get out of my teaching, which I love teaching. I just didn't like the bureaucracy around it. It's sort of a conversation, but I wanted to make it whatever it meant. At the time, it was six because for me, so, yeah.
Eman Ismail
I'm wondering, you said that you felt at the time, if I'm not getting clients, if I'm not making money, this is my fault, this reflection of me. But I also wonder if maybe you are being fed that narrative, too, because there is this whole thing of if you join my program, you're going to be amazingly successful. And if it doesn't work, it's on you. Like if they really do coaches do say that it's on you, because you didn't implement correctly or you have mind blocks and limiting beliefs that are stopping you from achieving. So it's still all it's all you. So what's that narrative kind of coming your way?
LaYinka Sanni
Not the money blocks stuff. Yes. There were some things around mindset, like do you want it enough? Do you believe it enough? Does your heart believe that you can get it? And honestly at the time, I would say no, because I just want the thing? Can we skip the whole mindset thing and just get to the mic. Please? Thank you. Yes, please. This is why I actually paid you for the strategy for that whatever. Like give me the magic goose that feeds the group the eggs. Yes. Yeah, no, the golden eggs. Yeah, there is it and then you dig down and you get to the middle of the forest and there's no goose, no eggs, nothing. It was, it was a learning, it was a learning. And I'm grateful because it forced me to have to step back and check myself. And again, it provided me with the opportunity to look at the beliefs that I did have, because they weren't just old. They were old things. And they were challenging some things that I thought, you know, I had overcome over the years, because I haven't sat in the client seat, etc. You know, yeah, I've done this. I'm okay, I'm healed. I'm fixed. Nothing. I'm untouchable out here. But yeah, I was that that was not the case. And for anyone in that, and starting now, I remember a friend. Recently, she started a business and she said, I'm going to be a business coach, and I said, why? She sounded like me, seven years ago. And I said to her, Okay, if that's what you really want to do, I don't advise it, though. But sometimes some people have to go on their own, Jen. But what I did ask her is, what do you need a coach for? Is it because of the money? Like, is it for that? Or is it something else? Is it China setting up your systems, to set up your processes, things that I wish my coach had actually helped me with? Because that's stuff that I'm doing that I've been working on the last two, three years, right, especially now having a team. But, you know, I asked her, you know, what are the things that you need a coach for? Once you are clear on your outcomes, you can see if a coach is what you need, or if it's something else, and I wish someone had asked me that, like that question. What is it specifically, what are the specific outcomes that you feel you will get by being coached? And that can help you to start thinking about the kind of person you want to work with? If the person is just, we will help you to get to six figures, kind of give you the exact formula and the exact steps in the step-by-step strategy. You know, the copyright isn't the same kind of language recycled and repeated over and over again, if that is what they are saying, maybe they aren't the coach for you. Maybe they are, but you have to know what you want.
Eman Ismail
And I think that's the problem, isn't it? So many of us don't know what we want. And I think we go to the coach because we want them to tell us what we want and what we need.
LaYinka Sanni
And what we should do just now is do all the things. And I did all the things. That's the thing. I sent the emails, I wrote the self script, I did everything that she told me to do, because I come from a background of needing to be a good student.
Eman Ismail
Recovering perfectionist.
LaYinka Sanni
There we go. Give me the I will do the same. I will do the formula. Yes, yes, yes. But even still, she can't control the results. Absolutely. So there's promises that are scary to make. Because the outcome is not in. It's not in the step-by-step strategy, actually, as much as we'd like to believe it is.
Eman Ismail
Yeah, and there's just so much that I want to say right now. So it's going through your mind, I don't think we have time to go through everything that's on my mind right now. But some of the things I'm thinking about is, you know, I have a mastermind and I specifically don't make any monetary promises, guarantees because I just can't guarantee that nobody can guarantee it. And I know that every single time someone joins, I feel, of course, super excited, but also a huge way of responsibility on my shoulders. And I think that's from this concept Islamically called an Amana which is a trust this person has entrusted you with so much with with that trust with that, you know, belief in you and their, their hope that dreams often you know, and as a mother, I know that whenever I join anything whenever I do in any program, of course, that is why literally money that could have gone to feed my children. And so I think that way when someone joins my thing, like they, this could have fed them, their children, their family, but you know, it's huge and I don't know if some people realize well even maybe think think about that aspect of just what a trust that is that someone has entrusted you with something so big. So that was one of the things another thing I want to ask you is what is this thing around six figures because I mean, you're the coach and you're the axial self transformation expert, please tell me big Hi, I have definitely had the goal of hitting six figures. And I did it and it felt great. Well, then I was like, okay, but wait, what does this mean? Like, what do I want to work? What do I believe about myself? What am I supposed to believe about myself? Like, am I suddenly like a better person? Am I better qualified to do my job? I might like, what does this mean? Why do we seek it? So much? What is it about this? Because I can tell you now I got to this point, and I'm like, Oh, damn, you need a lot more than 100,000 to run a successful company, like and so now you're not even enjoying the milestone that you've been working towards you just look into the other milestone trying to get to the next milestone. Yep. Textbook is happy though. Taxman is very happy, very happy.
