← She's So Lucky
She's So Lucky
Mastering Confidence, Career Growth, and Wellness in Your 30s with Briana Thompson
00:49:54
Loading summary
Transcript125 lines
- [00:01]
Podcast Announcer
The following podcast is a Dear Media production.
- [00:10]
Les
Welcome to Balance Flat Girl. My name is Les. I appreciate you tapping in with me. So over the last almost seven years that I've been doing this podcast, I've got to talk to so many incredible guests and something that I do occasionally is I will bring back guests who I've talked to before to get an update to learn what balance looks like for them now to see what's happening in their lives and in their businesses. I'm really excited to bring you one of those episodes today. So I first talked to Bri Thompson back in early 2019. So these were very the early aughts of the podcast when she was starting a movement called Spiked Spin. And since that interview, Bri has done so much, opened two Spiked location. She's moved to the west coast, she's become a mom and has just become such a force in business and in the space of wellness. So I was really excited to invite her back to talk more about how her approach to life and wellness and business has changed over the years. In this conversation, we get into so much goodness. We get into discovery of self appreciation of where we've been while also still being clear about where we want to go, how motherhood has impacted her wellness, her entrepreneurship, making tough decisions when it comes to business. Like this episode is so full and so rich.
- [01:31]
Podcast Announcer
So let's get to our catch up with Bri. Bri, welcome back to the podcast.
- [01:40]
Bri Thompson
Thank you for having me.
- [01:42]
Les
So much has happened from the last time you were on the show for our listener. So I've had a lot of listeners joined the show in the past, like year or two. So they don't necessarily know the early episodes. So for people who don't know, Bri was one of my first guests. I've maybe been podcasting for like six months back in early 2019. So this is a fun kind of homecoming we're having.
- [02:04]
Bri Thompson
Yes, it is.
- [02:05]
Les
And I mean, huge congratulations to you because you have had so many incredible personal professional milestones since we first sat down. Back then, it was like you were working on Spiked. It was something that was still very much coming to fruition.
- [02:19]
Bri Thompson
Yes.
- [02:19]
Les
At that time it was Spiked Spin.
- [02:21]
Bri Thompson
Yes.
- [02:21]
Les
Has now expanded to Spiked Wellness. Two locations, which is amazing. But then also on a personal front, you're now married, you're a mom to two beautiful little boys. So many incredible things.
- [02:32]
Bri Thompson
Yes. I'm very grateful for all of life. I still feel similar to you that while we've done so much, there's so much to do and it's something that I've been trying to reconcile within myself, the bridge between gratitude and, like, I'm ready to take what's mine. And, like, I feel sometimes I don't have the access to talk about it in the way that I want to. So this year, I made a commitment to just share some of the, like, more raw emotion that comes with all of it.
- [03:08]
Les
Absolutely. Absolutely. I know you had posted about just 2025 being a year of not playing small. Can we talk more about, like, what that looks like for you and how that's feeling?
- [03:18]
Bri Thompson
Yes. I think for a long time, I was raised with. First of all, I was raised to get a corporate career, and so I did that, and I worked in advertising for a decade, and bringing that into entrepreneurship is great, but I also feel like it can be a bit of a disconnect because you have to be a little bit more fearless as an entrepreneur sometimes in corporate spaces. Specifically the one that I was in, I worked in advertising. I was in service, you know, and it was like, put your head down, do the work. And I felt like that's what I was supposed to do. And in retrospect, that's not what I was supposed to do there either. You should never just put your head down and do the work. And I feel like whoever made that phrase was probably a man trying to.
- [04:05]
Les
Get people to play small. Yes.
- [04:07]
Bri Thompson
Because as a woman and as a black woman, you have to voice what you're doing. No one is looking for it. Obviously, you'll build your community, and there will be people who are proud of you. But if you really want to play in the big leagues, which is like, just my phrase that I'm going with, you have to speak up. And so 2025, I want to speak up. I've done a lot of building, quietly, failing quietly, winning quietly. I've done incredible things. And I'm like, I never made a big to do about this. I'm like, I've done, like, five Nike campaigns.
- [04:40]
Podcast Announcer
It's amazing.
- [04:41]
Bri Thompson
And I just like, quietly, I'm like, yeah, thanks, guys.
- [04:44]
Les
I'm like, we want to hear Nike.
- [04:46]
Bri Thompson
I should have. You know. So I think 2025, I'd like to explore something new. I've done it the other way for literally 35 years. And I'm like, let's see what something new looks like.
- [05:01]
Les
Yeah.
- [05:01]
Bri Thompson
And if not, I'll go back to what I know.
- [05:05]
Les
And how does that. Does that feel, like, exciting? Is it scary? Is it both?
- [05:09]
Bri Thompson
It's definitely both. It's absolutely out of my comfort zone because I do prefer to kind of like, take the backseat. And I. And I think that's been the personal work of, like, what is that rooted in? Why do I prefer the backseat? Is it because I'm an introvert? Is it because when I was young, I was always told that I was bossy? Is it because, you know, like, what. What did this come from that I now kind of like, want to tame my approach to life? So it's definitely scary, but. But it also feels exciting because I'm like, if you've been able to do these things quietly, what can you do? Right? And that unknown variable, like, is what's keeping me awake at night right now. Because I'm like, you. You can do some things, girl. And like, feeling that energy is what's carrying me through the other chaotic moments of the day.
