411: Do we regret downsizing the heart? Listen to find out. (Q&A with Lindsey & Evie)

Summary

Episode Summary: The Heart & Hustle Podcast | Episode 411: Do We Regret Downsizing the Heart? (Q&A with Lindsey & Evie)

Release Date: December 10, 2024

In Episode 411 of The Heart & Hustle Podcast, hosts Evie McLeod and Lindsey Roman engage in an insightful and heartfelt Q&A session, delving into various aspects of their personal lives, business decisions, and the interplay between faith and entrepreneurship. This episode offers a candid look into the dynamics of their partnership, the challenges of balancing work and personal life, and the spiritual principles that guide their business practices. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key discussions, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

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1. Living in Florida: Updates and Adjustments

Timestamp: 06:04 - 08:45

Evie and Lindsey begin by addressing a listener's question about their relocation to Florida. They humorously reveal that their interactions outside of podcasting are minimal, primarily confined to their podcasting sessions. However, they clarify that in reality, they do spend time together, although often limited due to their husbands' rigorous workout routines.

Notable Quote:

Evie (00:06:19): "Florida is going great. Living together in the same location is going great. And it's been the biggest blessing and we love it."

They express appreciation for their supportive community in Florida, highlighting how being in the same geographical area has enhanced their partnership and overall satisfaction with their living arrangements.

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2. Regrets on Downsizing The Heart: A Joint Response

Timestamp: 08:58 - 11:51

One of the central questions of the episode probes whether Evie and Lindsey regret downsizing their business, The Heart. Both hosts respond simultaneously, emphasizing that they have no regrets about the decision. They elaborate that the decision was divinely inspired, aiming to create more personal time for Lindsey with her three children and to reduce overall stress.

Notable Quote:

Lindsey (09:06): "No, not at all."

Evie adds that the downsizing was a forward-thinking move aligned with their current life season, which involves preparing for more children and balancing business with personal life. They acknowledge that while The Heart may scale up again in the future, the present configuration serves them well.

---

3. Work-Life Balance: Outsourcing Business vs. Personal Tasks

Timestamp: 11:51 - 17:26

Responding to Joy's question about whether to outsource a significant business task or multiple smaller personal tasks, Evie and Lindsey provide nuanced advice. They stress that there is no one-size-fits-all solution and recommend a thorough self-assessment to determine where outsourcing would be most beneficial based on individual strengths, weaknesses, and current life seasons.

Notable Quote:

Evie (12:18): "I think the best way you're going to discover what the answer is for you is to really sit down and to assess... what you're at."

Lindsey suggests that if financial constraints allow, entrepreneurs might consider outsourcing both business and personal tasks to reclaim time for family and business growth. They also share creative solutions, such as involving children in chores to make cleaning a family activity rather than a burden.

Notable Quote:

Lindsey (16:14): "Pro tip. We have our friend's 12-year-old come over and clean the house for 50 bucks."

This segment underscores the importance of aligning outsourcing decisions with personal values and business goals, ensuring that such choices enhance rather than detract from one's quality of life.

---

4. Scriptures and Faith in Business Operations

Timestamp: 17:26 - 26:42

When Hannah asks about the scriptures that Evie and Lindsey find most helpful in running their businesses as Christians, the hosts reflect deeply on how their faith intertwines with their entrepreneurial endeavors. They emphasize that their relationship with Jesus and reliance on the Holy Spirit guide their business decisions more profoundly than any single scripture.

Notable Quote:

Evie (21:00): "It is about the Holy Spirit running a business with us."

While they acknowledge specific verses like Ephesians 2:10 and Philippians 4:13, both Evie and Lindsey convey that their faith is a holistic foundation driving their business ethics, resilience, and purpose.

Notable Quote:

Lindsey (25:41): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

They recommend resources such as Bill Johnson's Dreaming with God to fellow Christian entrepreneurs seeking to align their business practices with their spiritual values.

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5. Describing Each Other's Work Styles: A Fun Exchange

Timestamp: 26:42 - 35:54

In the final segment, Evie and Lindsey engage in a playful yet insightful exercise where they describe each other’s work styles. Evie characterizes Lindsey as a "bulldozer" who relentlessly tackles tasks as they arise, likening her approach to a "whack a mole" strategy. Lindsey, in turn, describes Evie as someone who prioritizes tasks based on joy and necessity, often stepping away from tasks that don’t align with her passions.

Notable Quote:

Evie (27:12): "You're a bulldozer... you are immediately like, like savagely, like, fixing the problem in a very, like, intentional, focused way."

Notable Quote:

Lindsey (31:13): "I think so. Now I'm scared."

This exchange highlights the complementary nature of their partnership—Evie brings a firm, direct approach, while Lindsey infuses grace and a focus on what truly matters. Together, their differing styles create a balanced and effective leadership dynamic within their business.

Notable Quote:

Evie (34:27): "It's a really good combo. It is."

They conclude by emphasizing that their diverse work styles not only enhance their business operations but also strengthen their personal relationship as friends and partners.

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Closing Remarks and Community Engagement

Timestamp: 37:06 - End (38:07)

Evie and Lindsey wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with their content and community. They invite feedback on whether listeners can perceive their work styles and to share observations on how their business downshift has impacted their dynamics.

Notable Quote:

Evie (37:18): "We think very similarly, and it is very sweet as business partners."

Listeners are encouraged to connect via their Facebook group for further discussions and to provide input for future Q&A sessions, fostering a sense of community and continuous engagement.