LaYinka Sanni
Tax man is rooting for you. It's like, go Eman. Keep going keep hitting
Eman Ismail
those miles. Yeah, exactly.
LaYinka Sanni
Honestly, I don't know what it is with. Bob. I don't know what it is. It's this. I don't even know why we haven't settled on five. Why not? Five? Why not even for? What is it about six figures, I think there's this perceived door that one enters into when they have entered the realm of six figures. And that that life is where everything that you have thought, or everything that you saw was impossible, or accessible to you, is now accessible to you, those holidays, or those things that you have always had your heart set on. Now those things are accessible to you. But I recognize that you have to have been in a particular income bracket or have like your family had to be in a particular income bracket for six figures to be attractive to you. Otherwise, it's just a number. But for those of us that don't come from wealthy backgrounds, and we are from what we would call a lower middle class, or working class background, six figures is what it is . It is what my parents would only dream of . My parents are so darn. proud of me. Like we've made it out of the ghetto. That is what it's what it represents. It's not the number. But it's the meaning that we have attached to the number, whatever that is. Wow, what you
Eman Ismail
just said about it, opening up doors to just the possibilities that really hit me. Because for me, and I don't know what it was. But when I did hit it. I thought wow, okay, if I can do this, I can do anything. What's my next number? Let me pick a number boom, right? I believe in myself, like, I believe that I can do it. Like, it's just made things seem more possible, more real to me. You know, it also feels scary. And it also feels like a shame that it's connected to a number. But maybe it really is. I think it is what you said it is. It's not the number, it's what it represents. And also, I have to say, I feel like I don't know if this is true, but I feel like people start taking you more seriously. Because I don't know who created this thing. Why this particular minimization, I don't know who created it where it started. But suddenly people like Oh, right. Oh, okay. Oh, she's serious. Oh, this isn't just a little like, you know, little thing. And she doesn't have spare time. You know.
LaYinka Sanni
But you know, what's crazy, though? Five figures is still a lot of money.
Eman Ismail
There's a difference between, like, in all seriousness, and 99,000 to 100,000. I promise you I, you know, it's funny because I was looking at my figures. And I think I might have had it last year. I don't I don't know, because I was pregnant. And I didn't, I really just didn't care. I was just trying to get enough money. I could do my maternity leave right comfortably. So I didn't track all the numbers. I only really like getting an accountant and a bookkeeper who does everything for me at the beginning of this year. 2022. Right. So I wasn't tracking the numbers. But I realized a few days ago, actually, maybe last year. So wait, wait, wait, what does that mean? Like every day? I cannot. I'm just confused. And I don't know anything about myself. I don't know what any of this means anymore. And it's just a lot. It's a lot.
LaYinka Sanni
Yeah,
Eman Ismail
I have to say I respect the Lean curve six years ago, spending 1000s On this program because that takes a level of self belief actually, some people might say thanks to the level of desperation, like you're really one that was.