- [06:09]
Les
I can relate to that so much. Cause I think sometimes there is this. I don't know if fear is the right word, but hesitation to show the process. We want to show the final result when it's like we're perfectly put together and we've figured out our new style and our thing that works exactly for us and we want to make it seem like that was always the case.
- [06:26]
Bri Thompson
Yes.
- [06:26]
Les
And I feel so similarly that I'm kind of also documenting the process. I've had to be like, last year, like, I'm a 35 year old woman. I don't know how to dress. Okay, let me figure out how to do that and let me look crazy half the time and let everybody see it felt.
- [06:42]
Bri Thompson
Because I think two things. One, I always say, like, I was listening to Destiny's Child just kind of like on shuffle, and I'm like, we were very much raised in the Beyonce era of like, independent women. Have your stuff together. I got my own. I do what I want, like, women's empowerment, which leads to this refined version of self. Right. Like, it's not messy to. So a lot of the music that we were listening to, which I appreciate, but it introduced us to a version of like, go get yours. Do it the right way and show out in, like a confident but complete way. What I love about the new generation is they are very messy. Sometimes I'm like, to a fault. You know what I mean? But that's just me being older. But I appreciate the process that they show you. I don't think that we were reared in that generation of like, even when it comes to my mom, it's like you walk out of the house looking a certain way right like, that's just how I was raised. There was no okay. When you get there, on the way there, it's like, do it before we leave. You know? And so it's difficult to show process. For me, I am. I am much more comfortable showing you a final product that even if it flops, I'm like, I did the work in between. And so navigating that is interesting. And then also we're bombarded with ideas and ideals and like, this is this aesthetic and this aesthetic and this aesthetic. And I'm a crazy Leo and I'm creative. And I remember once we're a Leo too. Oh, my God. Yeah.
- [08:18]
Les
Wait, we must be exactly the same age then, if we're both LEOs.
- [08:20]
Bri Thompson
Until 89.
- [08:22]
Les
Yeah. I was born in August of 89.
- [08:24]
Bri Thompson
Yes.
- [08:24]
Podcast Announcer
So we're the same age.
- [08:25]
Bri Thompson
I love that. Yes.
- [08:26]
Les
Yeah.
- [08:26]
Bri Thompson
Yes. So I used to be, like, creative and be the girl that would be like, okay, I'll wear my quirky whatever, and confident in that. I. I didn't have this heightened awareness to my differences until now at 35. And that also feels interesting because I'm like, I thought that at 35, I would know exactly who, how, what I was.
- [08:47]
Les
And I think part of that too comes with visibility. Like, the work that we do being very front facing, like, you are a founder of a business, you are also very front facing. You have this partnership with Nike where you're in things all the time. Social media is a part of it. Yep. I feel like a lot of my awareness around things started when I started putting this podcast on video when it was audio only. I didn't think about really how I looked, all these things. And then I started seeing myself on video every week and being like, oh, wait, I can step it up. Yeah. And so then I think it's. It's sometimes that visibility aspect that is such a big part of what we do can add to that.
- [09:22]
Bri Thompson
Actually, that's a really good point because not only am I comparing myself to the world that I exist and my clients and, like, wanting to be relatable to your point, this is something else that going back to being bold and, like, doing things out loud is leaning into the fact that, like, I am a public figure, which was something that I've shunned and kind of like not accepted or wanted to accept for so long. I'm like, I'm just Bri. And everyone else is like, you are a public figure. And I'm like, I'm just Bri. And I realized that what I thought was Humility was actually shrinking myself from my fullest potential. And so I think that's another part of the reckoning. So I'm just having a full kind of like check in with myself and be like, why? Looking at the lines where they cross and like trying to identify why and then erase it so that I could replace it with something better. And that like is more representative of where I'm going. And also forgive myself for where I've been without feeling like if you would have for sure.
- [10:33]
Les
Which is, I think sometimes challenging, but also really beautiful. Like, that's a beautiful place to be.
- [10:39]
Bri Thompson
It is.