---

Conclusion

Episode 411 of The Heart & Hustle Podcast offers a comprehensive exploration of Evie McLeod and Lindsey Roman's entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of strategic downsizing, balancing personal and professional responsibilities, and grounding business practices in faith. Through their honest and reflective dialogue, they provide valuable insights and practical advice for creative entrepreneurs navigating similar challenges. The episode's blend of personal anecdotes, business strategies, and spiritual reflections makes it a compelling listen for anyone seeking to harmonize their life and business endeavors.

Transcript

[Evie McLeod]

You're listening to the Heart Hustle podcast. We are your hosts, Evie McLeod and Lindsay Roman. Welcome back to the show, friend. We are so excited and so honored every time we get to sit here and just work through business or life or have these deep, rich conversations with amazing entrepreneurs and amazing people that we get to have on the show. So we just love that you're here. If you haven't yet and you want to, please leave us a review.

[Lindsay Roman]

Listen, I saw a review the other day that said that they have listened since conception of this show. I don't know why.

[Evie McLeod]

That wasn't phrasing, but beginning, basically.

[Lindsay Roman]

And they were like, I'm just now leaving a review. So if that's you, first of all, thank you for whoever wrote that. But if that's.

[Evie McLeod]

They're getting subtle shade for doing what we're asking actively right now. We will not shade you if you do leave us a review.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah, well, no, I'm not even shading you. I'm saying, wow, that was awesome that they made the thought of like, I've never left a review for this show that I've listened to for four, four years. If that's you, leave us a review.

[Evie McLeod]

Well, also, if you just started listening.

[Lindsay Roman]

Leave us a review.

[Evie McLeod]

If you.

[Lindsay Roman]

If you are enjoying what you're listening to. All right.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah, it really does bless us and the business so much or the podcast so much. And it helps the. The word get out. It helps more people find us. And, yeah, it helps us get better and better guests for you. Like, it is so helpful for us. So if you get a lot from the show, please leave us a review. Now. Done pitching. We're about to have a really fun episode. Just a casual Q and A. We're going over a lot of things. We're going over personal stuff from what Florida has been like, our friendship, and looking, you know, living in the same location to do we regret the decision to downsize the heart. We're coming with that one. And we go over things like work life balance. Like, is somebody currently feeling overwhelmed and they're wondering if they should outsource business tasks or maybe some personal life tasks? We're going to answer that and we're going to go over things like what scriptures do we find helpful as a business owner running a business? And the last one that we're going to end with is going to be really fun. We're going to describe or explain our.

[Lindsay Roman]

Work styles, but for each other.

[Evie McLeod]

But we're gonna answer for each other. So Lindsay's gonna tell you what she perceives as my work style. And I am gonna give the answer what I perceive from Lindsay's work style.

[Lindsay Roman]

Oh, guys, buckle up. Today's gonna be good.

[Evie McLeod]

This gonna be a fun episode. Let's dive on in. All right. Do you wanna be a destination wedding photographer but you feel like you can't because you live in the frickin middle of nowhere? Like anyone relate. Just a few years ago, we felt that hard. As two girls born, raised and starting our businesses in the smack dab middle of the Midwest, it took some serious strategy and planning to get booked as a destination wedding photographer. It wasn't easy, but it is possible no matter where you're based.

[Lindsay Roman]

We're here today to give you the tools we learned through our process to help you pursue destination wedding photography. To do so, download our free guide six tips to break into the destination wedding industry for a pep talk and learn our strategies to get your business booked out the wazoo in places that you been dreaming of for years. Go to theheartuniversity.com forward/discident to grab the freebie. Hey. Hey. I'm Lindsay Roman.

[Evie McLeod]

And I'm Evie McLeod and we are family and legacy focused serial entrepreneurs and the founders of the Heart University, a business education company with a mission to help you thrive in your business and life.

[Lindsay Roman]

Welcome to our entrepreneur cocktail hour where business and marketing strategies meet faith. Real talk and raw and life changing conversations.

[Evie McLeod]

At the end of the day, we are all in this together figuring out how to navigate the ups and downs, the messy and the beautiful and everything in between. This is a community where you can come as you are, get inspired and walk away equipped to build a legacy filled life.

[Lindsay Roman]

You're listening to the Heart and Hustle podcast.

[Evie McLeod]

Guys, buckle up.

[Lindsay Roman]

Today's gonna be good. I'm like nestling in to my couch.

[Evie McLeod]

When nestle Guccin we we nestle around.

[Lindsay Roman]

All right. We went to the gram to post a question.

[Evie McLeod]

That feels so 2017 to be like we went to the listen that goes with my outfit.

[Lindsay Roman]

I was actively thinking today as I sat down, if you're watching this on YouTube I I knew in my head I was like this is no longer in style. This just the style of like romper with the buttons. It just isn't it. And I can with the pockets. Yeah. I can be self aware enough to.

[Evie McLeod]

Know that it's not that it's not still cute. It's just no longer the height of trending.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah, I need a felt hat to go with this frankly. And I was like, you Know what? But I'm comfy. And that's what it is.

[Evie McLeod]

Sometimes that's what matters.

[Lindsay Roman]

But you walked in with you, like, she was wearing Mary Janes and this, like, cute little white shirt. And I was like, okay, listen, it is what it is. You know, it is what it is.

[Evie McLeod]

I was, I'm very Gen Z today. Like, I'm very, like, peak trending style.

[Lindsay Roman]

Normally. I tried to do that when we went to Paris. I was like, listen, I'm going to do all things.

[Evie McLeod]

You're, like, so edgy. You're like, oh, my Gen Z, we got a dm.

