Where Are They Now? An Entrepreneurial Journey. - #034

Show Notes

Unlike many of the ads for webinars from successful six and seven-figure entrepreneurs willing to share their secrets of success, for a fee of course, the road to entrepreneurship is not always glamorous. 

In fact, we’d go so far as to say, it’s tough. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. So, what does it take to follow your dream? What does the path to becoming a successful independent professional look like? To find out Lori Vajda and Nola Boea are launching a new series, Where Are They Now? An Entrepreneurial Journey. 

In this episode the co-hosts sat down with Sophia Flot-Warner. Sophia is a Global Director for Training Solutions, multifaceted actor, and CEO of Freelance Sophie, a Virtual Assistant business she recently started.

anks for Listening!

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Entrepreneurial success strategies are in the works. Come have a listen!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• What it really takes to become an entrepreneur.
• Common misconceptions for starting a business such as, to have a successful company, you should have a business degree or you’ll need financial capital to back your dream. 
• Why you shouldn’t believe entrepreneurial success can only be achieved by a certain type of person.
• How to deal with the rejection part of entrepreneurship.

All too often, aspiring entrepreneurs (especially aspiring female entrepreneurs) are discouraged from pursuing their dreams because they’re either told, or they themselves don’t believe, that they fit the mold. But that’s not the case, as Nola and Lori seek to demonstrate. Hear first-hand accounts as aspiring entrepreneurs set out on their journeys and share their experiences and determination to follow their passion and for some, their purpose. 

• (7:04.99) This simple, yet brilliant tip for viewing rejection that will have you thinking differently. 
• (11:15.93) Acting and entrepreneurship share this important similarity and a tool most people use incorrectly for building successful connections. 
• (13:52.23) Four tips for developing your personal or entrepreneurial brand.
• (16:22:93) These tips and tools will help you track your time and your work.
• (21:55:44) A powerful tip for avoiding burnout while working and launching a side business.

Resources 

You can subscribe to Lori and Nola's show, (we love you and want to make it easy) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Sophia Flot-Warner 
• Instagram Sophia Flot-Warner
• Facebook Sophia Flot-Warner
• Facebook at Freelance Sophie
• Amazon books by Sophia Flot-Warner
• This episode was supported by: Be-YOU-nique​​

Transcript

Lori: [00:00:00] Have you dreamed about starting your own consulting or coaching practice? Maybe you want to turn your knowledge or passion into a part-time business. So, what's stopping you? We wondered, what does the journey to following your career dream really look like? How do you create a life you love? So we set out to follow a few listeners as they pursue their career and business dreams. We'll get periodic updates on their progress, process, and even vicariously learn as they share their tips and lessons learned along the way. Stay tuned as we launch, Where Are They Now? An Entrepreneurial Journey, and the topic of today's show,
 
Announcer: [00:00:39] You're listening to the Sticky Brand Lab podcast, where time strapped professionals like you, learn how to create a business you love in as little as three hours a week,
 
Nola: [00:00:51] Pursuing an entrepreneurial dream can mean different things to different people. But no matter your definition, it does seem that many, if not more, most people have a reason why they can't or shouldn't do it. On the other hand. There's nothing more life draining than being stuck in a job or career track that doesn't inspire you or bring some form of joy or isn't utilizing your creativity, strengths or interests. Sound familiar? Hello and welcome. Aspiring side hustlers, NOLA, and Lori here with a new series, making a living with your purpose or passion edition of sticky brand lab. But before we share, been there done that steps, missteps in the road, less traveled, but also worth it advice. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts that way you'll never miss out on any of our weekly helpful, informative, and hallways opinionated podcasts. Now let's get this, get paid to do the things you love to do. Show started.
 
Lori: [00:01:48] When it comes to life in general, we believe there are many benefits to pursuing one's purpose or passions, whether that is a hobby of vocation, entrepreneurial, or a form of service to our fellow human or a combination of all of the above. But let's be clear pursuing a passion authentically. Doesn't mean you're going to love everything about it. 100% of the time. So, what does it look like to follow your dream? How do you get paid doing the things you love to do? We wondered, so we set out to find out. Kicking off our series is Sophia flat Warner, a multifaceted actress and voiceover artist. Sophia is currently working as global director for training solutions at creator up a global digital media education company and production studio whose client list includes such notables as Google, YouTube, Twitter. And L'Oreal. Sophia is also a co-host for traffic jam, live news broadcast. Bringing viewers up to speed on organizations, making inroads in the fight against human trafficking. A Louisiana native and proud Creel Houston, Texas was her home prior to moving to California so she could pursue her career. Vocation of acting as an actor Sophia's roles have been as varied as a millionaire, an unnamed cracked addict, and a mother with a warped sense of propriety. She has appeared in commercials. Co-starred in a horror film. Had lead and supporting roles in five feature films and nine short films. In addition, Sophia has written and is preparing to produce a faith-based project titled true north with a renewed focus on acting, writing and producing. Sophia started freelance Sophie. A virtual assistant business. This will allow her to generate a living income by meeting the needs of her clients while simultaneously allowing her the flexibility to pursue her passion and purpose. Talk about multifaceted and multitalented welcome Sophia.
 