- [10:47]
Podcast Announcer
Taking care of your skin can feel like a job in and of itself. Between all the steps, the ingredients we can pronounce, and the endless new trends, it's really overwhelming. But as I focus more on skin health, I want products that actually work without adding more stress to my routine. That is why I love using Denday, a clinical skincare brand powered by biotech, to support skin health and longevity. Dende's approach is all about both preventing and restoring skin concerns, which is exactly what I need. Their newest launch, the line Smoothing Eye Cream, has been an amazing addition to my skincare routine. It targets the delicate eye area with a beautiful serum like formula and needle nose applicator, making it super easy to apply. Now that I'm in my mid-30s, I'm seeing some changes around my eyes. And I love that it's clinically proven to smooth fine lines and improve skin texture. In fact, 90% of clinical participants said their skin felt more supple and smooth. The magic ingredient is naringenin, which is Dende's proprietary biotech ingredient that fights inflammaging, a silent everyday inflammation that causes collagen and elastin to break down over time. This cream targets inflammaging 15 times more effectively than niacinamide, helping to prevent future damage before it starts. If you're ready for effective, clinically backed skin care, check out denDay. They're offering 15% off to our listeners. Just go to denday.com and use the code balanced less. That's D E I n d e.com code balanced lesson. Okay, tell me why getting ready for a first date feels like preparing for the Olympics. You have the outfit, the hair, the skincare routine locked in. But for me, the must have step before walking out the door is deodorant. And not just any deodorant. I'm talking about Lumi. Lume is a whole body deodorant, which means you can Use it literally anywhere. Pits under boobs, thigh folds, belly button, you name it. Because let's be real. Confidence is knowing you smell good no matter what happens on that day. It doesn't just mask odor. It stops it before it starts. And it lasts for up to 72 hours. Lumi was created by an OB GYN who saw how often normal body odor was being misdiagnosed and mistreated. It's clinically proven to block odor all day. PH balanced and free of baking soda and parabens, so it's safe to use anywhere. Plus, they've got tons of options like the solid stick, the sweat control formula, and even a spray for those hard to reach places. If you're new to Lumi, the starter pack pack is the way to go. It comes with a solid stick, a cream tube, two free products like their mini body wash or deodorant wipes, plus free shipping. And right now, you can get 15 off all Lumi products with my code balanced less. And if you combine that with the already discounted starter pack, that's over 40% off. Go to lumideodorant.com and use the code Balanced Less to get 15 off. That's L U M E deodorant.com code Balanced Less.
- [14:11]
Les
Have there been any things that have been helping you in that process or, like, practices that have really helped kind of open you up or help you unpack? Some of those things that were keeping you small.
- [14:22]
Bri Thompson
My favorite thing to do is think about that version of myself that I'm not. And I see her and you know when people say that practice of, like, write down your ideal day. What is she wearing? What is she doing? What is she driving? What is she eating? What does she. What she looked like, you know, is she smiling? Is she walking? Is she, you know, all these little random things, even down to when I drive my son to school. Like, is this what she wanted to wear to drive her son to school? That is really helping me. And I journal about it constantly. And I'm definitely in pursuit of her. And I think saying that out loud of, like, her is me, you know, like, I'm talking about myself as if she's another person. But she is another person. She's a version of me that I'm striving to become that I know is within me. I feel her. She's like, come on. Like, you know, it sounds crazy when.
- [15:18]
Les
I'm talking, but makes perfect sense.
- [15:20]
Bri Thompson
She and I are just trying to find each other. And so one of my favorite practices is just to talk to her. And, like, when I'm in the shower, that's my. Les mentioned this, but I have two sons now, so, like, my shower time is sometimes my main, like, away from the entire world. My business, my husband, my kids, my phone. Like, I don't even want to listen to a podcast. I just want to be with my thoughts and the steam. But I talked to her, and I'm like, okay, you know, today was a little bit better. You. You put the heels with the leather pants, headband, and, like, you know, whatever. You got the big nails. You stood up for yourself. You posted the content. You recorded the content and actually edited it. You know, like, these small things that are getting me closer to her. And I think that practice is important. Journaling about her and also talking about that version to people I love. So I talked to my husband about it, and again, it's not in a weird, like, I'm so critical of me way, but in a beautiful. To your point, like, allow yourself to evolve and see. Allow yourself to change and be kind of way, which has been really nice.
- [16:31]
Podcast Announcer
Yeah.
- [16:32]
Les
Yeah. I love what you said about that version of her already being within you, because I feel very similarly. And when I think about these things that I'm doing to become the version of myself, I don't think of it as like, oh, I'm trying to fix myself. It's like, no, I'm bridging the gap so that that version of me that exists somewhere inside, I'm just getting closer to who that is.
- [16:52]
Bri Thompson
Because if you feel it, it's in you. Right? Like, everyone doesn't have these feelings. Which is another very interesting thing to consider, because sometimes I'm like, maybe I'm just too ambitious, or maybe it's too this or too something. And my mom is really good at reminding me, like, you think that way because you are you. She's like, I did not have that thought. Like, I. I did not want to work. Like, I don't want to be an entrepreneur. Like, just these different things. She's like, you've always been that way. And she's like, when you were in preschool, I knew you were going to be successful because you would always say, it can't even spell encyclopedia. And she's like, you just always had a measurement of self or, like, your standard. And she's like, even at five years old, it was spelling, obviously, but she's like, you were just so aware of, like, what you thought was important, and that was your measurement of yourself and also who you wanted around you. Like, okay, that's my. That's. If you can't spell encyclopedia, you're not for my crew.
- [17:56]
Les
And it's like, we are not aligned.
- [18:00]
Bri Thompson
We are unaligned. But she always says that. And she goes back to that when I do different things. And she's like, you've literally always been you. And that's why I'm like, the girl that I'm saying is within me. She's always been there. We just, you know, find each other in different ways at different times.
- [18:17]
Les
So, yeah, I love that your mom reminds you of that.
- [18:20]
Bri Thompson
It.
- [18:20]
Les
I mean, this is also gonna sound a little woo woo, but I am a firm believer that the desires that we have, like, we have them for a reason. That's why everybody desires different things. I think that a lot of what.
