Season 4 Ep. 1: Bloom Where You Are Planted

SK Vaughn (00:01.494)

Welcome back. It's SK here. Can you believe it? We are back for another season. Thanks to you. And I promise this season's going to be jam-packed full of exciting ladies who are leading respectively in their different industries. And, you know, the good, the bad and the ugly that we see along the way and fun lessons learned because sometimes the best way to learn is to just to walk through it. And what's unique about this

sit-down conversation with people is a chance to really hear from them. And so this season is going to be bigger and better than the other ones. I cannot wait for you to listen along and I look forward to your feedback and continuing to want to make this thing better. But so excited to be back here on the mic officially on our first episode. And in true fashion, I am going to talk about how I'm surviving and thriving this week.

and then we'll get into it. So here we go. And this is a solo cast today. So next week, tune in for a really incredible interview with one of my favorites, Sarah Ott, who is an artist. But today you just have me. So buckle up, get comfy, whatever it is that you do while you listen along. And we're going to have a great time today. So how am I surviving and thriving? Well, I am, we'll start with surviving. I'm surviving.

kind of much like where we left off with season three. And I still can't get into the specifics just yet, but I am surviving in the season of a lot of change. And with change, it really can sometimes paralyze you, like the fear of the unknown or the what if, or how do I go about doing something and kind of starting back over from the beginning. And this season of change really inspired actually this season of growth.

that we're going to be talking about through this entire episode. But a lot has happened, you know, just to repeat where we left off, you know, I left my job. I'm no longer working for the company I was working for. My husband and I are relocating. We're still in the process of relocating officially to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We're living here, but we've yet to buy anything just yet. We're waiting for our house to sell

SK Vaughn (02:28.398)

in Mobile and so there's been a lot of back and forth with that. Closing one chapter and beginning a new chapter is always a fun, exciting time, but it's also a little bit stressful. And so just kind of picking up our lives and moving them over here has been an adjustment. then, you know, kind of now what, right? And then the podcast is so exciting and it's rocking and rolling in the midst of all of this change. And so

It's just been a continuous learning experience and I'm thankful for it and I have seen a lot of really good things come from it. And so speaking of thriving, you know, the podcast is officially launched if you're listening for season four. It's just been really humbling to hear from people on the side, like text, DMs, whatever it may be, how much they're enjoying the podcast and the

topics of conversation that we're having and then just me being the crazy person that you know me to be and it's just been fun to kind of hear that and then I'm thriving because I have never felt so free. You know, it's a scary time, you know, not having like a

typical, quote-unquote, nine-to-five job right now. And that's a little bit scary if I'm being honest, but it's also been a little bit liberating because for once I don't really have to answer to anyone. Obviously, my husband and I still talk with him and we still make decisions together. But, you know, I've, I've felt really free and liberated in this, this new chapter and this new season to be able to go and do and to be creative and to

have a little bit downtime, which is a huge luxury and not everyone has that same experience. But I've been working for about nine years now. And before that, I was always working because in my family, we grew up, you know, you're going to pitch in and contribute or you're not going to have gas money. You know, we were that that's the family I was raised into. So I always understood the value of hard work and the how far a dollar can really stretch. But this season has been really nice to have some downtime to unplug.

SK Vaughn (04:49.326)

to lean into areas that I'm most passionate about. And that's been really fun to explore. And I don't take that for granted, but that's how I'm thriving. Like I was talking to my friend last night on the phone. I was like, I don't think I've ever been so happy than I am right now. And that's, if you knew me even six months ago, that's a huge, exciting thing to hear. And that friend was just like over the moon for me when we were talking last night.

So that's how I'm currently surviving and thriving. I hope that you do that challenge for yourself each week and or each day and kind of decide for yourself, see the good and the not so great in the day to day. But I think focusing your perspective on like what you're so grateful for in this season is just a really humbling and it's a great way to kind of have a mindset shift. And I've had some stinking thinking in my day. Don't get me wrong.

I truly have, but I've kind of started to shift that mindset a little bit more and tried to kind of regroup on like what's most important to me. So that's how I'm surviving and thriving. How about you? So let's talk about it. So much to go over today. We're talking about the theme for this season, which if you know and have been listening forever,

We don't normally have a theme, right? It's like there's multiple themes rolled into one because each conversation lends itself to certain underlying themes of resilience, of drive, ambition, self-control, accountability, you know, all the things that are ageism or like how to overcome these things. And that's what makes it really unique and fun. And I promise the conversations will still go there.

But I think like I kind of mentioned this feeling all these feelings kind of wrap up into one at the end of season three for me was Okay, as I'm looking through my journey in my career and personally in the last eight to nine years.

SK Vaughn (07:27.246)

But as I think about bloom where you're planted, this is the exciting season that we all journey through. And I think it's multiple seasons, right? Because you don't reap the fruit of your hard work or seeing a goal met day one, right? Like the first day is all about finding good soil, being rooted in something that really matters.

