“You are not SUPERWOMAN.”

In this episode of Brand and Balance, Lena discusses the importance of embracing flexibility in motherhood and business, letting go of unrealistic expectations, and finding what truly works for each individual. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community support, self-care, and the power of delegation to achieve a balanced life. The host encourages listeners to identify their personal and professional needs, and to create a lifestyle that allows for growth without the burden of guilt.

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Welcome to Brand and Balance

Good morning Good afternoon Good evening I want to welcome you if you’re tuning in I want to welcome you to Brand and Balance. I’m not superwoman and I know, I know mom, just being a woman I know that you want to have so much control of everything but you are not superwoman.

In my time of being a mom, I have just learned to live in the moment and have patience and allow myself to be flexible, allow myself to learn to do something different, learn to relax and have fun again. It has been such a joyful ride.

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to just be along for the ride. There are ways that you can deal with things being out of your control without it being overwhelming or stressful or feeling like you need to constantly check in on that thing or with someone to see if it’s lining up with your vision.

Embracing Flexibility and Slow Growth

The point of me creating this podcast, Brand and Balance, is to help you understand how to let go, but also how to gain control in a much bigger way, in a healthy way. Gain control over yourself, over your life, over your business.

And I don’t see too many conversations about realistic things.

When you have so much to do with, even if you don’t have kids, just running the business alone, it’s so many things you feel like you have to get done right now in order to better prepare for tomorrow. But in your mind that tomorrow is actually a year down the line and you’re trying to do everything today.

Sometimes you have to embrace the slow growth. Just embrace it. You don’t always have to be in a hurry like those crazy reckless drivers on the road that nobody really likes until you’re rushing one day and you turn into them and you don’t even realize and you swerve an in between the lanes and you’re slamming on brakes because they’re

People in front of you are not really moving as fast as you thought they were. Yes, I am talking to you. Slow down.

slow down enjoy waking up on a late evening not evening, waking up late morning with your kids maybe they don’t always wake up tippity-top 5-6 o’clock in the morning sometimes mine does sometimes she wakes up at 9 sometimes she wakes up at 10 I’m just like ooh

Where are you sleeping today? Okay, where am I going to relax? Get back in the bed. Get under the cover, get cozy. And a lot of the time, if I can’t really go back to sleep, I just pull out my laptop and work on my computer. But in a comfortable position, not necessarily feeling so rushed. There are some mornings when I wake up early and I wake up before her.

And I do enjoy a good stretch, a good slow meditation. And then when she wakes up, we go outside, we get exercise in the morning when the sun’s out. Cause I like to be warm. I like to feel the sun on my skin. It just helps me relax. No, I’m not talking about that mid-day in the south sun when it’s like a hundred degrees. No.

I’m talking about early morning, springtime, there’s still a wind blowing, the birds are still talking, it’s peaceful.

It’s not loud outside with the neighbors. Nobody’s partying. Maybe there’s a lawnmower too, because people like to get their work done early in the morning. Because it’s cool. And she just loves it. She likes to kind of explore the grass. It’s like a forest to her, I guess. She just loves it. And a slow morning.

I feel it is a lot more energizing.

than when I rush and force myself to wake up at five o’clock every single day. Yes, it is possible for someone who has been in practice for years and years and years. Yes, it is possible for someone who has a lot more support, maybe their kids are older and they can wake themselves up, get themselves dressed in the morning.

maybe even fix themselves, breakfast if they’re that much older.

But you have to be okay with not following every Guru strategy or productivity tips or healthy routines because that’s for their life. They’re just telling me what worked for them. That doesn’t work for me. Yes, I do love a good stretch, a good workout in the morning, but not at five o’clock. That doesn’t work for me.

So what works for you? What works for you? Is it waking up at five and getting some things done on the computer before the kids wake up? Or is it waking up and getting some workout in before the kids wake up?

Or is it sleeping in and staying up later in the evening? That works for me. Man, when I tell you late in the evening after my baby’s had dinner, maybe she just wants to lay down and watch her TV for a little while. And I can really get in on some design work. And she’s just in her own little world.

