Expanding Your Business Vision and Trusting Your Gut
Expanding Your Business Vision and Trusting Your Gut
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In this episode of Local Marketing School, Emily Steele interviews Leslie Bailey, co-founder and CEO of Indy Maven and Maven Space. Leslie shares her entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and rewards of starting both a digital media brand and a coworking space. We dive into the importance of finding community and support outside one's immediate circle, learning from others in the industry, and being willing to make mistakes and pivot when necessary. We also touch on a few book recommendations and dabble in a little bit of the Enneagram. Tune in for valuable insights into the realities of entrepreneurship and trusting your instincts!
TUNE IN FOR TOPICS LIKE:
3:01 Leslie’s journey to founding Indy Maven and Maven Space
5:14 Creating a media platform for local women in Indy
9:56 Why Leslie decided to build a co-working space in Indy
14:10 Balancing creating digital content with IRL events
18:36 Receiving and responding to feedback for your business
23:08 Creating gatherings and events that have purpose
27:36 Advice for entrepreneurs looking to bring their vision to life
33:25 What’s next for Indy Maven and Maven Space
Listen to this week’s Local Marketing School conversation!
Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Leslie’s episode:
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Emily Steele (00:01)
Hey, y'all, welcome back to another episode of Local Marketing School. It's Emily here. Today I'm talking to, no surprise, another Indianapolis person. The list just keeps getting better and better. I am astonished that I have talked to so many Indy people at this point. We really went local when it comes to Local Marketing School, but I think you'll absolutely love this guest. I have Leslie Bailey on. She's the co-founder and CEO of Indy Maven, a lifestyle media company for women.
And she's the owner and CEO of Maven Space, which is a female forward co-working and event space in downtown Indianapolis. So previously Leslie worked as a freelance writer and editor and held roles, including managing editor of AAA Crossroads Magazine, lifestyle editor at Indianapolis Monthly Magazine, and the adventures columnist for the Indianapolis Star.
She's been featured on the Forbes Next 1000 list, named one of Indiana's 250 most influential leaders and received National Association of Women Business Owners, Indianapolis Rising Entrepreneur Award. Leslie served as a long standing board member at the Coburn Place where she remains a volunteer and was a founding member of the Indianapolis Museum of Arts Fashion Arts Society. She lives on the Northwest side of Indianapolis with her husband, six year old and four young sons and 15 year old bonus son and the slobbery bull's mastiff. Am I saying that right by the way? Someone's gotta tell me. I'm not a dog person. So I love it. She is just a delight to have on the podcast today. I'll give you a quick review of what we dove into. So she talks about the journey of going freelance writer to co-founder, CEO of her space. We talked about like the expansion. How do you go from doing this digital media brand to having a physical co-working space, right? Talk about a different risk appetite when you're going to owning a 15,000 square foot co-working space versus just a, not just, that's not the right word, but a media brand, right? That's mostly online. It's such a different type of business model. We talked about the strategies that she uses to create digital content and organizing real life events and what's the blend.
We talk about feedback and how does that shape the direction of Indy Maven and Maven space. And of course we wrap with advice that she would give to entrepreneurs who are looking to maybe go on a similar path as she went on. So lots of really good conversation happening. We also of course touch on Enneagram because we're both sevens and we do all the things sevens do, which is turn a lot of corners very quickly. So have fun in this episode. Let's get into the show.
Emily Steele (02:45)
Hey, Leslie, welcome to the podcast.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (02:48)
Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Emily Steele (02:50)
Yes, of course. Okay, well, let's dive in. Tell us about your journey from freelance writer to co-founder and CEO of Indy Maven and Maven Space.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (02:59)
So I sort of blame postpartum hormones, I think. I had a one-year-old at home. I had left. I had been working as a freelance writer. I had left working for different publications locally and then freelance writing nationally. just had this like, I do think there was something to the hormones, I'm joking, but also this like creative burst, right? Like, and also I need something for myself that is not about this tiny human. And so my, Amanda Kingsbury, who had been my boss at the Indianapolis Star and I kind of got together and she was in a position of transition as well and just sort of like mapped out what could something if we did something on our own look like. And that's how Indy Maven started. So that has been in existence five years, my other baby. Well, I've got a couple babies, but yeah, so that we just celebrated our five year anniversary and then Maven space is co-working space that spun out of wanting a physical place where mainly women could gather and have a place to work and get their big ideas off the ground.