[Lindsay Roman]

That was like, your guys fashion in Paris was like, on point. And I was like, thank you for noticing. I really actively tried very hard.

[Evie McLeod]

And I came back home and gave up. Yeah, Okay.

[Lindsay Roman]

I went back to my 2017. Wait, what did I say that you.

[Evie McLeod]

Said we went to the Gram and we got very scientific.

[Lindsay Roman]

What would the kids call it?

[Evie McLeod]

The kids call it Noah.

[Lindsay Roman]

Noah. What do you call Instagram?

[Evie McLeod]

Okay, Instagram.

[Lindsay Roman]

I'm just making it too complicated.

[Evie McLeod]

Gen Z studio assistant is really helping us millennials out here. Okay, Instagram. You don't call it ig?

[Lindsay Roman]

No.

[Evie McLeod]

Okay, so IG is out and the gram is out. Is that right? Okay, so it's Instagram.

[Lindsay Roman]

Okay, so never, ever, ever, ever say the gram again. Got it. Okay, cool.

[Evie McLeod]

All that to say?

[Lindsay Roman]

That was very long winded. We went to Instagram and we polled you guys for questions. This is a Q and A episode. Okay, we got it.

[Evie McLeod]

Get, like, let's you drop your questions. We're going to answer them. All right, let's dive in. First one, now that you live in Florida, give us an update. Do you hang out? How's it going? That was from Rachel.

[Lindsay Roman]

No, we only hang out right now when we're on this couch.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah, we honestly, we don't talk, we don't see each other, we don't go to each other's houses. We don't hang out unless we're podcasting. And honestly, I feel really sad about that because, like, we should hang out more. Yeah, but we just don't.

[Lindsay Roman]

If you're not watching this on YouTube, you really shouldn't be because our faces just gave that all away.

[Evie McLeod]

We're, like, sitting here, like, with the most Cheshire cat grins on our faces, like, yeah, we don't hang out at all.

[Lindsay Roman]

Okay.

[Evie McLeod]

We hang out all the time.

[Lindsay Roman]

If you gathered that was sarcasm. Yeah, we hang out all the time.

[Evie McLeod]

I would say at least once or twice a week. Yes, at least.

[Lindsay Roman]

I would agree Ironically, now, actively in this season, I almost think our husband's hanging out more purely because 100% your husband has gotten my husband on the workout. Listen, this is Tea. Your husband has got my husband to do weights and not just running.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

And I'm having.

[Evie McLeod]

You're reaping the benefits.

[Lindsay Roman]

Listen, Andrew. Andrew loves working out and he loves running specifically, which is great. But when he does, he does Carnivore also, because it just stops giving him migraines and it's just generally, it's good for his health.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

But when he does Carnivore, which already helps you lose weight and then he runs, it's. It just becomes a little skinny.

[Evie McLeod]

He's skinny.

[Lindsay Roman]

Um, and is really great.

[Evie McLeod]

He's been lifting with Landon, like, four days a week.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah. So. So the boys, arguably. Yes. Our husbands hang out literally four days a week. So we hang out once.

[Lindsay Roman]

Literally. I woke up and I was like, you're here. Yeah, I was like, you're here. And he was like, landed in Miami. And I was like, oh, yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

They work out very early in the morning in case. So we wake up without our husbands many mornings nowadays.

[Lindsay Roman]

But we also hang out a lot and we also have, like a good girl group that we hang out with a lot. So it's. It's been wild. I actually don't think I've actually. I don't know what word I was going to say. Resolved. No, Thought about. I guess thought about works, but, like, really settled that into my soul of.

[Evie McLeod]

Like, we have girls.

[Lindsay Roman]

No, no, no. That we live in the same location.

[Evie McLeod]

Oh, yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

Like that.

[Evie McLeod]

It just feels like that would be 10 years.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah. And I forget that that wasn't a thing. And it used to genuinely be what we, you know, joked about at the beginning of just like. No, genuinely. We would. We would try, but, like, most of our talking communication would be very intentional.

[Evie McLeod]

Was like zoom or Skype and it was work related.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

It's really fun.

[Lindsay Roman]

This is wild.

[Evie McLeod]

It's really fun.

[Lindsay Roman]

It's so fun.

[Evie McLeod]

So Florida is going great. Living together in the same location is going great. And it's been the biggest blessing and we love it. And having a good community around you is just life changing. So it's true. It's been awesome.

[Lindsay Roman]

Accurate. This leads perfectly into the next question, which is from Maria, which is, do you regret your decision to downsize the heart? Tea. Tea. Let's get into it.

[Evie McLeod]

All right. Do you want you to answer same time answer at the same time?

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

Okay.

[Lindsay Roman]

Three, two, one.

[Evie McLeod]

No, not at all.

[Lindsay Roman]

Mike drop.

[Evie McLeod]

So we did not communicate past notes that just. We genuinely are so on the same page. Like. No, not at all.

[Lindsay Roman]

We could unpack that instead of just moving on from that answer.

[Evie McLeod]

I feel like we knew without a shadow of a doubt when we made the decision that God was leading us into that decision. And I think all we have seen since then is the fruit of that decision, that God was the reason that we made it, which was essentially live for Lindsay, more time with her kids. For me in this season, preparation for kids, but also less stress, which I think you're feeling too.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

When we're running like a multi, you know, six, seven figure business, there was.

[Lindsay Roman]

Just so many moving cars.

[Evie McLeod]

There's a lot. And managing like a full team and multiple launches and the way we had.