A lot of times I pop open that laptop and she’s like, ooh, a new toy. Mommy, I’m coming. Let’s play. She think it’s a pair of drums or something.

and I kind of have to tug away the laptop or just put it away completely or maybe go in another room until she’s like hold up okay now I’m coming to find you

Creating Healthy Habits That Work for You

But late in the evening, when she’s comfortable and she’s tired, and I can get some good work in, and I’ll probably stay up till 10 or 11. I might even stay up till midnight if it’s like really good and I feel like I’m really diving into some good strategy and I’ve really gotten far or completing a website design or a template and I don’t want to like interrupt it.

Then I’ll just keep going. 12, 1, or 2. Best believe I am not waking up at 5 o’clock in the morning if I just went to bed at 1 or 2 o’clock.

And so if you’re wondering if I was going somewhere with this story, yes, I’ve already said it. You probably weren’t listening. So I’m going to repeat it again.

You have to be willing to create something that works for you. Create healthy habits that work for you. This is 2025. If you’re just starting a business, that’s okay. You’re going to start off on the good foot.

If you’re already in business and you’re trying to get it together, get it together, honey. And this is not just me talking to you. I’m talking to myself because no matter where you are, what timeline of starting your business that you’re at, zero, one year, three years, 10 years, you know.

It doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, you always have room to grow. There’s always gonna be room for flexibility and learning how to pivot and make adjustments without taking too long and without stressing yourself out about not being able to do it. You have to be willing to get help.

You are not Superwoman.

That is the point. This is episode one. And I just really want you to think about everything that you love to do versus everything that you don’t. And I’m gonna tell you a story. Yes, I have another one.

But everything that you love to do versus everything that you don’t. And when my mentor told me this, and I actually took the time, because it’s not just about receiving the information. It’s about taking the time to implement and continue to refer back to it. So when I actually took the time to make a list of everything that I do in my business, everything that I need.

I need my design platform, Canva, Showit, and Figma. DubSado is the root to my business because it helps make my client experience super seamless and a little bit out of mind. I get notifications when I need to, when I need to send certain updates. Other than that, the client is getting the information that they need, the emails, the reminders.

What do I like? I love to design. I love to design. And so over the years of designing versus developing, I realized I love to design. It’s okay to admit it. What I don’t enjoy, but will do and can do thoroughly is development. That’s where me creating this business is not just a business.

Business is not just a business. Your business is a brand. Your business is a lifestyle in one way or form. My business is an agency and it’s a lifestyle because I want to create a lifestyle that allows me to move freely. That allows me to take off at any time. So that means creating an agency where I outsource the actually development, the actual development of the website.

And then the next thing I’m looking into outsourcing is social media.

because we all have a love hate thing going on. Yes, you enjoy it when you’re looking at those funny videos or you’re trying that new cooking meal or you’re working on building your garden. I’m working on building my garden. I have a lot of content about elevating not just my personal style and my outfits, but elevating my designing style, house design, landscaping design, interior design.

all of that because when I get to the point and I say I’m ready to buy my house I’m ready to build my house I will design my house from the ground up I will decorate and style my house I want to be able to have complete confidence in that and if I feel like I need help I will confidently outsource it but by giving them my full

visual direction and they can add their little flavor on top because everybody has their own little flavor and you can’t be afraid to figure out what that is. You have to be willing to be spiciness on top.

You do not have to be.

Blending and If that minimalist Style is not for you. It’s trendy right now and that’s okay But it’s not for you You have to be willing to do you okay? Just do you? dress how you want to dress and If you’re a part of my community, then you’ll see how I dress. It’s full of life. It’s full of color

Letting Go of Superwoman Expectations

I don’t mind mixing and matching. And if that’s you, leave a comment, let me know, tell me what your Instagram is so I can follow you, because I’m always looking for inspiration. And you have to be okay, like I am super chill down to earth and with my baby exploring, as I was telling you earlier, we come outside

I get my workout in, she gets a good laugh in, because apparently it’s so funny when mommy does jumping jacks. It’s so funny when mommy runs up to her and runs away. She thinks it’s her ass. It’s like we’re playing tag and she’s just standing there looking or sitting in her bike and I roll her around and then I give her a second to explore and interact with the yard and the grass.