- [18:31]
Podcast Announcer
We desire, as long as they're rooted.
- [18:33]
Les
In, like, goodness and obviously not, you know, harm or greed or anything crazy, I think that we have those desires because we're meant to have something, a version of that, whether it's a feeling or, you know, it may not be the exact thing that we can see, because also sometimes our vision can be limited. But I think we're meant to desire things for a reason.
- [18:53]
Bri Thompson
I think the desire is the first step of the manifestation. You can only manifest what you actually feel to be real for you. Which is why the idea of manifesting is so interesting. Because what you're wanting for yourself and what I'm wanting, even if we're both saying we want to be super successful entrepreneurs, we want to be financially free, I want to buy whatever I want. I want to live wherever I want. Right? Like, that looks completely different for you. Your vision of that and my vision of that and what you feel is real. And I'm like, if you don't have that feeling, you can't have it. You cannot have whatever you don't feel. And I also think you cannot fake the feeling, which is where that's the hard. That's the hard truth that everyone has to accept, right? Like, there's a difference between something being literally in your spirit that you're like, I cannot shake this. Which was what I opened the conversation with, where I'm like, I'm just getting started. I feel. Feel that. Trust me, y'all, I am tired. Like, when I'm saying I'm just getting started, it's not in a way of, like, I have endless energy. It's in a way of, like, I feel it so strongly in my spirit. That's like, God is like, I'm Gonna blow your mind. Brianna, like, stick with me. I'm definitely saying I'm tired. Like, I don't want to do it, and I'm like, when am I going to reap the reward? But that. That thing. You're right. I think it's in you. And some people stick through the very windy path that it takes to get there, and then some people don't. But I. I don't think that having it or not having it was a matter of it not being in you. It's just whether you go, follow through, pursue it. Because the pursuit is where the manifestation lies and the difficulty and the. The joy and the beauty, too.
- [20:46]
Les
Yeah, absolutely. So much of either achieving the things that we want to achieve or receiving the things that we're calling in do depend on consistency and just staying the path. Even when it's hard.
- [20:57]
Bri Thompson
Staying the path is. It's the cheat code. And it is absolutely, I think, the great difference between those who make it and those who don't. And I think we can see it in so many ways. Obviously, it looks differently when you are outside looking in. Right. Because even people will look at you like I look at you, and I'm like, oh, my God. What else do you want to do? Like, you're successful. This, this, this. And you're like, briana, this. People can look at me and they're like, oh, my gosh, Bri, I would love to have two brick and mortars. I would love. And I'm like, I. I would give this up for that, you know? And it's like, when you're not in the journey, it all feels easy looking at other people's path. But I'm sure just because I'm a human and I live. We know that it takes. You just have to stay in pursuit of it to. To see it through.
- [21:45]
Podcast Announcer
Yeah.
- [21:46]
Les
I mean, often the things that we make look easy look that way from the result of doing a lot of hard stuff. And I think that's where people get tripped up, because they're on the outside looking in, like, oh, but it looks easy. You just. Just open a studio, just do this, just. And it's like the looking easy comes from so much the looking.
- [22:06]
Bri Thompson
That's what I feel like about Beyonce. I'm just thinking of this because she's been getting so much criticism for her performances and blah, blah, blah. Do you know how hard it is to perform the way that she does? Or, like, I'm just thinking about that, and I'm like, we. Even just being an instructor at a studio Right. Like, I have so many clients who will be like, I'm gonna audition tomorrow. And then they come and audition and they don't make it. And they're like, why? And I'm like, the talent is that she made you feel like you could do it too. That's the talent. The talent is not actually the dancing. Or I mean, like, yes, that's talent, but, like, the real talent is that you're critiquing it and you think it's so easy. You think it's so simple, and you feel like, I can do this too. And then you get up there and you're like, oh, wait, I have to instruct and breathe and give you body corrections and still be able to motivate you and be able to ride and be able to change my music and know where we're going next. And like, all of these different and make you feel like you're the only person in the room, but also make you all feel like this is an experience that is so immersive and wonderful and like there's so many elements that go into being like. Like a great instructor, a great performer, or just a great fill in the blank. But we make it look effortless. Same thing with entrepreneurship. People are like, you make motherhood and entrepreneurship and blah, blah, blah look so easy. And I'm like, do I? Because I need to start letting y'all.
- [23:32]
Les
There's. Those things are not easy.
- [23:35]
Bri Thompson
They're not easy. I think I take it in stride and it has to get done, but easy is not the word I would use for sure. Yeah.