[Lindsay Roman]

Built it, it probably would have been fine if we were in seasons where we were good with working like 40 hours a week for one company.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

And then it would have been fine and maybe even a little less because there's obviously two of us. But we weren't just doing that. We were doing that plus our own photography businesses with all of the coaching, like, there's just multiple aspects of individual businesses. And then the heart. And then when you add on personal life stuff, like it just.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah, it was just a lot and it was. It was perfect for the season that we had it in. And I can so see in the future the heart ramping back up again and becoming something huge and continuing to grow bigger in the future again. But for the season that we're in right now, I am so content with where my business is, both my personal, but also the heart, like how it feels for me. And I know Lindsay feels the exact same, even though it looks a little different for us in the season with her with three kids, like, it looks a little different, but both of us feel very aligned with where we are in our day to day, like work and life. And everything feels really good. So.

[Lindsay Roman]

Well, because actively the main two things that we do for the Heart right now is the podcast and workshops. And workshops are obviously seasonal and, like, don't require work even every week, depending on, you know, when it is. And we have a team member, our assistant that mostly does a good chunk of like the planning and logistics behind it. And so we just kind of vision, cast, set the tone for the styled shoots, pick the models, and then kind of they go a little bit off of.

[Evie McLeod]

We pick a lot of the, like, location, the models, the details.

[Lindsay Roman]

Dresses.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah, dresses.

[Lindsay Roman]

But like they execute it for us.

[Evie McLeod]

But they're the person who's, like, doing the back and forth communication and, like. Yeah. Helping with a lot of the logistics, which is a lot off our plate. So, yeah, we feels very aligned right now. It feels very good. I was going to say, I feel like we're still very happy with where the company's at financially.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

But it looks very different than it did true. Like, two years ago. So, no, don't regret the decision one bit for this season.

[Lindsay Roman]

T. All right, next one. What is the. Okay, next question is from Joy. She asked outsource one big work task or several small personal tasks? That's such a good question. And she gave an example. She said, for example, should I outsource, like, to a bookkeeper, I. E. Like, one big work task versus doing, like, hiring a house cleaner or, you know, having groceries delivered, like, things like that. That take up time.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

From your personal life. That's a very good question.

[Evie McLeod]

I have thoughts.

[Lindsay Roman]

I would love your thoughts.

[Evie McLeod]

Okay. Do you have thoughts?

[Lindsay Roman]

I would. Yeah, but you can go first. They're probably the same thoughts.

[Evie McLeod]

This is not a blanket answer. I cannot just sit here and be like, you should definitely outsource your business. No, you should outsource your personal. It's like, it is not a one size fits all. This is not. There's not a blanket statement answer, correct answer, right or wrong to this. What I will say is that I think the best way you're going to discover what the answer is for you is to really sit down and to assess, like, where do my strengths lie in my business? Is there something that is super time consuming that I'm not, like, the best of the best of the best in that I could hand to somebody else who's going to do it really well as well. And then my desire would be to be able to step out of my business a little bit more and back into my life a little bit more. That might be the answer for you in the season. You assess your strength, strengths, your skills, your weaknesses, whatever you're at. Um, but then also assess your season. Cause I kind of like mentioned that, like, are you in a hustle season where you're like, all of my energy and time needs to go into my business right now. And I know this is temporary, but, like, this is where it's at. I'm gonna bring someone in to, like, help with the house or with whatever, and that feels really good. Or maybe, like, you always keep that outsourced. That's fine. But you understand, like, I may be in a season Where I'm like, no, I'm trying to step out of my business a little bit more. And so to actually, like, bring somebody in to help with the house stuff, the life stuff, and your business even more might be defeating the purpose of what you're ultimately want.

[Lindsay Roman]

You might need to do both. I know this question was posed as, like, a either, either or situation. And maybe monetarily, this is a season where it has to be either or. But yeah. Yeah. If you're. If you're truly trying to, like, have more time with your family and less time, maybe, you know, grocery shopping or cleaning or in your business, like, maybe do both if you can.

[Evie McLeod]

I also think, and this is coming from someone who does not actively have young children running underfoot. I also think for a lot of moms, cleaning or grocery shopping is spending time with your kids. If you're very intentional about it.

[Lindsay Roman]

Oh, I have thoughts on that.

[Evie McLeod]

Do you disagree?

[Lindsay Roman]

I just. The grocery shopping. Yes. Maybe.

[Evie McLeod]

Okay. Clean. Okay. Cleaning. Yes. Because I guess I'm picturing. I was picturing cooking. I was picturing, like. Like having a kid help you, like, make, like.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah, literally. Literally last night we have a homemaking or a homeschool, like, kit where it sends you kits from, like, different countries.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

And so because we just went to France this summer, I ordered the Europe kit. And so there's a box with each country. Not each country in Europe, but, like, the main ones. Yeah, that's probably offensive. Like, the popular ones. So we went for the France box. Since that, we just went there. And so last night we made. It was honestly just like, roast chicken and, like, beets and potatoes.

[Evie McLeod]

So it was like a French meal.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yes, it was poulette roti. I don't know if I'm saying that correct. Whatever.

[Evie McLeod]

And you made it with Elle and, like, Anna.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah. Although most of it was just chopping up vegetables, which they couldn't really do.

[Evie McLeod]

But see, that's the thing that I could understand. Like, as a business owner, as a busy human, you're thinking, like, what if I just hire someone to come help with X task? But as a mom, I'm like, could you reframe it and be like, this is time with my kids where I'm involving them in what I'm doing. Even, like, cooking or laundry or grocery shopping.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yes.