LaYinka Sanni
That was, I'm not sure if there was any degree of self belief, but it was a desperation of okay, you know, people are throwing this number around, it must be possible for a lot of people to get there. Let's do this. Okay, make it happen. But, you know, I remember when I hit six figures, I did not know when I hit six figures in my business. As in I didn't track it. It wasn't, I think, maybe the end of year reviews and we sat there like, whoa, whoa, whoa, when we made that much money in this year, cash, but I wish I could sit with the, you know, the LaYinka. I was six years ago and said, hey, it wasn't even a thing. It wasn't even a big deal. It wasn't as big of a deal as you thought that's what I would, would have loved to be able to say to her that you're worth your value. None of that was attached to a number at all. It felt like it was at the time, it felt like we were feeling hard. It felt like we were a waste of space. But we were okay. And we are still okay. You know, but I can say, have six figures made a difference? Did it make a difference? Of course, yes. You know, I was able to do things with my family, and not just my children. And my, my immediate household, but my extended family, my siblings, my parents, that they've never, you know, we'd never got to experience when we were when we were children. And we were younger. And it's that thing of possibility. You know, and so do I with my children, when it comes to money and having a different, not even different life, so because my son still says to me, Mom, you know, you live like, you know, we need to just upgrade things. Well made great like this, not about the money. Like no, you live like you're still poor, you know? I'm like, No, let's just spend the money on experiences, but even
Eman Ismail
replace it. Yes, I'm an experienced person, as well
LaYinka Sanni
discover and experience the world see the world, you know, but then he he I remember going we went away with a good friend. For a weekend away. For the first time in a cottage in Suffolk. It was beautiful. And the first night my son pulled me aside and he said, thank you. I know that you worked so hard for us to be here. And that for me, it was like yes, yes. Okay, yes, the money is nice. But you saw the grind. You saw the hours at night that I put into this, you saw the sometimes the Get out of my face. You saw all of it. And you were here for all of it. And with me through all of it. And I'm glad you recognize hard working. He is the most hardworking young man that I know at 90. I'm so damn proud of him. Because he's seen that and it's like, it's not the money. It's the effort. And what we do as a result of that.
Eman Ismail
Oh, that's so lovely. Thank you for reminding me of a conversation I recently asked my six year old. What can I do to be an even better mother to you? And he said, You have to work a little harder, so you can make more money and I can have more things.
LaYinka Sanni
Basically, that's the formula.
Eman Ismail
go, that's what I'm gonna do. I have got to upgrade him as well. That's so it's so beautiful. Just just, I mean, we don't expect to thank our kids, and we don't want to thank our kids for having that. That's everything that is that is everything. Yeah. And I think you're right. I think I have, until recently, really felt no shame around aiming for six figures because it really was about you know, I, I've had no money, and I don't ever want to have no money again. Yes, it's not fun. It's not fun, and I don't want to be there again. And so if, you know, that motivates me to make more money, because it's not the money. It's the security and the stability and like you said, it's what money affords you and what money money can give you. And I don't think there's any shame in wanting to improve your situation or your family situation.
LaYinka Sanni
You know, it's interesting because, like I said, it's not the money. It's what we attached to the money and it's that thing, those things that are valuable to us. And you just mentioned a few that the security security is a is a big sin actually for, especially in these times to be secure, to know that you have a home that you are going to be in, you've got a roof over your head, you've got food in your pantry, in your fridge, you've got the bills paid, you can get, you can not just get by, but you can thrive. Yeah, but at least the minimal, you know, like Maslow's hierarchy of need that security and safety that we need. That's what a lot of us seek money and not some money for to make sure that we're secure and our children are secure. So we put that money into savings, you know, we invest in order to have security and there are other things, you know, that might be available to other people. But security is a big one, and it's a tough one. But most of us don't recognize that. That's what, that's what we are actually going for. So sometimes we get the money in, and we forget the value of security that we're actually after, and then we can blow it very easily because we lose sight of the value of the money itself.
Eman Ismail
Wow, wow. And to put this into perspective, I'm just thinking back to when I had my first son. So I had him have a C section, I have a C section with both my kids. The first time I had the C section with him, I would think I'd been out of hospital for three days. And I needed to write some blog posts for a client. So I did, I was being paid a 20 pound blog post. And I remember being in so much pain, and being so exhausted, like the baby was seven days old, and I was trying to work because I just needed money. Okay, so that was my first situation with my first son. Thank the Lord. Second time around with my second son, I'd been able to take it well. I stopped working about a month before my June and had been able to self-fund my maternity leave as someone who's self-employed, and was able to take off and pay myself over seven or eight months. So that I could spend that time with the baby and recover because I knew I would most likely have another C section. And I did. And just the difference between those two experiences. And the motivation for me was to never, ever be in a situation like I was that first time. And it put a fire under me. It really did enough. I have not gone out. And I think that's what the six figures is about.