Sophia: [00:03:53] Hi, thank you for having me.
 
Lori: [00:03:58] We are so excited. You are here representing entrepreneurs, following your passion, following your purpose and all of those things and allowing us to tag along periodically as you. Move down your journey. That's awesome. And we can't thank you enough for allowing it.
 
Sophia: [00:04:19] I'm just honored that you want to follow me because when you're in it and you're like, oh, everything is such a mess and you never think it's, you know, anything anybody would want to.
 
Nola: [00:04:30] And then people look from the outside looking in, think you're, you're like amazing wonder woman.
 
Lori: [00:04:39] And I was writing up the bio and I was like, thinking. My gosh, she does so much. And we could say And you're you're a mom of an adult woman, but that's not, that's not the point. The point is. And do you have a life. Personal life. Oh yeah. Well, we're going to try and give it back to you maybe.
 
Nola: [00:05:01] Well, no matter what you call it, following your dream passion or purpose, doing so and making a living can be a challenge. On the flip side, it can also pave the way for you to be your own boss, which gives you professional freedom, such as choosing who you want to work with, making your own schedule and even creating multiple streams of income. There's nothing more rewarding and fulfilling than knowing we are doing the work we feel called to do. As a professional woman following her dream, tell us what is the most entrepreneurial thing about you?
 
Sophia: [00:05:32] I would have to say it's my ability to bob and weave. I can be very flexible and agile. Agile is the new word, right? Agile and. Well, someone once told me you do too many things. I don't know how to support you. And I'm like, pick one and go for it.
 
Nola: [00:05:58] Good answer.
 
Lori: [00:06:00] That is a brilliant answer. When you think about it, right? Cause that person wanted to put you in a box and you're like, if you need to be there you be there. But I'm not going to be there.
 
Sophia: [00:06:10] That's exactly it.
 
Nola: [00:06:11] You'll be there. I'll be here. You're in here and here and here. Right?
 
Lori: [00:06:19] Well, as we mentioned at the start, you're pursuing an acting career working full time. And if that wasn't enough right there. You also started your side business and took on a recently new role. We were thinking to ourselves entrepreneurship, getting clients, acting has a few things in common. And one of those in general is rejection, right? For most of us rejection in any form is difficult. Yet, when you've chosen to pursue a career path in acting, you get a lot of nos in your face. And when you're starting a side business, and you're trying to let people know about you before word really spreads. You also seem to get a lot of nos. We thought we could learn something from you first. Can you tell us how to build stamina for around dealing with rejection?
 
Sophia: [00:07:13] I took on the attitude of each audition is a separate job. I got that job. I completed it successfully. I'm done with that job. If they book me, that's another job and icing on the cake. So, I leave that audition behind because if I hold onto it, it's going to drive me nuts. And I learned early on that it potentially has absolutely nothing to do with my acting ability. I may be wearing the color. They don't like, I may look like their ex or remind them of something. And so they won't cast me. I can't hold onto that. So, I just learned to put it in a box and I'm done with it when I'm done with it. That is so awesome.
 
Lori: [00:07:58] Which then I have to ask this question. How did you learn to do that? And are there any other kind of tips and tricks that you could offer aspiring entrepreneurs so they themselves can learn to practice not holding onto it?
 
Sophia: [00:08:17] Honestly, it was a God thing. I came to LA. It was when I came to LA, it was strictly a word from God that brought me here. Otherwise, I would not. So, he gave me everything I needed in my time with him. And in talking to him, he just taught me to relax. And to just stay calm. But if I were to tell anybody how to bring this about, it's just that just relax. Worry is for naught; it doesn't improve anything. It doesn't change anything. But what it does do is bring negativity into your life, into your heart, into your soul. So, it really is just a place that you have to be mentally. And I will say this, now when I came to LA and began acting full-time, I would say I was older. So, I think that my experience had a lot to do with that, that I was already, you know, just very laid back.
 