- [23:50]
Podcast Announcer
Okay, let's be honest. Who doesn't love a little luxury? I know I do, but I don't love the price tags that usually come with it. That was until I found Quince. Quince is my go to for looking and feeling put together without spending a fortune. My favorite finds are my cashmere sweaters that I got from Quince. They're so soft, so classic, and this time of year I wear them every week. They start at just $50, which is a steal for the quality. I also have their luggage, which makes me feel way fancier than I am when I travel. And I've been wearing their hats and gloves all winter to stay warm. Quint offers a range of high quality items within reach. I mentioned their cashmere sweaters and they have washable silk tops and dresses, organic cotton sweaters, and 14 karat gold jewelry at great prices. The best part is Quince makes luxury make sense. They work directly with top factories, cut out the middleman and pass the savings on to us. All Quince Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands, so instead of paying for a brand name, you're paying for quality. And they only partner with ethical manufacturers, which I really appreciate. So if you're ready to upgrade your wardrobe without the ridiculous markup, go to quince.com balanceless for free shipping and 365 day returns. That's q u I n c-e.com balanced less once you try Quince, you'll never go back. If you've been following me, you probably saw that I recently launched my new baby, my wellness productivity brand called Spacious Rituals. And let me tell you, I have learned so much, but there is no way I could have done it without Shopify. Starting a new business felt overwhelming, especially since I had zero experience selling products. But now Shopify has made everything so much easier. What I love about Shopify is that it's not just a place to sell, it's the platform for building a business. They've got the number one checkout system in the world and their Shop Pay feature can boost conversions by up to 50%, which basically means fewer abandoned carts and more sales. Plus you can sell anywhere your customers are online, in store, even directly on social media. So because of Shopify, I was able to get my online store up and running seamlessly and I'm already seeing the impact. Shopify is really designed to help businesses grow and scale and if you're serious about taking your brand to the next level, this is the platform to do it. I also love that they have so many helpful articles, tutorials and resources to help you if you are all also starting a new business. So if you're ready to upgrade your business and get the same checkout system I use Checkout Shopify Sign up for your $1 per month trial at shopify.com balance black girl all lowercase, that's shopify.com balanced black girl to start selling today.
- [27:11]
Les
When I think about something like podcasting or even my experiences in business and what has helped me be consistent with it, I often look back at my fitness practice because fitness is what helped me learn how to be consistent and learn how to show up for things that I can now apply to other things. Before I worked out consistently I wasn't consistent at anything. So I'm like, oh, that's a tool that has helped me 100%.
- [27:33]
Bri Thompson
What's helped you 100%? I wholeheartedly believe that how you show up in your fitness is how you show up in your life 100%. For me, that was like the impetus of spiked. That's the impetus of my messaging, which I need to be more vocal about. And, you know, but how fitness is 100% for you. Right. It's one of very few things that does not benefit anyone else. Like when you cook a meal, usually you can share peace. When you just. Most things in life, right. Like, even when you are, like, trying to be a better person, it's like, oh, I'm gonna be a better person for my mom. I'm gonna. When you work out the gains, the loss, the whatever it is, it's for you. No one else benefits from it. They reap the rewards of, like, okay, my mental clarity, or now I'm consistent in other areas of my life and all of those things. But I'm like, fitness indicates you to you. What do you mean to you? How are you going to show up for you? How disciplined are you going to be for you, how. What do you mean to you? And if you can't show up there, I'm going to find holes in other parts of your life. So when I started with 2024, I could not be consistent with any of my, like, fitness wellness practices in a year. That was a key indicator for me that I'm not showing up in other places. And I wasn't. It's so, it's one to one. Like, number one is you cannot keep a promise to yourself. I'm. I'm almost sure to find a spiral in other areas that, like, does not align with who you're saying you want to be. And that's why I was like, 2025 can't be that. It can't be that.
- [29:11]
Les
Yeah.
- [29:12]
Bri Thompson
And it happens so easily.
- [29:13]
Les
It can, absolutely. Because life be lifing. I mean, there's, and there's so many, you know, very reasonable reasons why we can fall off with consistency. And it's, it's real.
- [29:25]
Bri Thompson
The deprioritization of self happens with motherhood. It just does. Yeah. And I've been trying to reconcile that day in and day out because I wholeheartedly believe how I show up for me, like I just said, will be an indicator of how I'm able to show up for my husband, my kids, my family, my friends, my job, whatever. And that's. I felt that last year. It's like I would be looking at my husband. I'm like, I don't even feel sexy. I don't feel beautiful. But it was because I wasn't being consistent with me. It wasn't anything he was doing, it's like, I'll break down if my son says one thing. And I'm like, I'm not being a good mom. And it's like, because I didn't feel good in me, and it's because I was not caring for me. And so we just have to find a way out of the excuses, which, like I said, the gift of, like, staying committed, staying disciplined, staying. I pride myself on that. And I also am human. And I also know what it feels like. So when I talk to people and when I'm coaching and when they're in my classes specifically, which I don't coach as much, but when I do, they're like, how are you talking to me? And I'm like, cause I'm a human. Like, I know what it feels like to fall off and have to get back up, but I also know what it does when you're able to. And so we're gonna have the hard conversation, but we're gonna get there. And I think that's, you know, the full circle moment.
- [30:51]
Les
And I think social media has played a really big role in this, where people, I think, wanna be told what to do a lot. Which, similar to what we were just talking about, is why I sometimes feel uncomfortable when people come to me of like, tell me how to do this, give me tips for that. Because I'm like, well, I don't know. I mean, this is kind of what works for me, but this is very much my narrow lived experience. Something else might work for you. So I don't want to tell you what to do because that may not apply. Like, I want to empower you to figure out what your thing is.