[Evie McLeod]

That's like, if your desire in this season, like you were saying, is to.

[Lindsay Roman]

Spend time with kids, keep in mind your personal desire. So, like, back to cleaning. I. I literally was just telling my insiders membership this the other day. Because I was like, listen, I have a limited time in my life and kids and family is like the top and then business is second. Like making sure that that's all good. Like cleaning for me is the absolute bottom of the bit. Like, I know I don't have time. I don't like it. Yeah, I don't want to do it.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah, that's something too. If you don't like doing that, you.

[Lindsay Roman]

Have to keep that in mind.

[Evie McLeod]

And it's also. That's what I was saying. Assess your strengths and weaknesses. If you don't like doing it and it's taking away from time with your family or your business, Those are your two priorities.

[Lindsay Roman]

Pro tip. We have our friend's 12 year old come over and clean the house for 50 bucks.

[Evie McLeod]

I don't know if you should verbally that. Best 50. Labor law.

[Lindsay Roman]

Oh, think about that. That's fine.

[Evie McLeod]

That's why I was like, okay, she just said it. He is willingly actively choosing. He's very organized, loves it.

[Lindsay Roman]

He loves cleaning. It's basically giving him a hobby for that's entertaining for him.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah, I love it.

[Lindsay Roman]

I say, I say that to say like, that's me actively outsourcing.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

Something that I don't want to do. That doesn' help me in that way spend time with my kids. Yeah. But also as kids grow up. Oh, you better believe I'm going to give them all of the chores.

[Evie McLeod]

You're going to teach them life lessons by putting them to work.

[Lindsay Roman]

That's what I mean. But that's nicer way to say that. Cool.

[Evie McLeod]

I love it. Okay, so basically the short answer, Joy, is there really is not a one size fits all to this. So I would just encourage, really just take a mental assessment and inventory of just kind of where you're at, what you want to be putting your time towards right now and then kind of build your outsourcing plan from that.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yep.

[Evie McLeod]

I love it. Hey. Hey. If you are new here and haven't heard about our online resource shop, listen up. The Heart Shop is a digital resource and template shop for creative entrepreneurs and photographers. There are so many goodies for creative entrepreneurs in the shop, like website templates, PDF guide templates, illustrations to enhance your brand and lots more. But one thing in particular we made sure to add was contract templates. Y'all. The horror stories we have heard in our years of business is unmatched and a little terrifying. Clients refusing to pay after you've delivered a service. Clients demanding their retainer back after canceling on you last minute. The List goes on. Business shouldn't feel like you're walking on eggshells though. And yet that's how most of us feel when we first start our business. We're petrified to make a wrong move or have an unhappy client.

[Lindsay Roman]

Okay, but here's the truth. One of the first foundational steps of owning your own business should be protecting yourself legally with contracts. Yes. Yes. Even for friends and family. Contracts allowed us to walk in confidence as we grew our photography businesses. But also hiring a lawyer to create custom contracts for you is a pain in the butt and the wallet. And grabbing whatever free or cheap template online is often not enough protection.

[Evie McLeod]

Yes. So we wanted to make this as easy and seamless for you as possible and give you the resources to make sure you have your butt protected. We have partnered with our favorite lawyers Lawyer and Attorney page from the Legal Page. She has not only created powerful contract templates, but her team is so present and ready to help figure out which ones you need for your business.

[Lindsay Roman]

You can stagger contracts in our shop like the Wedding Photography Contract Destination, Intimate Wedding Contract Cancellation and Rescheduling Bundle, Second Shooter and Associate Contracts, and honestly, so much more. Just head to the heart contracts.com for 10% off. That's the heart Contracts. If you're enjoying what you're getting in this podcast for free, then you're about to get your mind blown with what we offer in our educational courses. If you're ready to uplevel your business, serve your clients like never before, and reach revenue goals that you've barely dared to dream of, then we're ready to help.

[Evie McLeod]

Our courses are packed full of tools, formulas, strategies, and resources to help you kick freaking butt in biz. Whether you choose the Photo Major, a complete course for photographers, or the Content Photo Minor, a mini course on how to finally slay your content photos for your blog, Insta, Headshots, whatever, you will walk away with more knowledge than you ever thought possible. And here's the reality. We are here to see you succeed always and forever. And that is why we created each and every one of these courses to.

[Lindsay Roman]

Check them out for yourself. Read the reviews and look at each course syllabus. Go to TheHeartUniversity.com courses. That's TheHeartUniversity.com courses. Amazing.

[Evie McLeod]

All right, the next question is from Hannah, who said, what scripture do you find most helpful running a business as a Christian? Okay, we have thoughts.

[Lindsay Roman]

We have thoughts. I When we first both read this question, it made me pause because I was like, oh wait, there's Scripture. There's not like, it's not like I have like one scripture that, you know, deals with business that I like meditate on in order to like run my business. And maybe that's not what she meant by this question.

[Evie McLeod]

It.

[Lindsay Roman]

Because she said, what do you find most helpful running about? Maybe that's what she meant. I don't know. But it, it's more about the relationship with Jesus.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

And the intimacy in that. Because how that strengthens and helps in whatever business throws at you.

[Evie McLeod]

Because when I first read this question, and I think probably for you too, my head immediately started running through like 20 different lessons or verses or passages or whatever lessons of scripture that God has taught me over the last like six months alone that are all different. That I immediately was like, well, I just read this in my like, like reading the other morning and it like, like gave me clarity on a business question that I should do a podcast.