Emily Steele (04:00)
Mm-hmm. Okay. Yeah, so you have this partner that you kind of conceptualize this with. Was it like a lot of collaboration to come to the idea or was she kind of like, this is really what I want to do, but I want to do it with someone or how did that come to life?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (04:19)
She, you know, it's kind of spent so long. had a couple different people, so it's just had so many different iterations. I've been at the core the whole time. She's not super involved in day to day anymore, but it's always there if I need to bounce something off, but essentially just like help to get these ideas that she and I had hoped to bring to fruition and other, you know, roles that we had, kind of get that down on paper. And then we had somebody else that we were working with to launch at the same time too. That was more of like the logistics and operations person. And then we had another editorial person come in. And so just over the years, there's been different iterations of women who have come in, kind of brought their areas of expertise, their own additions to the recipe. And it just continues to evolve.
Emily Steele (04:51)
Cool. Do you want to give us a lay of the land? feel like Maven space is pretty like most people know what co-working is, but Indy Maven, can you talk a little bit about that?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (05:13)
So essentially we're just a media platform, but we focus on women in central Indiana. And the reason being is that we were just seeing from an editorial and journalism perspective, there was a big gap in storytelling and what were women doing. And they were often kind of pushed behind the scenes or cheerleading for someone else or they were getting negative press. But if there was a story about an incredibly cool entrepreneur, it was always like, we'll shove her back to the lifestyle section, you know, which first off was the best section anyway.
But also it's like well, no that actually is a business story, right? And so let's tell that like it is and so just like giving women a place a voice a platform and you know Acknowledging their place in the world right through doing that and so really heavily lifestyle focused But making sure that there are so many cool women doing cool things We just talked about this before we got started in this city I mean they're all over the country and all over the world, but this is the space that we know and so let's make sure that those stories are being told.
Emily Steele (06:16)
I feel like, can we just underscore the fact that you're like most women doing cool things were in the lifestyle category versus the business. Like that's huge to be like, no, you belong here. Like I remember early days of starting businesses and people like, that's so cute. Like, is that a fun hobby? I'm like, no, what are we doing? And so yeah, it's just like, let's recognize that that's how it was, but you get to create a new way. And even though like Yes, of course, and even like, falls more in lifestyle, it's how you position the story, right? And how you portray these.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (06:49)
Well, and frankly, with more resources, like I would love for this state to have a women's issues reporter, right? Some of this is also just within the scope of what we're able to do. But I would love, you know, in future iterations to be able to go cover the state house on women's issues and all of these things that takes like a much bigger team. And that is not where we are. I am not a huge, I'm not going to, but I would love that to exist and so, know, it's something I'm always kind of behind the scenes trying to champion and work on. For right now, we just do what we can do and, you know, cover as much as we can cover. We have a weekly newsletter, so that's how it's all delivered. That's the, that's kind of the main thing is the newsletter, but we also have a community element. So you can join as a member as well, which just financially helps support us. But then we do monthly meetups. So there's an in-person component to Indy Maven as well.
Emily Steele (07:22)
Do you do your meetups at your go-working space?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (07:45)
Mostly, but we also get out and about in the community and do them other places to sort of also introduce women to new spots and things they might not know about. That's my favorite thing. I love introducing someone to a new, you know, business or something they might not know about.
Emily Steele (07:56)
And it feels so good. I know that's like the only dopamine hit I need every day when someone's like, I saw your post about this or like, you know, you mentioned this restaurant and I went and I loved it. I'm like, say no more my cup is full. It is overflowing. Thank you.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (08:03)
Well, that's actually hilarious because Indy Maven started as a directory. It was going to be a lifestyle resource guide directory because I was finding that people were asking me, here I am at home with like a one year old spit up in my hair and people were like, where should I go on my date night? Where do you get your nails done? Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. My career as a journalist, I had all this information in my brain and was like, what if I just vomit it onto the internet? I had been a blogger. That's how I started my career that seems to make sense. And then I very quickly learned, you know, people want that, like, but tell me what's the off the menu item. Tell me what I need to know before I go. And that's hard to capture in a directory. So that is how we evolved to kind of more the editorial slant.