- [31:20]
Bri Thompson
I'm becoming a certified wellness coach for no other reason other than I just think it'll make me a stronger instructor. And I'm not even an instructor anymore, so it'll just make me a stronger, like, instructor for my instructors, a coach to coach them. And one of the fundamental learnings is that you know you better than anyone else. So a strong wellness coach is not dictating anything, which is almost like a mind, when you think about it, because you go to a coach because you think they know better than you. And what I'm learning is actually you know you better than you, you just don't trust you. And so what people really need to start asking are the questions around, like, that I started with like, why am I this way? Why do I want to look this way? Which way do I want to look? How can I start to look like that, right? Like the more you ask yourself the questions that you are wanting to ask me or like send the DM about ask yourself and start to spend time with that thought. And I think it also could be a part of like how I'm approaching 20, 25. Because so much of what we want is not outside of us. If I tell you I can give you again, I'm like the meme that's like girl, blah, blah blah. But I don't know, like I'm always ending with I will tell you, but the end of it will absolutely be but Idk, because don't call me being like, you told me to leave this man, you told me I said but I don't know. And so I think the more we spend time just kind of like questioning ourselves of the things, the more in tune we can be. And I don't want this to come across as like, you can't have your board of directors. I think everyone needs a board of directors and those are the people that you trust and now are going to give you the real tea. They might hold your hand like us, like, but come to them with something. Even when you come to me, like come to me with something because if you're coming to me with just a blank slate, I'm like, this conversation can't go far because now I'm dictating something that may not be what's right for you. Like we said, there's something in you always. I think that is the first inkling of where to begin and then we can build on that.
- [33:49]
Podcast Announcer
If you're anything like me, you probably wish that you could have more energy throughout the day. If you've been feeling sluggish, struggling with digestion, or finding it hard to stay consistent with healthy habits, your metabolism could need a little more support. And that's exactly why I have been loving metabolism ignite from veracity. I've been taking metabolism ignite for a little over a month now and it's been so helpful for my metabolic health. Our metabolism impacts everything. Energy, digestion, weight, even sleep and stress. But with modern life, things are often working against us. 93% of people are metabolically unhealthy thanks to stress toxins and hormone imbalances that slow us down. That's where metabolism ignite comes in. It's a clinically proven doctor formulated supplement designed to support hormone balance and boost your metabolism. The best part, it's made with 100% non drug side effect free ingredients backed by over 20 years of research. So it actually retrains your metabolism to function the way it's supposed to. I'm talking a 150% boost in metabolic function and a 55% increase in your body's natural GLP1 levels. And it's not just me. Over 25,000 people have tried it, and it's recommended by hundreds of doctors. If you're ready to give your metabolism the support it deserves, head to veracityselfcare.com and use my code Balanced Less for 15% off your first order. And if you combine that with Verasity's subscription savings, you can get over 45% off your first order. That's V E R a C I t y self care.com and use the Code Balanced Less. You know that feeling when you check your bank statement and you see a charge for something you completely forgot about? Yeah, I've been there. Turns out 85% of people have at least one subscription they're paying for but not using. And I have definitely been one of those people. That's why I started using Rocket Money. It's a personal finance app that helps you track all your subscriptions in one place, cancel the ones you don't need, and even lower your bills, all so you can keep more of your money. When I first set up Rocket Money, I was shocked at how many subscriptions I was still being charged for stuff that I hadn't used in months. With just a few clicks, I canceled the ones I didn't want and it instantly saved me so much money. Rocket Money makes managing your finances effortless. You can see exactly where your money is going, and for subscriptions you don't want anymore, Rocket Money can cancel them for you. No more digging through emails or dealing with customer service. They even scan your bills to find ways to lower them and if you want, they'll negotiate on your behalf. Rocket Money has helped over 5 million people save a total of $500 million in canceled subscriptions. On average, members save up to $740 a year when they take advantage of of all of the app's premium features. So if you're ready to clean up your finances and stop wasting money on things you don't use, go to rocketmoney.com balanced less today. That's rocketmoney.com balanced less rocketmoney.com balanced less.
- [37:11]
Les
I would also love to talk to you a little bit about environment because also, one of the things that has changed since our last episode is you have moved. Yes, from New York, where you're from now, to la. Been here for a little While. And you talk about how that move has been, what that transition is like. Have you learned new things about yourself? Being in a new city?
- [37:31]
Bri Thompson
I've learned that there's no place like New York. New York is such a beautiful mess. And I definitely romanticize her because when I was there, I was like, to get me TF out of here. But no, seriously, I've learned so much about myself. I've had to re. Find community. And a lot of relationships are preexisting. Like, I know people and I've had these bonds and friendships, but, like, not really watered them and really, like, give them the nurturing that they deserve. Because in New York, so much is like passing by. Like, I could run into someone on the subway and then we end up hanging out until 3am and then we're home. And then like, I don't know, I just always saw my friends in New York. It was like, I didn't have to think about it. In la, there's a lot of intention required to see people, to hang out with people, to meet up. And that's been new for me because I've had to be very thoughtful about, like, I want to see you. Which in some ways is really nice because you can clearly see what is worth your time. That in itself has been a bit of a challenge for me. Like, I'm not, I'm. I'm not gonna lie. I'm like a lazy friend. And I know that lazy friends get a bad rep, but, like, I just don't have capacity to like, call and check in constantly. If you're my friend, I love you to my core. And like, I don't collect friends in the way that just, like, you're my friend. So it's like, if you know you're my friend, like, you know, friend means something to you.