[Lindsay Roman]

Episode on just like lesson. Almost like unpack her question.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

Actively us just having a business meeting in the middle of a podcast anyway.

[Evie McLeod]

But that, so that's why like when I read that I was like one, like, and I was trying to narrow down to one scripture, I was like, it is not about one scripture. It's not like I have like a mantra or like a motto, a scriptural motto that I constantly visit for my business. And maybe, maybe that's awesome for some entrepreneurs. Maybe some entrepreneurs, like, that's. God gave that to them for starting their business. And like that's awesome. I'm not shading that at all. But that's just for me it goes so much broader and deeper than that because at the end of the day I think it's about like Christ and God being my co CEO. And so everything I'm doing in business is built on him, with him helping me make decisions. So it's so much more than just a scripture that I'm like carrying as a, like a flag, which is awesome. That's again, I'm not trying to shade that. I'm just saying it's like, no, I'm not just carrying like a banner. I am following the King of Kings. Like he is my like general that I am following into.

[Lindsay Roman]

And it's, it's almost having the discernment with the Holy Spirit in day to day life and business, whether business is going good, whether business is going bad. Like you run to him.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

And you talk to him.

[Evie McLeod]

Yes.

[Lindsay Roman]

And that's not to say you don't read your Bible. Obviously we read our Bible a lot but it, it's like you said, it's not just like going back to one verse and being like, oh, okay, what is that? How does that affect my business? It's just more relational, I think, than that.

[Evie McLeod]

If I feel like, if I were to rephrase this question, I would be like, what do you find most helpful running a business? As a Christian, I would eliminate the scripture part and I would be like, Jesus, like, it's not about, it's not about a single verse or a single chapter of scripture. It is about the Holy Spirit.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

Being beside us, running a business. And he will bring out sections of scripture in different seasons to like, to remind me of things or like, turn the other cheek here and like, do not lend money here. You know, whatever it is. Like, it's like there's reminders and things that he, the Holy Spirit uses the living, breathing word of God, active and alive, sharper than any two edged sword, like the Scripture. I'm not trying to downplay the power of it, but it's not one verse. It's about the Holy Spirit running a business with us.

[Lindsay Roman]

We wrote down some verses.

[Evie McLeod]

We were like, what two verses could we think of that in general are great for business?

[Lindsay Roman]

Well, and like, this is literally not even. It could go so much broader, just like you said. Like, I could have brought any verses to this consideration, but when I thought of this question again, and I'm like, okay, well, if I have to pick a verse or even just like, like a type of verse, what do I go to to think holistically about my business? Because I might go to certain scriptures when, like, business is hard and I'm needing to almost rely on the strength of God to get me through like a season of drought. You know, like there, there could be a verse for that, or there could be a verse of like celebrating a win or, you know, something like that. But I, at the end of the day, I almost go back to any verse that speaks to your identity as a child of the King and almost the confidence that radiates from that. Because I think no matter if business is good or bad, you cannot place your worth and your value and your identity in your business, or how many bookings you got that month or how much money you're bringing in, or how many Instagram followers you make. Like, that cannot be the basis of your value as a human being. It comes from Jesus Christ. And for that we pulled up things like Ephesians 2, 10, like, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. With can't talk. Which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Like, I am his creation and I am put on this earth to create incredible things in his glory. And, like, I want to actively walk through life knowing who my king is and knowing that whether the work that I produce ends up being good, like to the world or like, in the sense of praised by the world or dissed by the world, you know, if it's good or bad, whatever, I know that I am walking in the foundation of who Christ made me to be, and I'm creating things for his glory.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah. We also wrote down Philippians 4:13, which is, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I would encourage read that whole section of Scripture because it is so powerful and it's talking about being content and all sorts of different things and good and bad seasons. Yeah. And there's so much in that. The other thing that just popped into my head that wasn't on, like, our notes or anything, but if you are a believer and you are a business owner, if you have not. We've talked about this multiple times on the podcast before, but if you have not read the book Dreaming with God by Bill Johnson, go read that right now. It is so dang good. I have read that over and over as a human, but as an entrepreneur, and it is one of the best books about, like, really getting a grasp on, like, your mission, your identity, your goals, and your purpose as a human. But as a business owner, you can, like, take it so tangibly into, like, what, what am I doing with this business? What is my purpose? What is my goal? How am I aligned with the Lord in this? It's so powerful. So I would encourage reading it Dreaming with God by Bill Johnson, and hopefully that answered the question in a long winded way.

[Lindsay Roman]

All right, the last question for today's episode. This is the fun one. What are your work styles, specifically? Lindsay answering for Evie. And Evie for Lindsay.

[Evie McLeod]

All right, I'm nervous.

[Lindsay Roman]

I'm so nervous.

[Evie McLeod]

I'm so nervous.

[Lindsay Roman]

I think I would like you to go first.

[Evie McLeod]

No, you have to go first because I want to know how savage you're going to go. Because I'll probably go a lot nicer on you than you'll go on me.

[Lindsay Roman]

Then. That's why I'm saying you go first.

[Evie McLeod]

Okay. So savage.

[Lindsay Roman]

We could be savage in, like, that's not just me being savage to you. That's like, you could be savage to me.

[Evie McLeod]

Well, that's why I'm saying you go first. So I Know the level of savagery.

[Lindsay Roman]

We are stooping to. You set a tone, and I will accomplish it.

[Evie McLeod]

I'll set a tone. You know, my tone's gonna be very nice.

[Lindsay Roman]

Okay.

[Evie McLeod]

Also, I really admire you as an entrepreneur.