Emily Steele (08:49)
Yeah, I love that. I think we get the same questions probably in our DMs. Like, hey, like where do you get your nails done? Like, you know, where do I get like lash extensions around here? I'm like, I don't do that anymore. But when I did, you know, like this is the way. Yeah, I was like, I phased out. Like, I don't have time. Same with you. Like, I got little humans. I'm like, if I had time, I probably would. But that's a luxury that I got to choose other things now.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (09:04)
I can give you a great referral for a perimenopause doctor.
Emily Steele (09:34)
my gosh, that's good to know, by the way. mean, I can't, I mean, I could go to Indy for that, but I'm like, these are the phases we might be in soon. So, okay. So I'd love to hear Indy Maven went to kind of Maven space. Like these are obviously two companies you run, but like, what was the impetus that you felt like this was going to be a necessary or exciting addition to your life running two businesses, having this physical space.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (09:42)
So two things, one, I had just come across in my travels on the internet, like some cool women's co-working spaces and thought, well, honestly, it was the wing, right? It was the main, the first one, the big catalyst that is probably the most familiar to people. like, wouldn't it be cool? This was before allegations of racism and other problematic things. But at the time when they first launched, wouldn't it be cool if we had something like that in Indy? In Indy, often it takes a while for things to launch here. And I just remember thinking if somebody else does that, I will be so mad.
Like that feels like the thing that I should do and and it would bum me out if I saw someone else do this here Especially if it was someone who came in from another city, right? Like I wanted it if we had something like that I wanted it to be homegrown and locally owned and Indy owned To really capture, you know women in Indiana and then or at least in central Indiana I should say that and then from there I had heard on Rachel Rogers podcast We should all be millionaires that the highest number of trademarks ever were filed by women they were staying in the trademark system longer. I've told this story so many times, but it was such a light bulb moment for me. I had worked at intellectual property law firms and I understood it. I was like, the significance of this, and this is before we were talking great resignation, is that women are starting businesses. And it was COVID, right? Which seems like a weird time to think I should open a co-working space. But it actually was like, I know there's going to be an end to this someday. And where are all these women who are starting these businesses or pursuing their side hustles, like where are they going to land and where are they going to do this? And so, but also what is unique to women that is different than just any other co-working space. And what it comes down to is we're wearing all the hats. So we know need a place that we can be efficient, right? That I can get my workout in and I can grab a book from the lending library and I can run into, my graphic designer, my attorney, by the way, Hey, I need to talk to you later.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (11:58)
Like I can get so much done in a day here that would take me so much longer sitting at my kitchen table. Do I love sitting at my kitchen table working? Absolutely. The distractions there are one thing. And then just the benefit of being able to tap into that community and that network. I think just to help women frankly catch up.
Emily Steele (12:19)
Yeah, to catch up. Isn't that what we're all just trying to do, it feels like? Yeah, so you have like a pretty diverse group of people in terms of what their occupations are. Is it mostly entrepreneurs or do you see people in other professions join?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (12:22)
Both a lot of remote workers, a lot of people just like coming through town, traveling through the day, day passes. It's not just women. In fact, I could see our, our guys, we've got some guys out here that run a popcorn company, which we actually sell their, product here. It's, it's across the board. But the, the thing that kind of brings it all together is like, you're a good human. You want to do good things in the world when it comes down to it. Like, I don't care how you identify, but at the end of the day, we still have this mission of lifting women up. And that's like the primary focus.
Emily Steele (13:09)
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm. And there's like a palpable energy, I would imagine, in that kind of space where that impact and mission is so clear to people who engage. And that's like, you have to protect that at all costs, know? Mm-hmm, yeah. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (13:20)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It's a huge responsibility for sure as a co-worker, co-working space operator and for our team.
Emily Steele (13:31)
Mm-hmm. It's like, yeah. Yeah. So kudos to you for prioritizing that. Because I do feel like, you know, there are times where you're kind of like, do we go to, you know, by getting these x new members? Like, that helps from a cash flow standpoint. But does that do these individuals actually mesh with the vibe and mesh with what we're creating? And prioritizing that can be really hard, especially early days, too. it takes a totally great takes lot of courage. Yeah.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (13:57)
Absolutely. Thanks.