Nola: [00:09:17] Well, when you had described that it wasn't getting the role that was getting the job, it was completing the audition, that was the job. In my mind to translate that to an entrepreneurial role. Okay. I have pitched the business. I've done my job. I have reached out. I've done my job. Not that there couldn't be follow up or whatever, but it's like, it's the act in reaching out itself, the act in, in just doing what needs to be done, to put it into the lap of the other person to make a decision. Your role, your responsibility kind of stops there. Would you say that's a fair comparison? I
 
Sophia: [00:09:56] would indeed. And I think sometimes we get a little too wrapped up in our goals in the way that we've written them out. Because if you put this onus on yourself, I must get five clients by this date. And then what if you don't. Then you, you leave yourself open to feel like you failed. But if you change that just a little bit, I will reach out to this many people. I will follow up with this many people by this date, because you can't force the outcome, right? You can't force them to be your client. All you can do is your point part.
 
Lori: [00:10:40] I think that is super important. The thing that you can control is the thing that you. Do the outcome that you give that's a moment.
 
Sophia: [00:10:48] That's exactly right. I think that specially for an entrepreneur, I once heard a story about a baker. She used to bake at home and then she opened up a store and then she got so caught up in the business that it was no longer a joy to her. And so, I just kind of relate that to entrepreneurs. If you get so caught up in results and statistics, you lose the joy of why you started doing it in the first place, and that's why they come to me. Right?
 
Nola: [00:11:21] So we compared acting and entrepreneurship in the context of facing the rejection. Another similarity between acting and entrepreneurship is hustling. Is there anything that you have learned both in entrepreneurship and acting that might apply to each other?
 
Sophia: [00:11:38] Yes. Relationships building relationships. Oh, say more things. Something that I learned in the past few years is social media. And how to build relationships with casting directors, directors, producers, writers on social media. And I will say that the thing that most people get wrong with that is they hop on some casting directors, Instagram, and they're like, look at my video. That's not building a relationship. That's trying to get something from somebody who doesn't even know you. So, Instagram we use for business, but it's a mixture of business and personal because on my Instagram, I put all my acting stuff up, but I put pictures of my cat and my grandkids because it's holistic kind of a platform. And so the casting directors do that too. And I go in there and I genuinely build relationships. You know, I talk about their kids and it's all about relationships. It's the same exact thing for entrepreneurship. You have to build relationships for people to trust you, to do your job for them.
 
Nola: [00:12:52] And you're talking about genuine relationships, making genuine comments.
 
Sophia: [00:12:58] That's right. Just real connections with people.
 
Lori: [00:13:01] That is really a very helpful, that's a mindset. It is what, when you start a business, you have to build a brand, but building a personal brand, whether it's for acting or for the face of your business can be rather challenging, especially if you haven't done it before or you haven't done it successfully. So, can you describe your personal brand and how you developed it? And do you have one for each of your different hats that you juggle?
 
Sophia: [00:13:31] That's a good question. Yeah. So, for acting, that's basically just me because when someone wants to cast me, they want to cast me for what I can bring to the role. So they need to know who I am. So on all of my acting platforms, it's just me. I put up real pictures with makeup, without makeup. I put up all kinds of family things. So, my brand for acting is that I'm a real human who acts.
 
Lori: [00:14:03] I love that just in and of itself. I'm a real human first who acts.
 
Nola: [00:14:08] I'm not a persona of somebody I'm trying to project. So, what suggestions would you offer? Anyone who's listening who wants to develop their personal or entrepreneurial brand?
 
Sophia: [00:14:22] I would say to him, figure out who you are. Just take a good long look. What do people say about you? What do you say about yourself? What do you believe about yourself? In that exercise if you find out there are things that you don't really care to believe about yourself, change that first and then go and make up your personal brand.
 
Nola: [00:14:42] So it's like identifying the various facets of the diamond that is you. Yeah, well, that's great.
 
Lori: [00:14:49] Oh, didn't that sound deep. Nola deep thoughts with everything.
 
Nola: [00:15:03] So Sophie, how did you decide on your Freelance Sophie Virtual Assistant business as a way to support or, you know, give you the flexibility to pursue your acting career? What made you land on that?
 
Sophia: [00:15:19] Because it was the easiest transition to make. Like I said before, I have a long history of all types of admin work. I'm a spreadsheet nerd. I just love doing all of those kinds of things. And it was just an easy transition to make. I didn't have to learn anything new. This is all stuff that's already in here and I can pour it out and help other people with it.
 
Nola: [00:15:44] And how do you navigate it all?
 
Sophia: [00:15:47] I don't ever sleep. No.
 
Lori: [00:16:09] That was such a straight face. They didn't ever sleep.
 