[Lindsay Roman]

I mean, same.

[Evie McLeod]

Okay. I sur eyes. I really probably should have thought this out more before doing this. I would describe you as the incredibly savage. Like, I'm trying to think of the. Because it's not the hyperactive squirrel. You're not the hyperactive squirrel, but you are like a bulldozer.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

Like, the minute something crosses your a to do list or to do item crosses your task, it's like a whack a mole. You play whack a mole as a business owner, and I said I wasn't gonna go sad.

[Lindsay Roman]

No. This is therapy for me that's such. I've never thought of a better description for how I operate than that. That is the best description. What a compliment.

[Evie McLeod]

It's literally like, the minute something pops up, you're like, wow, you just operate like that.

[Lindsay Roman]

Okay, wait, no, no. Literally, a great example. A great example is we used to have a marketing agency do, like, run our social media. And when they would give us, like, real concepts to record, like, they would give us one document and they would basically, like, give us 20 real ideas. And it was basically like, hey, look these over, tag whichever one you want to do, and then do them. And then, like, report back. It would. They would send that like 1pm on a Thursday at, like, 1:22. I would have them all identified on which ones I wanted to do. By 4pm they would all be recorded. Evie hasn't even looked at the list.

[Evie McLeod]

She always clearly, to be clear, it was a due date that was like a week or two out. And Lindsay is doing it the day it arrived on her desk.

[Lindsay Roman]

Because I'm just like, oh, that's. That's an annoying task that needs to be out of my way now. So whack, you know, whack a mole.

[Evie McLeod]

That's literally. It's literally. Okay. I feel like whack a mole is like, your approach to task management.

[Lindsay Roman]

That's so good.

[Evie McLeod]

And I would say that, like, you're a bit of a bulldozer. And I mean this as a such a compliment. Like, you're a bulldozer in the sense that, like, if something stands in your way, you're just like, you know, you need. You're gone. Like, I'm going to deal with you. Like, if. If anything, I'm going to deal with it.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

Like, if anything, an obstacle of any sort. Not even just like, tasks. It's like an obstacle. Like there's a problem here or this person, like, ghosted us that we're supposed to be working with on this project or something like that. Like, if stuff pops up, you are immediately like, like savagely, like, fixing the problem in a very, like, intentional, focused way.

[Lindsay Roman]

I feel like this goes. I think this might be a question on a future Q and A that we might do, but I think this goes towards me being enneagram3.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

And like, achieving with like, a task or like a problem that needs to be solved.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

This is therapy.

[Evie McLeod]

And then I feel like communication styles is very similar. Like, you're. You're a bit more direct and blunt, which can.

[Lindsay Roman]

Which without even trying to be like, you don't.

[Evie McLeod]

You're genuinely unaware sometimes, like genuinely unaware sometimes that some. A sentence you wrote or something could be construed as, like, incredibly offensive to somebody or hurtful because it's so, like, abrasive to you. You're like. No, I'm just stating the fact.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

But I feel like that's a huge benefit as a business owner. To be able to be incredibly direct and like, like, communicate clearly and honestly is like. And as your business, like, partner is such a gift that, like, you're never. You're never mincing words, but you have.

[Lindsay Roman]

To navigate the mind.

[Evie McLeod]

The whack a mole. The whack a mole minefield that I walk through. No, I feel like in general, I think if I had to sum it all up, you're a very powerful, like, get ish done type of person.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

Do you feel like that, like, encompasses your work style?

[Lindsay Roman]

I think so.

[Evie McLeod]

Okay, now I'm scared.

[Lindsay Roman]

I think what I'm gonna say is why we're a really good pair.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

Because I think you balance my aggressive. Not that you're not aggressive.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

But you balance it so well.

[Evie McLeod]

That's the description of my work style. No, I think the opposite of me.

[Lindsay Roman]

I think your work style is if it's not fun and I don't want to do it right now.

[Evie McLeod]

Yes.

[Lindsay Roman]

I'm not going to do it possibly ever.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah. There's absolutely. If it does not bring you joy, if it does not need to be done, I'm not going to do it.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah. Which is the exact opp. If we're thinking about, like, work styles of attacking something. Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

The whack a mole versus it's the.

[Lindsay Roman]

Exact opposite of the whack a mole.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

And so there is times where this is where the therapy session gets in. There is times where it I. Because my whack a mole tendencies. I think sometimes I feel like I'm doing more.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

Not that you're not doing it. You're doing it more gracefully and on a slower pace.

[Evie McLeod]

I was going to say, I think it's a combination of if something does not need to get done, like not even in a timeframe, if it's something like in my business that realistically is like not a top priority or in the heart that I'm like, yeah, maybe someday, but it doesn't bring joy. I don't feel like it's going to move the bottom line. Whatever. I'm not going to do it.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

And then I would say that on the flip side, I also have had. Because I can be the hyperactive squirrel who is just like bouncing. Like that was my old work tendency.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

And I would just do anything versus my 20%. That was really moving my business. I've learned that when something crosses my desk, I really take time to assess it to then put it in a time like a prioritized, like it might go. If it's due in two weeks, it's going to start working on it in like 10 days. Like, I'm not. If I have the time, you know, if I can do it in four days easily, like, I'm not going to do it the day it arrives on my desk because I've already prioritized the next few days of. Of work or the next week. So like, I think that's also part of it is like, you don't always see like that I have put it on a deadline and that it's not. You do.

[Lindsay Roman]

But then it just sometimes still never.