Taking the time to plant those seeds and water it and prune it and watch it grow and transform and the environment has to be just right and the elements have to be just right. And, you know, it's all about kind of taking, if you will, go with me here, it's like you yourself are this plant going through all of these different seasons of hardship, of growth, you know, bearing fruit.

of seeing good things happen, but there's also a lot of like pruning and hard stuff that has to go on in order to get there. And I think that's like a continual cycle for life when you really boil it down is we're all on this journey together for better or for worse. And I think there are so many great and beautiful lessons to be learned along the way, no matter who you are, no matter what your background is, where you come from, what your education level is, we all have struggles. I think it's a great equalizer.

You know, now everyone's different in what those look like and how they come to be, but we all understand what it means to have to work through hardship, and suffer through loss and grief. Pull yourself up when you feel like laying face down in the dirt and not getting back up. And man, that was like me for a whole year, you know, at one point where I was just like, what am I doing?

And how do you get up from that? Like, how do you get back up better than before? And that takes a lot of hard work, a lot of like self-reflection, I think prayer if you're religious, and a strong community. And I think community is the root of what this podcast is all about. As you get older and you graduate from college or you, you know, go on after high school and work, as you get to be an adult, no one tells you.

SK Vaughn (09:50.126)

it becomes harder and harder to find that community because you're not all the same age going to the same place, doing the same thing, having similar interests, and in same season of life. Kind of when you fly the nest, if you will, you you're kind of having to figure it all out. And that can be really overwhelming and really intimidating at times. But if you have a good sense of self, if you have a really strong friend group,

If you have coworkers who just get you sometimes, even on your bad days, and they can just like look at you and tell. Those are sweet moments in between that are worth celebrating. And that is what we're trying to get across this season is really bloom where you're planted. I've been uprooted, you know, every three to four years due to my husband's work, which is such a great thing. Like it's not a negative. So please hear me in saying that I'm happy for him. I couldn't be more proud. And it's a team effort. But at the same time, you know, it doesn't make it any easier when you're the new kid or the new lady and kind of starting fresh again from nothing. And luckily, you know, we're in the South. So like that's not it's not like I'm completely, you know, moving across the world or across country, as some might like to point out. But.

It is still an adjustment. I mean, you're still in a completely new environment and you do have to kind lay down roots quickly and start fresh. And that takes a lot of perseverance. And so I would like to think over the last several years that not that I've mastered it by any means, because I haven't. That's why we're on this podcast is like figuring it out together. But I like to think I figured some things out of like at least true to myself and like, what does it mean to be showing up at networking events by myself?

What does it look like to show up to socials by yourself? You know, what does it look like to show up to church, you know, as a couple by yourselves, not knowing people? Or what does it mean to, you know, completely just have a start fresh with a new friend group, but maybe everyone has been friends for years, right? Like all of these themes, I think we can all relate to on some level, even if you haven't moved around a bunch, but you've moved around at least once or twice in your life.

SK Vaughn (12:12.3)

You get it, right? You've been there, you know those feelings. You know what it took to kind of overcome and persevere. Maybe you got lucky and you fit right on in to some big friend group and that's awesome for you. But there's been other struggles in your life too. And trying to overcome those while getting connected or reconnecting with people is always a little bit of a dance, right? And that's kind of what we're talking about this season is...

understanding the different phases of what it looks like to grow. And I feel like sometimes the best growth is in the waiting. And part of my surviving has been very much this waiting season, waiting and anticipating something to happen, anything, right? If you've started to figure out

I just started my own marketing agency. I'm not really promoting it in a big way, but I'm proud of it. And it's called Juniper Marketing. I'm not pitching you on working with me at all, but it's something that I've been wanting to do for about five years. And for many reasons, if you've heard my story, if you know kind of the gist of things, I've tried and dabbled in a couple of different areas and fell completely on my face.

Right. And that's called failing forward. Right. And that takes a lot of vulnerability to to keep trying. Right. In fact, I had someone last night even say, yeah, you're trying to be an influencer, aren't you? And I just like looked at her and I was like, no, just have a podcast. Like, I'm not trying to be anything but myself. And, you know, I just think that sometimes people

associate trying with not achieving or not being able to set out to do a thing. And I think some of the most beautiful moments are in the in between. It's not trying, I'm doing it, right? You don't try to be a good mom, you just do it. You don't try to be the best version of a friend that you can think of. No, you just jump in and surprise your friend with dinner that night because you know it's been a really long week for she and her family.

SK Vaughn (14:37.387)

You're not trying to be a good friend. You're just doing it. And so I think that the season of waiting has been very much not trying. But I've just made up my mind like we're doing this like the marketing agency, the podcast, 100 percent all in. Let's go. Either you're with me or you're not. And that's OK. And it's not for everyone. Right. But for those who want to grow, for those who don't mind getting a little uncomfortable.

and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, having those hard conversations, asking the tough questions about yourself to really understand how you can better yourself and what it takes to professionally grow in a community of like-minded women. Like if that's your jam, girl, you found the right place. Welcome. If this is your first time listening, welcome. You are gonna fit right on in and we're gonna be great friends.