Sophia: [00:16:27] no, we're really, honestly, I start my morning. And I am by the Holy Spirit, into my day. And I asked him specifically to help me to strategize and to plan out my day. And he shows me along the way, things that I need to do and how to plan and how to organize things. So, one of the tools that I use is I'm on Upwork. And so that's where I get some of my clients from. So, it's very easy to keep track lack of everything. And then I found a time tracker software outside of Upwork for my clients that I get outside of there. And I'm really good with Google drive. And so, they have all these great little things that you can do. And I just put everything in my calendar, everything, and I've even started putting tasks in my calendar. So, I can get those done and check them off and not forget about them because I might have a task for acting, but if I don't put it in my calendar and it has to be done by a certain time, it's, I'm working, at Creator Up. So I'm gonna forget about it. And the flexibility I have a greater up is just some herb. It's just wonderful. It's a gift is what it is. So just being focused and organized it really. And I. By no means have I perfected that, but I am on the road too. Cause I just started doing the tasks on my calendar. Everything goes in the calendar, on the task in the time tracker. So it's easy to keep track of everything.
 
Lori: [00:18:05] You know, and you said that how you start your day. You're very faith based. I'm would consider myself very spiritual in my system for my belief. So starting out meditating, I believe in a higher power, whatever the higher power is. But when I get overwhelmed, I ask my grandmother to give me any sign. You're my link to the other side, share it with me. I think, believing in something higher than yourself, for anybody, whatever that looks like. I think it gets you out of personalizing it and gets you open to hearing.
 
Sophia: [00:18:44] Yeah.
 
Lori: [00:18:45] However, that is.
 
Sophia: [00:18:47] Exactly. That's a great point as well. You don't have to hang on to it all. You don't have to do it all by yourself.
 
Lori: [00:18:54] It sounds to me like you are very organized and you take that to really help you maximize your time. But it also sounds like you have some really good boundaries. You keep track of your hours. You keep track of the work that you're doing so that you aren't trading time for dollars.
 
Sophia: [00:19:13] Yeah. Yeah. It's important to me because it's important for another reason for me to track all of that, because I want to be genuine. And a woman of integrity with my client. So I have this report for you and I send them that report. This is what I did. This is the time it took me to do it. And these are the hours that I'm invoicing you for.
 
Nola: [00:19:36] That's great.
 
Lori: [00:19:36] Yes, it is great. As you said earlier, they, one of the reasons for your way of getting acting roles are not getting acting roles is because you're more experienced. So, moving from Houston to California to pursue your dream, you've had some setbacks along the way, mostly. How did you find the motivation and how do you keep it continuing so that you can work through the inconsistencies that come with both having an acting career and a side business?
 
Sophia: [00:20:13] You know, I've, I've asked that question myself of myself. Sometimes, right. It's like, why do I keep going? What is that thing? Did you answer yourself? I did. And it's just, just hope. Oh, can you say more about that? Yeah. So, there's a scripture that says that God is talking to you and he says, I have given you a hope and a future. He says, I know you, and I've given you a hope and a future. And he. Embedded that scripture in me before I came to Los Angeles. And he pulls it up every time, every time I'm getting a little weary and he's like, just hold on. I have a future for you. You can hope you can believe me. Cause sometimes I don't. I'm like what's going on? Why am I still not a superstar? That's the only reason I moved in though. You know, at times I feel like there should be something more by now, but. On the note you said of setbacks. One of the biggest setbacks was auto accident that I had almost five years ago now. And it was really bad. It broke my pelvis and dislocated my hip and I could not walk. I was in the hospital for two months. Um, so that basically when I got back to Los Angeles, my acting career was nothing. And so. I was deep in recovery for maybe two to three years. So, it took a moment and I would say 2020 was when I finally felt like that cloud had lifted. So, I started again, I got an agent, I got two agents, so that's um, so it's back on track, um, exercising and moving so much better and I no longer have to walk with the cane. So praise God for that. Yeah. So that was the biggest setback. And you can imagine where I would go at times, right. It's like, oh, all these years are going by and I'm not doing anything to bring my dream to pass. Well, yeah, it's just, just hope. Just, just knowing that God made a promise to me and I just keep believing and that's what you'd have to do sometimes. Right. You have to encourage yourself. Right. Just talk to yourself.
 
Nola: [00:22:46] Are there any other tips or suggestions that you could offer for how to launch a side business to avoid getting burnout or at least to make sure you don't get more burned out than you already are.
 