Her dad on the other hand, he’s like, no, there’s too many bugs. I don’t want anything to bite my girl. And I feel you. I feel you on that. I am not a fan of bees or mosquitoes. It’s just not an ant. But you have to be willing to be uncomfortable in order to grow. And that means in your motherhood,

That means in your wifeness, if your wife, in your relationship, in your sisterhood, in your daughterhood, you have to be willing to be uncomfortable in order to grow.

Enjoy it. EMBRACE IT.

When you get on the roller coaster for the first time and you’re anticipating the drop. First of all, you get on and they take forever to press start. Okay? They take forever just to go. And then they give you their little Peter patter. We’re going to go a little bit and stop and go a little bit and stop. Everyone’s just like, “Come on, man, press play, like, let us move”. Then you’re gone and you’re flying.

And you’re up and you’re down and you’re up and you’re down. Then they hang you at the top and you sit there for God knows how long. To me, it feels like forever. And I’m looking at my friend and you’re looking at your friend and you’re like, OK, I’m getting a bit nervous. Like, why are we just sitting? What’s going on? Is it like that movie and everything just stopped working? Then they press play and you just drop, then your heart drops, and your stomach drops. And then you finally get to the bottom and everything slows down and it’s back easier getting you like, my gosh, what a rush.

I don’t do that anymore. But it was fun while it lasted.

My rush now is in a different aspect. It’s taking risks on my business and being okay with letting my baby explore the grass and then I have to run up and chase her like, now that’s too much, too far. She pulls up all the grass and then she’s like, okay, well that looks tasty.

This looks like the rosemary that mommy puts on her food. No, no, no, no, no. Slow down. Where you going, girl? Back up. I need to rest. Because I haven’t been running in a while. I do some exercises in the morning. It is not hardcore. It is not hardcore. I do not go running around the block. I’m like, whoo, okay, let’s sit down. Let’s take a break. But it feels good.

You get your heart pumping. Get that energy moving and flowing through your body and it feels good. You have some balance from you being at work all day, sitting behind the desk, sitting on a computer. So you’ve been outside and just enjoying the sun. Just enjoying yourself.

just enjoying your family. And the big key point here is enjoying yourself. It is okay to do it alone.

I am outside. You may possibly still be able to hear the birds chirping. I’m alone. I feel comfortable, happy. I got all dressed up this morning, not intending on running out of the house, but just intending on feeling good.

I want that for you. I want that for you as a mom, as a wife, as a fiancé, as a single woman. I want that for you as a woman that deserves to be fully energized and not always being drained.

Building a Supportive Community

It is okay to be tired of being tired?

My entire purpose for building my community, for creating, aiding this podcast for you. It’s just to give you real authentic stories of being a mom, running a business, building a business, going insane to going not so insane, okay? From going insane, dealing with stress, dealing with overwhelm.

to fully learn and trust the slow growth, indulging in life, indulging in self-care without sacrifice. I do not feel mommy guilt right now that my baby is safe with her great grandmother, enjoying her time, enjoying good food and great laughs. I am not feeling mommy guilt. There’s no stress.

about me putting in some sacrifice to work, to build a community, to build a business, to build a better lifestyle for her. There’s no sacrifice. You have to let go of the mom guilt. You have to let go of the woman, I’m a superwoman persona that you’ve been holding onto for far too long.

We’re going to do it together. At the end of this podcast, I want you to feel free to join my community. It is a safe place for women and moms of all backgrounds, of all business models.

Cause we’re not just talking about running one type of business. A business has the same foundations, no matter the aspect, no matter if you sell skincare or if you run a podcast like me or if you have a design agency no matter if you are a coach no matter if you are a physical therapist no matter if you design beautiful landscapes that make people feel like they have an oasis in their backyards.

The business is the business. The woman is the woman

My community is built on you enjoying your life and enjoying your business while indulging in the slow growth, while indulging in self care, while indulging in systems that work for you, not the other way around.

We talk about productivity tips. We talked about healthy habits. We talk about hobbies that we are doing outside of our families, outside of our mom persona, outside of our business persona, things that we do just for ourselves, like gardening and cooking and baking and painting and pottery and poetry and music and dance. All of those things that make you who you are as a woman, as a person, as an individual.