If you've been around for a while now, you know the drill. You're like, it's just SK being SK per usual. But there's a lot of exciting things happening this season. I told you last, at end of last season, we're going to video and here we are. We're videoing and it's like a full circle moment. Full circle. And I'm trying this for the first time and we'll just see how it goes. Wish me luck. But I'm excited about this. There's a lot of fun things happening.

A lot of promos, lot of like really getting to understand the guest speakers beyond just the one episode. So if you are a member in our membership group, you're going to get like unlimited access. It's going to be incredible. You're going to be the first to hear all of it. You're going to know what's coming before anyone else. And you're also going to be able to shop early, get drops early, get access to our newsletters and so much more. So it's a great way to plug in and find some mentorship or to find mentees.

That's really the design behind the membership group. But there's just so much to unpack this season. And I'll just say this much, like, in terms of real growth, it definitely takes some of these harder moments in life.

But I want to encourage you that in this season of difficulty, in a season of joy, I want you to look around and just say thank you.

because I've been there where it feels like it's touch and go. Some days I'm like, I'd rather just stay in bed and pull the covers off my head and not adult today. And especially if you have multiple kids, I don't know how you do it. Mom's out there, my hat's off to you. But I want to encourage you in this season of maybe waiting, in this season of discovery or exploration, like have fun.

Play a little bit, like do things that are outside of your comfort zone and try new hobbies. Maybe work is just really draining you right now and you're like, I just need a pick me up. I just need time. Find that for you, carve it out. Find that time to pour back into yourself because you can't pour from an empty cup. We all know this. And you need to have time to be able to

SK Vaughn (19:28.748)

recharge, rejuvenate, and be your best version of yourself, especially for your kids and for your husband, of course, or your partner, whoever that might be. But I want to encourage you to keep going because you've got me cheering you on.

So going into the garden is all about.

self-exploration. It's about figuring out who you are as an individual, as a wife, as a partner, as a friend, and being able to spread joy and life to others. And in the season of pruning, growth, you know, maybe you're like, SK, like I'm just like feeling dead on the inside. There is so much beauty.

in the becoming, in what's to come, but also staying really firmly rooted in where you're at. Because when you're transplanted from job to job or community to community, or maybe you're moving to a new neighborhood, or maybe you're in the season of transition, that is hard. And so I invite you, if you're looking to grow, if you're looking to thrive,

in this upcoming season in a chapter in your life. Please tune in and hear from these wonderful ladies who are going through exactly what you're experiencing. They may have a different profession than you. They may look completely different than you, but that's good because when we challenge ourselves to go beyond the status quo, when we challenge ourselves to dig deeper and to ask those unsettling questions,

SK Vaughn (21:18.69)

that we'd rather stay away from when we challenge what society tells us as women.

you begin to thrive. Good things happen. You're producing fruit because you know what? That next lady sitting right next to you or someone that you're waving, you know, past saying hello to and passing, you could be helping her by having these deeper conversations. When you put in the work to figure out what's stirring within you.

and figure out how to show up authentically as yourself in the midst of all of that, you never know whose life you're making a huge impact in. You never know who may have been having like the worst day ever, but because they encountered you and you said something kind and wonderful to them, that you didn't just like sprout something within them. Like last night I was going to a dinner party and truthfully, I didn't have anyone at the dinner party that I knew.

Of course, I'm just over here like, just walking up to these like, I mean, I was invited, obviously, but I didn't have like a huge friend group I was going with or anything like that. But I had stopped at Walgreens to pick up some gum because I just I breathed I needed I needed gum. OK. And I was walking out of Walgreens and this this older lady about ran me over. But she stopped and like waved at her and she rolled down her window and she said to me.

Now, I'm almost 100 years old, so I can say this to you." Like she was saying that to me. And she was like, I just have to say, you are looking dynamite. You are looking fantastic. And she rolled up her window. was like, thank you. And like waved awkwardly. She rolled up her window and just drove off. She didn't have to say that to me. But of course, in the moment, was kind of picking up my dress a little bit on the way out, trying to get it.

SK Vaughn (23:17.356)

laying how I wanted it to. And the fact that she said that made me show up so much more confident into that party that I really felt kind of like I didn't even know if I was dressed right for it. I didn't know who would be there, how the conversations would go or anything like that. And for that lady to have kind of spoken that life over me or into me in that random encounter just really meant the world. And it made me smile and I was just like, okay.

Thanks, like I needed that. I needed that pick me up. So when you are able to grow and see the good through your whole journey up until now, you're able to speak life into others. You're able to kind of create that little spark or that sprout that just like shows up in that person to really want to like transform and be this beautiful version of themselves and

I think when you give people their flowers, like that lady did for me, I just think that it completely transforms the way that you think and approach life. And then you're more willing yourself to share that love and light with the next person. And so again, buckle up. This is going to be a fun, exciting season of, you know, surviving and thriving, which we all love.

And I just can't wait for you to hear from all of these incredible women. I mean, I am like super, super pumped about everyone who's coming on and I've pretty much fangirled over every single person who has decided to join us this season. So I hope that you'll love it just as much as I do and tune in to next week's episode because we've got our first guest interview for the season. Thanks and have a wonderful day. And I cannot wait to connect with you soon.