LaYinka Sanni
That's profound. And I love that you have a deep way. Yeah, with regards to that. And it's, it's not the money. It's what the money gives me and my kids, like I can be here and be present with my child, I can take care of my well being, I don't need to be in payment agony. Baby in one hand laptop on the other and trying to crank out words. That is so beautiful, you man and I'm so grateful that you have been afforded that security and what Okay, can we just do like, a flip fangirl moment here. Okay, because I have watched you grow, and it's been so beautiful to see you grow in your, in your space as a copywriter. And I see you as a leader in your fields, and to see you bloom and it's almost as if, you know, your back is straighter and your chest is out and you're like, This is my space. And this is my thing. I'm damn good at it. Like sometimes I get your email newsletters, right. And sometimes I read it like looking at her own in her space, we'd love to see it. You know, I love the authority and the belief that you show in your soul, in your work, in your posts on LinkedIn, just like that is beautiful. And you've owned it, you're crushing it, you're unapologetic about your choices. I remember coming to you to work with you. And you told me a few days I was like yes, yes, she is worth that. It's just that I want her to do something else.
Eman Ismail
Thank you so much.
LaYinka Sanni
So yeah, just plug in you out here. You're phenomenal. And I'm glad that other people are seeing that. And they're recognizing that and that you are being remunerated for that too. So keep growing.
Eman Ismail
Thank you so much. Thank you and can I say that moment? Oh, you did land in my inbox asking to work with me. That was another moment for me. I was like wait, wait, what? Oh, wow. Thank you. I really appreciate Get that. Okay, let's move on to how did this mistake make you? We have spoken about you making the mistake, diving deep into that mistake. Why did you make that mistake? But how did this mistake make you?
LaYinka Sanni
It made me reevaluate myself, my beliefs. And it forced me to be okay with where I was because sometimes we can have eyes so far ahead from where we are. And so far away from where we are that we don't even see what's in front of us. We don't see the opportunities that are here. So even at the time when there would be a client who would want to work with me, but her funds weren't enough or whatever. And I was just starting out, right? Her funds weren't enough or whatever I would, I could easily dismiss not disregard, but say, um, yeah, well, no, rather than exploring with her, what are the opportunities here? Like? What are the ways that we could make it work? What are the long payment plans that we put in place? You know, and this six figure focus stopped me from focusing and seeing what were the doors that were open to me or what were the opportunities and the ways that I could work with people. And so it's, it forced me to be here, as well as still having my heart set on there, and creating plans towards there. And we often feel as if, if I'm not there, then I'm not moving. But sometimes we're so far out there, that we kind of take steps from where we are right now. And it's been beautiful to strip it back. It was beautiful to strip it back to reevaluate what stories and beliefs that I was telling myself about what I was thinking about myself that were, you know, how I might be getting my own way. And to think, Okay, what do I need? And what are my specific outcomes? Because, yeah, six figures, when you're not even making 1000 Let's be real here is a huge jump. And it helped me to set more realistic outcome, but also to be kinder to myself, because I did stop berating myself after that, you know, and during that, just thinking, Oh, you're, you're this and that, and in a Miguel was having a field day, but to lean into kindness. Okay. All right. Is this true? No. What is true, I can do it, it is possible. And in the world of NLP, neuro linguistic programming, we have an assumption that we hold true, which is, if it's possible in the world, then it's possible for you to, it's just a matter of how. And so I'm like, okay, it is possible people are doing it. It's just a matter of how, but so me, before I got to how I really needed to get clear on my what and why. And my why I felt was shaky, wasn't it wasn't decisive, you know, as you have expressed, expressed your why's so beautiful. My y actually was just about wanting to run away from my day job, really. And there was a point in 2016 2017, when I quit my day job. I wasn't making six figures, like oh, so we can do that. Oh, so we can do them. Okay. And so I look back and think, what are all the beliefs that I had had so many limiting beliefs, I can't do this, unless this con isn't possible for me. I can't do that now. Blah, blah, blah, all the stories. It forced me to check myself, check myself hard, and to embrace a more compassionate lens. And through that lens of compassion, I can make mistakes and still rise from them. I can take the lessons and take this next step forward, which I'm grateful that I've been able to do, because then that has allowed me to feed that into my clients. And so my mistake was an opening. And I'm grateful for it.
Eman Ismail
Oh, you just answered my next question, which was, if you could go back and save your money with that coach, would you save the money?
LaYinka Sanni
You know, probably not. Probably not. I think about everything that happened. If I didn't do that, I would have probably done something else. And I don't even know if that I can't unstart them to think of if that something else would have been any better or less. So let's just take that mistake and be okay with it.