BRAND and Balance is about the individual, about the mom, about the woman helping you master building a brand and the business without losing your sanity. I truly have a vision where women and moms can come together specifically to help each other, to support each other, because you should not always be the one running the hide.

You shouldn’t be at the end of the race, dragging behind. Not have to worry about not having the right help, not having the right support, not having the right guidance and mentorship. You should be worried about living the life that you have dreamed of, desired for far too long. And this community is going to be a place for all creatives.

CEOs okay moms launching their business running their business showing up for other moms and making it simple

Just imagine if you can do it all over. What would you do again? What would you simplify? What would you change? What would you maybe take your time on a little bit more instead of rushing? Who would you have by your side? In this community, we encourage collaborations. If you need a copywriter, if you need a designer, a photographer, if you need someone that’s really good at creating short form videos, if you need a social media manager, let us know, reach out. We have someone for you or we will find someone for you. We’re all about plugging in the pieces so that you don’t have to do it. 

The Power of Delegation and Self-Care

The story that I told you that I have for you is just that. I plugged in the piece, I relinquished control. I delegated a task, something as simple as laundry. Oh my gosh. If you’re a mom, if you’re a wife, then you understand completely what I am saying. If you could delegate one thing, if you could outsource one thing. Earlier we talked about creating a list of things that you love to do in your business versus things that you don’t of things that you love to do in your personal life versus things that you wish that someone would just take off of your plate let them.

Today after you finished listening to this podcast i want you to choose one thing to delegate in your business and one thing to delegate in your personal life because we have to add the flavor on top. I want you to add one more thing to the list. One thing that you will add to your schedule to treat yourself. One thing that you would delegate in your business. Just write it down. You don’t have to start mapping it out or planning for it. You don’t have to start searching for the person and comparing prices. Just write it down.

1. One thing that you want to delegate in your personal life.
2. One thing that you want to stop doing in your business- delegate it because you don’t like it (it’s okay).
3. One thing to put on the schedule to engage in Self care this week.

I was really busy last week. I was really busy last week and for some reason I had extra clothes and blankets that I usually don’t have because I wash every week. I go wash, I wash them myself. Typically I fold them and I take the time to get some things done on my computer while I’m at the laundromat. And this week, last week, it was just so busy and things just got piled up and it probably was two weeks worth of things. And I just dropped it off. said, Hey, I know you have a washing fold. What are your prices? How much do I need? When can I drop it off? And that’s exactly what I did. I dropped it off. They took care of it. I was able to get some work done. I was able to get some content recorded and edit it within that three hour time frame. So imagine if you chose to delegate one thing from your business. Outsource it, one thing from your personal life, even if it’s as simple as laundry, even if it’s as simple as hiring the maid once a month or once every two weeks.

To come in and do a deep clean for you while you get some other things done. I promise you it will not hurt you to relinquish that control. It will not hurt you to focus on yourself during that time period. This could also be the time where you treat yourself.

Pick a walk, grab a coffee, grab a matcha, go on a long walk. There’s a river that runs through my city. And of course, downtown, they try to make everything look nice and pleasant. And so I go there sometimes and I just listen to the water. Embrace the slow growth. Embrace your woman’s self-identity, your identity as a self, as a person, as a woman. Embrace it, accept it. And once you figure out what those three things are, join my community and let us know. Or just leave a comment beneath this podcast and let me know so I can support you, so I can give you tips. We can talk about it. We might have the same goal.

We can definitely find a way to help each other out and support each other. Even if it’s as simple as, hey, this is the person that I use. Here’s their link. You can see if they have a budget that works for you. Okay, mom. I would love to know. And please come back next week for another episode of Brand and Balance.

Giving you simple yet spicy strategies to simplify your life, elevate your systems, and indulge in self-care.

Have a great day!

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MAIN Takeaways

• You are not superwoman; embrace your limitations.
• Flexibility is key to enjoying motherhood and business.
• Slow growth is a natural part of the journey.
• Identify what works for you, not what works for others.
• Let go of mom guilt to focus on self-care.
• Building a supportive community is essential for growth.
• Delegation can free up time for self-care and personal growth.
• Your business should reflect your lifestyle and values.
• Embrace discomfort as a pathway to growth.
• Indulge in self-care without feeling guilty.