- [39:10]
Les
It means something to everybody.
- [39:11]
Bri Thompson
Exactly. So it's like, if you don't hear from me, it's just because I'm in a different phase of life, which I don't think is an excuse. But I'm just honest with what my capacity is. So here I've had to find ways to be like, okay, y'all, can you meet me for breakfast? Because, like, after 5:00, I'm with my kids and I'm very firm about, like, when I pick my son up from school, I haven't seen him since 9am I'm not then gonna go to dinner unless it's like a work event or someone's birthday, like, you know, a special moment. But it's Very rare that I'll be like, let's go to dinner. When I just picked him up from school at 6:00 and he's gonna go to bed at 7:30. So that's why I say, like, it makes my life different. But it's been interesting because I'm like, okay, I will meet you for breakfast. And I see the people who are like, they get it and they're like, like, you're trying. So let's just get coffee. We might not be able to do the whole dinner and maybe we'll do the dinner like one weekend, you know, coming up. But it's not as consistently as it could be when I was like, single and whatever.
- [40:11]
Les
And with opening Spiked in la, you have some different formats and some things that are different from the studio in New York. Can we talk about that?
- [40:19]
Bri Thompson
Yes. So I started Spiked Spin and I was looking at a funny email that I sent to one of my friends at like 2016, being like, Spike Spin is the first of a conglomerate of wellness brands under this umbrella, the Spiked umbrella. And I was like, wow, I didn't even have a studio then. I don't even know if I taught a class. When I sent that email, I was trying to get funding from, like, to do a partnership with a brand. And I was like. And so now that we've evolved to the Spiked Method, it's so incredible. It is the combination of high intensity Pilates with cycling. So the thing that's interesting about. Or that's incredible, not interesting. Yes. Is that we have two types of instructors in the Pilates portion. So we have some that are more of the, like, high intensity legree format. And then we have Pilates purists, so you can do either, but then you couple it with the cycling. And I love that because so many studios can only do one or the other. Just me. And I'm like, this is Spiked. So I make the rules.
- [41:26]
Podcast Announcer
Yeah.
- [41:27]
Bri Thompson
And when we were hiring, I had some traditional Pilates instructors come and they were like, well, we don't want to do this. We want to do traditional Pilates. And I was like, yeah, I want you to do traditional Pilates. And they were like, wait, we could like, be ourselves here? And like, do we want. And I was like, yeah, that's what, that's what this is about. And so going forward, all of the studios will be the Spiked Method. There will be no more Spiked Spin. Hot off the press, the Brooklyn studio might actually, actually be transitioning to the Spiked Method, or it might be closing really. But we'll have to see. Get an update.
- [42:03]
Les
Do we know when?
- [42:04]
Bri Thompson
Tbd.
- [42:04]
Les
We'll see. Okay.
- [42:05]
Bri Thompson
Look at me building out loud with y'all.
- [42:06]
Les
We appreciate you sharing that here.
- [42:08]
Bri Thompson
Yeah. This is the first time I've said it out loud outside of like the comforts of my house and my finance person. But it's the direction of the brand. It's almost like an outlier that's a weight. Yeah. And trying to train the consumer, the direction of like the branding that we want to go into and the consumer that we really want to entice is different. And so keeping the current format in Brooklyn is really just not a smart business decision. It would strictly be rooted in, like, loyalty, which I'm off of right now. It's like, this is a business. I think in 2019. I didn't listen to it yet, but I'm pretty sure I was much more emotionally connected to the business. I have no emotional with the business at this point. I am literally an entrepreneur and I'm growing a brand. And it requires a different level of intensity, intention. And I don't feel away, like people are like, how are you feeling? You know, like my like. And I'm like, I feel like a founder. I feel like a business owner. I feel like I'm making a decision and I'm moving on. And within the next, like week or two, I'll have the final decision. And it really just comes down to the money. Right. Like another thing that we don't talk about enough in business. Everyone's like, be an entrepreneur. And I'm like, this is something that I actually will give you candid feedback on because entrepreneurship is not an aesthetic.
- [43:36]
Les
It's true.
- [43:37]
Bri Thompson
Building a business is not an aesthetic. It is a lot of work. And it's. The work is meant to make money. Yeah. If it's not making money, it's really business. It's not a business. Yeah. And while Brooklyn is making money, I don't know if it's making the money that I need it to make for the level of commitment it requires to manage another studio on the. On another coast. But simultaneously, the Spectre method is so fantastic that I feel like I want to give it a chance in Brooklyn. So these are like the out loud thoughts of entrepreneurship of like beyond the money. When we build the model with the new pricing, with the new studio measurements and the new structure to the business, what does that look like? And then, okay, once we look at the numbers, I just had deja vu. Once we look at the numbers, does that make sense? And then if it does make sense, then we'll keep the doors open. And then if it does not make sense. We talked about this in another. Dementia freaking me out, literally. I decided. But yeah.