Eman Ismail
Except that one. Yeah, you know what's so funny? My friend and I were having a conversation for the day and we were laughing and laughing. Bri Weber, for anyone who knows Bree, we've allowed him because when we first got into copyright, we both realized very quickly that we needed some kind of support and guidance. So one of the first things I did was search for a coach. And that's when I met Belinda Weaver who was my first ever copywriting coach. And she's brilliant. And her membership is fantastic. But it was a lot of money for me at the time. I think it was something like $37 a month, which was maybe like, at the time, 24 pounds a month. That was a lot of money for me at the time. Okay, so me and Bree, were just having the longest laugh of just the conversations that we were having with ourselves at the time, because I was like, 24 pounds a month, you go Eman. You invest in yourself, you invest in your business, you know, you take this risk, you do it. I was so proud of myself, and I shouldn't have been proud of myself, because it was a lot of money for me at the time. Yeah, to think of you investing in 1000s. And this is me investing 24 pounds a month. Invest in 1000s. Yeah, there must have been something in you that believed you could do it, there must have been something a little something,
LaYinka Sanni
anything. I don't know if I believed in myself, or I believed that my God would like God to do it. Can he do it? Yes, he can. You know, you can? I think it was one of those things. Because, again, there was no i didn't have I didn't have anyone around me. Who spoke openly about their business experiences, or what business was like, I didn't have anyone who was an entrepreneur, who was in my circle. So it was real, really lonely. And that's why I felt that I needed someone. And yes, having someone to work with is I think it's a privilege to be honest. What is working with the right person? Absolutely. That's that part. I know, it might sound like Oh, here she goes against self doubt. I just don't think that was even the thing that was in my mind. Maybe not even consciously anyway, I just knew that I wanted to do that. She says that she can do that. Okay, let's go. I think I believed in her more than I believed in myself. If I'm honest.
Eman Ismail
I was gonna say, was it the coach you believed in?
LaYinka Sanni
Yeah. Yeah. I think that was it.
Eman Ismail
You said earlier on one of the most important things about one of the most important things we have to do before choosing a coach is figuring out what we want, you know, what our Why is what is the why and what is the why? How do you even begin to figure that out?
LaYinka Sanni
I think if I were to start all over again, and I've thought about dismantling my business, by the way, yeah, I thought about just going to get a job in a supermarket and talk to people all day. I still get to talk. But if I were to start and to start from that place of what I want, I would think of not so far ahead, even in terms of money, I would think of what do I want to do? What do I want to leave this world with? If I could write my obituary today, what would I want to say was the imprint. And sometimes that would look like a business and that sometimes it will look like something else doesn't necessarily even have to be, but it can be really hard for us, especially women, to know what we want, because I want to have for a long time well for them, for many of us are attached to other people and who we are to other people. And that's why sometimes I feel as women in business, we all really stretch identity wise. Because I'm this woman attached to other people, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a friend, a wife, a spouse, a you know a partner, whatever it might be a mother. And now this is me Ameo out here, it feels like the Wild West, just the wilderness. And it carries the idea of what do I want rather than what do I want for us or what do what do what do we need one? What do I want? It challenges us and it strikes something deep in us to see ourselves and that's where sometimes feelings of unworthiness comes from. Because where you're worse has been attached to other people, water specific outcomes. And now it's just like, okay, me? Am I even allowed to want that? Am I allowed to ask permission to want that? Do I need to ask him or her or them? And that's why we go to coaches sometimes to figure it out for us. What do you think I should want for myself? Tell me what you think my dream should be. And that whole dreaming big and thinking and visioning and things like that, if you're not accustomed to it, it's hella scary. And that's why sometimes it's the first thing to do is just to see yourself and to see yourself as worthy, and deserving, and whole and Okay, as you are, whatever the outcomes might be, but you as an individual said, and then sometimes I advise people to write it in, in third person, and say, in third person solely in code once I can talk about myself from a different vantage point. Wow. And it's easier. It's easy. She wants this. Wow, okay. That's what she wants. So she wants that. I want that. Yes, yes, you have permission? Yeah.
Eman Ismail
That's huge. And I'm going to try that. That's huge.
What do you hope that others learn from this experience that you've shared today?