Sophia: [00:23:00] Be easy on yourself. Just forgive yourself when things aren't going quite as you hoped they would, or it's not moving as fast. Just be gentle with yourself. There's a lot, if you're working full time, that's a lot, you grant yourself some grace now, and then yeah.
 
Lori: [00:23:19] Well switching up the topic, just a little, we love eating as a matter of fact, Nola and I actually met first at a lunch meeting, but the idea for Sticky Brand Lab and the podcast, we got that idea over dinners. So, food has been a very big part of our connection and we thought it would be interesting to see what your personal favorite recipe is and how it reflects your own experience and journey to this point in your career and in your passion. And you gave us a recipe for gumbo and said it was because it best describes your journey, a mix of so many wonderful things. Can you tell us more about that and our listeners? And can you also explain how it reflects your experience as a successful actor and entrepreneur?
 
Sophia: [00:24:12] Yeah, sure. Gumbo I'm from Louisiana. I'm a Creole. And so gumbo is. A mix of so many delicious things. You can even make different kinds of gumbo. But my favorite is it has chicken and sausage and shrimp and crabs. And then, you know, there's all the other things. Like there's a rule that you make and there's all the, the Trinity, the celery onions and bell peppers and makes this divine creation called gumbo. And so I think of my life that way. All of the different jobs, I'm at all kinds of jobs and all of those experiences come together to create who I am and my expertise that I can offer to people's. Well, that's how I put all that together,
 
Lori: [00:25:02] She's like a gumbo of life.
 
Nola: [00:25:04] So I can't wait to get that recipe because my husband's family is also Creole. And when we were married, he was having a really hard time and he'd have to go home and eat like a real meal. And he asked his cookie. Well, yeah, there's stories there. And he, he asked us his pops to give me a few lessons. I never did learn gumbo. But pops off to tell you the story sometime. But, uh, I worked to actually create, I have gotten it in a bag, a boil, a bag. I've gotten boil a bag gumbo, and it was a hit, but
 
Lori: [00:25:44] sounds like blasphemy right there.
 
Nola: [00:25:45] They're really pretty gross. So, if I were to actually make that from scratch from my Louisiana recipe, I think my husband will have thought he died and gone to heaven. So
 
Lori: [00:26:10] We want to hear now, cause she's coming back. We want to hear how many times you have perfected working on that gumbo recipe. Cause now Sophia and I are going to ask. So, Nola. Because you know, when you think about it, Nola is your name? NOLA.
 
Sophia: [00:26:32] That's what I was going to bring that up.
 
Nola: [00:26:37] I went there once I brought back a t-shirt for my husband that says I heart, N O L A. So, what has been your most satisfying moment in acting so far and why?
 
Sophia: [00:27:02] I shot a commercial? It was a national commercial, and I was on set for like seven days. And I have to say that has been the most satisfying thing in my acting career So far. I had a handler.
 
Nola: [00:27:18] Oh wow.
 
Sophia: [00:27:24] And they just took such good care of me and bring me breakfast. Oh, I know what you want. It was amazing. It really was. It was great. I get to try on all these great clothes and it was fantastic. That was my most memorable time. So far, so far.
 
Lori: [00:27:53] We hope that there'll be many more as we follow you on your journey. Sophia, we can't thank you enough for being a guest and helping us in our listeners. And could you tell our listeners how they can learn more about you, your work as an actor, as well as freelance Sophie?
 
Sophia: [00:28:10] Yeah, of course you can find freelance Sophie on Facebook, just search for Freelance Sophie, S O P H I E. And then I'm also on Instagram and then my acting, you can go to my website. It's just my name, Sophia Flot-Warner. And you can find me on Instagram as well, as well as Twitter and Facebook. And I have four published books that you can find on Amazon.
 
Nola: [00:28:41] Oh, wow.
 
Lori: [00:28:43] That's awesome. Listeners, you can get the links, details, and information about Sophia, her services and her great recipe by visiting our website at stickybrandlab.com/resources.
 
Nola: [00:28:59] Be sure to come back next Tuesday and every Tuesday for another informative, inspiring and motivating episode. And remember action creates results. So, tap into your desire to create a business and brand you love by taking 1% action every day. Small steps, big effects.
 
Lori: [00:29:15] Do you have questions about creating a personal brand side hustle or small business? Sign up for one of our clarity sessions for more information, contact us at tickybrandlab.com/contact.
 
[OUT-TAKE]
 
Nola: [00:29:32] You're listening to the Sticky Brand Lab podcast, where time prep, step, whatever he says, that's a tongue twister in itself. I'm not sure how he said it.
 
Sophia: [00:29:45] He's very proper.
 
Nola: [00:29:48] He knows what he's, how to talk.