- [44:46]
Podcast Announcer
Yeah.
- [44:46]
Les
Well, I very much appreciate you sharing that so candidly. And I think that conversations like that are really important because I think oftentimes the end consumer doesn't really get insight into what goes into those types of decisions and the different directions. They only see the end result.
- [45:02]
Bri Thompson
Yeah.
- [45:03]
Les
And to your point about not having as much emotion in the business, I do think sometimes it reaches a point where the end consumer has more emotion maybe than the founder or the person running it. And that can sometimes lead to friction. And I think more honesty that we can have as entrepreneurs about the different twists and turns and decisions that we make with the end user, I think can really help people understand better and feel more included in the decisions we make.
- [45:27]
Bri Thompson
I think with a brand like Spiked, it's important to have that level of honesty because our clients, that is their sanctuary. They quite literally call it their sanctuary. So I'm hyper aware of the emotional relationship that they have, not only to the brand, but to that studio, to that space, to the feeling that they get when they go into this space, to the feeling that they have when they talk to our specific instructors, which is why the decision is even on the table to just transition it, because I get it. Right. Like. Like, it's. They love it. And. And I love that. Right. Like, that's the part I'm emotionally connected to. If anything, I'm like, oh, my gosh, I created something that you love.
- [46:09]
Podcast Announcer
Right.
- [46:10]
Bri Thompson
Even if I'm not. I'm passionate about the business and I'm passionate about the people. I'm not passionate about. I'm not emotionally. I'm. I'm not emotionally connected to the format.
- [46:23]
Podcast Announcer
Right.
- [46:23]
Les
And it having to stay the way that it's been because that's how it was. Right.
- [46:26]
Bri Thompson
I think what I was intended to build is being built built, what it's intended to do and serve is happening. The modality that I do that through, I don't think was ever the thing. And I'm okay with that.
- [46:40]
Les
Yeah.
- [46:40]
Bri Thompson
And I just gotta get my people okay with that. And we'll do it in a respectful way and we'll make sure everyone feels included.
- [46:49]
Les
But, yeah, it's honest. I appreciate it.
- [46:54]
Bri Thompson
Yeah. And if they say they root for me and they root for Spiked, they should get it. Right. Like, they have to get it because they have to understand what it takes. And we've been through some things in.
- [47:04]
Les
The business that survived the pandemic. I mean, that's no joke.
- [47:08]
Bri Thompson
Yeah. It survived the pandemic because I was willing to give up my savings, my personal savings, savings for my son, savings for, like, those are the sacrifices that. I mean, when I'm like, entrepreneurship is not an aesthetic. Right? Like. Like, it was a. It was a decision. I don't regret my decision, but it was a decision.
- [47:32]
Les
Yeah.
- [47:33]
Bri Thompson
And I look back and I'm like, you worked so hard. Like, I worked a corporate career, like I said, for years. And I did not take money from Spike. I just worked my career and I let Spike reinvest in itself. And then Spike took, you know, and then I was like, okay. And so now that's why, when I think about it, I'm like, the juice has to be worth the squeeze for me in anything that I do. I'm 35. I'll take the risk, but I need to know the reward. There has to be. It has to make sense. And again, this is not advice. This is what I'm dealing with as an entrepreneur. Because I don't know.
- [48:12]
Les
Disclaimer. Results may vary.
- [48:14]
Podcast Announcer
Results may vary.
- [48:15]
Bri Thompson
I may come back being like, girl, we should have kept it. But no, I. The models don't lie. Yeah. Yeah.
- [48:22]
Les
I appreciate you sharing, Bri. Thank you so much for joining me today. I loved this conversation. I felt like this was just such a. An honest, like, heartfelt, necessary update.
- [48:31]
Bri Thompson
I appreciate it.
- [48:32]
Les
Please let the people know where they can find you and how they can support you.
- [48:36]
Bri Thompson
Please follow my personal brand at B R I Monet M O N E E. And of course, tap in with Spiked Wellness at Spiked S P I K E D Wellness on every platform.
- [48:50]
Podcast Announcer
Perfect.
- [48:51]
Bri Thompson
Yes.
- [48:51]
Les
Amazing. Thank you so much. So if you could not tell, I loved getting to chat with Bri and just hearing about so many of the synergies that we're both having and being in such similar places while also still being in entirely different places all at once. And I hope that there was something in that episode that you could feel inspired by or that you could relate to. So please make sure that you follow Bri. If you're in la, check out Spiked Wellness. Get in on the Spiked method. We'll make sure we have all of her information linked in the show notes.
- [49:24]
Podcast Announcer
And if you haven't already, I would really appreciate your rating and review.
- [49:28]
Les
If you enjoyed this episode, please make sure you give us a 5 stars.
- [49:31]
Podcast Announcer
On Apple or on Spotify.
- [49:32]
Les
And make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening or watching so that you.
- [49:36]
Podcast Announcer
Don'T miss an episode, and I'll see you next week.
- [49:44]
Bri Thompson
Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a.
- [49:51]
Les
Direct or indirect financial interest in products.
- [49:53]
Bri Thompson
Or services referred to in this episode.