[Evie McLeod]

Gets done if it's not important.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

That just doesn't get done. I'm like, like out like thrifting and Lindsay's like doing something on the business. I'm like, why are you doing that? She's like, it's a whack a mole. It's in front of my desk.

[Lindsay Roman]

Oh, that's so good. Yeah. That wasn't very savage.

[Evie McLeod]

No, not at all.

[Lindsay Roman]

That's great.

[Evie McLeod]

You're the whack a mole. I'm the. If it doesn't need to be done, I will walk away. That's pretty good.

[Lindsay Roman]

I feel like that's why we're a good combo though.

[Evie McLeod]

And I also. I feel like I.

[Lindsay Roman]

You also are more gracious with words. So anytime there is a email that needs to be sent that what needs to be said is generally probably going to be received as not well or unkind or a little non refundable policy or something that in that regard I will maybe write it and then I'll be like, yeah, this needs evified to give it like some. Some like grace.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

But then sometimes I think you almost in the same way that I can lean way too harsh. Sometimes I think you can lean too gracious.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

So I think we're a good combo.

[Evie McLeod]

Yes. Where it's like balance each other really well.

[Lindsay Roman]

You could let people just like walk all. Not walk all over you, but like you. You lead with grace and I almost lead with like facts.

[Evie McLeod]

The claw hand. Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

Facts. Or just like. No, this is this. You did this.

[Evie McLeod]

It's a non refundable policy period. You don't get a refund. And I'm like, but their season is so difficult.

[Lindsay Roman]

And I'm like, well, but that's why there's a policy. Because everybody's seasons is difficult. Yeah. You can't judge someone's difficult. Sees it. But that's where we're good combo.

[Evie McLeod]

It is a really good combo. And it's really good to like talk it through because I feel like you like bring me to a little bit of a firmer place sometimes and I bring you a softer place sometimes.

[Lindsay Roman]

100%.

[Evie McLeod]

It's. It balances really well.

[Lindsay Roman]

Well, good talk. I love it.

[Evie McLeod]

Well, that is the joy of being business partners and having. I feel like too. So many people think, well maybe they don't A lot of. I've heard a lot that people are like, oh my gosh, you and Lindsay are like so similar. Like how do you do business together? But then you'll see something like that. That maybe. I don't know if we've ever shared something like that before. Not for any reason. But I'm like, we're very different in some ways.

[Lindsay Roman]

Different or Sorry. We're the same in the sense of like our interests are relatively very similar.

[Evie McLeod]

And I feel like both very like dramatic.

[Lindsay Roman]

We love. Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

We love a good theater moment.

[Lindsay Roman]

We. Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

Dancing.

[Lindsay Roman]

We love being the center of attention.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah. 100%.

[Lindsay Roman]

Like we're both good visionaries in that way.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Roman]

And then interest wise like frolic in flowers.

[Evie McLeod]

We're also both like very. I would say even though our work styles are very different, we are both incredibly driven people.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

Who are like we both get ish done. We just do it very differently. And we're both like very like goal oriented. Our worldviews are the same. So there's so many similarities. But then it's like, if you're talking about day to day work tasks, I think.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah.

[Evie McLeod]

The way we think.

[Lindsay Roman]

I've also said this before, but I. There is. I wouldn't have known this when we hitched our wagons together in 2018 to, like, become business partners, but genuinely, to this day, there's not a single other human being on the planet. I really, truly don't think so that I could, like, trust to do something, like, to the level or the. The perfection. Not even a perfection. That's not the right word. But, like, the quality. I would.

[Evie McLeod]

Yes.

[Lindsay Roman]

Whether it's like, ethic of. Of what you're doing or, like, the talent of what you're doing, or like the. The aesthetic, you just understand, like, yeah, you're good. Oh, but like. Yeah, but like every other person, if I would tell them to do something, they would.

[Evie McLeod]

It would be done very differently than you would do it.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yeah. And I'm like, subpar. I just wildly offended. So every single person on planet, except Evie, also.

[Evie McLeod]

Also every, like, fellow entrepreneur, business owner, friend that you're close with is listening to this. Like, what the.

[Lindsay Roman]

What the frick? Well, maybe. Maybe I'm just not thinking, like, actively. Whatever. I'm not even gonna take that back.

[Evie McLeod]

We think very similarly, and it is very sweet as business partners.

[Lindsay Roman]

So rock and roll.

[Evie McLeod]

All right, friends, that's what we got for you today. That was a very fun episode. Hopefully you enjoyed it. If you want to hear more Q&As from us in the future, let us know.

[Lindsay Roman]

Yes.

[Evie McLeod]

Come into the Heart and Hustle Facebook group and create a poll or a post.

[Lindsay Roman]

I would actually like a couple of answers from you based on this episode. I would love to know if you could tell that those were our working styles, because we have. Yeah. Like, I want to know if that is, like, perceived from the outside.

[Evie McLeod]

Yeah, I'm very curious.

[Lindsay Roman]

And then I also want to know, have you noticed anything different in the downshift? You probably have, but, like, I'm curious if, like, the downshift, like, for us it's dramatically different.

[Evie McLeod]

It's literally night and day. Like, our day to day has changed so dramatically from the downshift.

[Lindsay Roman]

But I'm curious if, like, from an outside perspective, if you can actively, like, if you can tell, like, we're not really doing launches anymore other than, like, the workshop, which I guess we like. So I'm just curious.

[Evie McLeod]

So slide into our dms. We would love to hear from you. We would love to chat with you. It's always fun to connect and to have a little, like, business owner buddy chat. So. All right, that's all for today. We love you, friends, and we will see you on the next episode.