LaYinka Sanni
I would say, have an honest conversation with yourself about where you are right now. Whatever stage you're at, you know, especially for those of you who are starting out in business or anyone who started in home business. And you've got heart eyes for the idea of six figures. To come back to where you are right now and to have that conversation about if six figures is what you want. What makes it so important to you? What is it that you really yearn for? Where do you think that six figures will get you and open up to you? And is it possible that another number can do that too fast? That pipe and also check in with all the red flags that I mentioned. Someone telling you that you should get a loan, someone telling you that you have mindset issues if you don't want to invest in working with them, someone who's going to promise you that they can get Yes, yes, yes, I can get you six figures. I've got the perfect strategy, all of that. Avoid those as much as possible, ask questions to know the reality of the person that you're going to work with. And check in with their ethos and their values in your heart, like us, them, interview them, and ask them what's important to you. Because that's the person that is supposedly supposed to be guiding you on your journey you want, you want to be with someone who you align with values Wise, who is down for what you need, and what you want. And it might be that you have a different business coach at different parts of your journey. And that person who is like, six figures might not be the one that you need right now, you might need one who's used to working with early entrepreneurs, because the six figure babes, right? They are usually very impatient with those who are babies in the journey. And so someone who can hold your hand in the beginning stages and say, Hey, I've got you, I know you're gonna trip. And I know it's hard. And I know that's a lot of self beliefs that are like non-belief in yourself, and it's going to come up. And I'm going to help you work through every single one of them. Because I've been like that. And I understand it, and I get it. I know I talk a lot from the heart because I'm a bit of a hippie. Very heart centered. Not everyone is like that. Some people need like, you know, no nonsense, go with what vibes with your heart. But check in if there's any level of discomfort, any doubt. It's not about the money that you're meant to invest with that person. There's something there's a call that there's a calling inside you to check it. Your intuition. Trust your intuition, trust your gut. And I pray that you're, you know, you're guided to the best person and to the journey, and you are going to make mistakes, and you're going to fall and you can pick yourself up and learn from them and laugh at them. Like I'm like.
Eman Ismail
Absolutely. Thank you so much, Linda, how can people find you if they want to stay connected to you,
LaYinka Sanni
They can visit my website Li and cat.com , one where they can find me on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter. I share a lot of rubbish on Twitter, and LinkedIn too.
Eman Ismail
And your Instagram is great.
LaYinka Sanni
Instagram is definitely where I show up the most. I'm just searching for my phone. My full name is actually Allah. Say, however, okay, yeah, this is a, this is a not so shared story. But my full name is online. However, I share my name with a WNBA player. And so when we google my name, you can find me on Google with my name because she is taking the spotlight. So I took my oh off. I took my oh off so that I can be Googled, and I can be in a few typed Lanka, you will find me first. Best position on Google.
Eman Ismail
You will, I did not know that. Wow. So what do your friends and family call you? What did they call you? Ali? Ali Inca. Why don't you learn something new every day? There we go. Oh, thank you.
LaYinka Sanni
I'm just laying out in the public eye. But all my friends or family
Eman Ismail
Call me. Yeah. Thank you, Ali. And it was so lovely chatting to you. And I think so many people are gonna get so much of this conversation. So thank you for your time.
LaYinka Sanni
All right, it's been an honor. Thank you so much. This feels like a beautiful conversation we had today, so.
Eman Ismail
It was.
This conversation was like therapy for me. So much of what LaYinka spoke about comes down to our relationship with ambition, and money I looked at, but I do recognize that there's an anti six figure community out in the business world at the moment. There are people who are absolutely sick of hearing about it, I get that. And there are people who shame the business owners who are aiming for it. Now, I don't think there's anything wrong with aiming for six figures. But I do think there should be more honesty about what it really means. For example, I made six figures in revenue last year, not in profit, and that distinction matters. Did I pay myself anywhere close to six figures? Nope. Am I rich now? Like I always thought I'd be No, I am still a long way away from that point. LaYinka says she ran before she could walk because she was so intent on hitting this random goal she had created for herself. And I think that's the point here. Whatever your goals are, make sure you understand the why. And make sure it's what you want and not what society tells you you want. And know that most great things don't happen overnight. It takes time. To grow a successful business, a lot of time, progress can feel slow sometimes. But progress is progress. So just keep going. You're listening to mistakes that made me, I mean, man, a smile. And if you watch this episode, take a screenshot, post it on Instagram, and tell everyone you know that this is the podcast to listen to. and tag me at Elon coffee co so we can say hi. And so I can show you a post. You can find the links to everything I've mentioned today in the show notes.
Next time on mistakes that made me.
Michelle Gyimah
I honestly wanted the ground to just open up and just take me. Just take me now. Because and that was when I was like, I knew I knew this was gonna happen. But because I was being the nice black girl I didn't push back and say this is undeliverable. You can't, you can't deliver this training. And so I was like, what am I going to do?