Emily Steele (14:00)
Yeah. Okay. So question for you, how do you balance creating digital content with organizing real life events? Like what is the importance of kind of this dual online meets IRL?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (14:12)
Yeah. the, will say project management system now that we are actually, we use Asana and now that we are actually up and running with it and really using it as it's meant to be used as a project management tool has been pretty game changing. I feel like certain team members, even myself in the beginning resisted it, but it's like, once you just surrender to the process. and then to that end is just getting the right people in the right seats in the right places and you know the whole like being I wish I would have been quicker maybe to realize certain people weren't a fit and that's okay and it's not personal but this person is or maybe they're just they should be in a different position just so getting the people right and then also just recognizing that not everyone wants to show up to in-person things, slash not everyone wants to live their life on the internet. So then there's that group where the Venn diagram meets in the middle and we've got the people who are super engaged online and the people that show up to everything in person, but then recognizing not everyone's going to fall into that same funnel. And I think in the beginning I was like, but why aren't you showing up at the things? And then realizing, you know, number one, the world's so different now.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (15:30)
But number two, not everybody is going to be into everything. But then on the flip side, making sure you're not catering to everyone and speaking to everyone. So that balance of options, but focused and intentionality.
Emily Steele (15:38)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I love that. The focus and intentionality. And we were just chatting before we went live. We're both two enneagrams 7. So here you need to be like, Asana, project systems, focus. Like, thank you using these words.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (15:59)
Listen, it has been a journey. But what I learned from my Enneagram coach, Jen, she said this line, I'll never forget. there can be power in, surrender. Like essentially there's power in vulnerability and there's power into submission. That is the word. There is power in submission.
And once I submitted to Asana, I now found my superpower. But as sevens, right, it's like, don't box me in. I'm not going to do your system, right? I'm also an Aquarius, so I've got that going on. But it's just a lot.
Emily Steele (16:35)
I have been told like having structure is the thing that creates freedom, which is the thing that sevens really desire. And so I started using this budgeting app like three years ago, maybe two, two, three years ago called YNAB. And every time you get paid, you like put it in your like virtual envelopes. And it's created so much freedom in like my financial life that, whatever, like I'm, know, like in my personal life, not my business, but like, that's just how I operated more like as a true seven. But once I got that structure in place that I could go to consistently, man, that changed the game. So I totally agree. Like Asana can be that too, right? And just understanding this is where I show up to understand like where I'm needed and what I get to co-create with people and my team.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (17:28)
I have signed up for YNAB three different times. So, right? Okay. So, all right. I'll just give it a whirl again.
Emily Steele (17:41)
Uh-huh, uh-huh, yep, so had I until I did it the third time. just saying, I'm just saying. Then it was like the thing, it was so fun to sort everything. So I'm like, how do you make it fun? Yeah, if I can make things fun, then I'm like, and then I'm like, look at how much extra I have in my food budget. I'm gonna go get coffee multiple times this week. So I'm like, that actually makes it fun, because then it creates that freedom and excitement that I really love.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (17:54)
You're wild.
Emily Steele (18:12)
So funny. So if you go on this journey officially, like, let me know how I can be supportive. I find it so fun. OK. OK. I would love to understand feedback to you. I think in a lot of online brands and events, like I've been there, done this with Hummingbirds and other businesses in the past. I think it just like especially in person events, there's always a lot of feedback. How do you receive that and how do you take that into consideration for your businesses?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (18:45)
Well, one thing I think that, okay, feedback is obviously incredibly important. I also realize now, and I've heard other entrepreneurs talk about this, there's this phenomenon of what people say and then what they will do. So people will say, that was great. But if you did it this way, then I would buy, then I would attend, then I would do this do it my way and then I'm going to, okay, so early, early stages, you're like, yeah, absolutely. I'm going to do whatever you want. So you bend over backwards, changing things and catering to things or people or comments, and then realizing, no, that's not at all. What, so behavior does not always mimic like the requests or the feedback. So there's that. but then also again, there's always two sides on the flip side. All right. When you hear something, enough. You just have to decide what is that threshold? Like what, at what point have you heard this enough that you're listening to your customer and saying, okay, that, that is traction and it will like the fat will rise to the top. It's like making a gravy. Like that's what you scoop up and say, those are the changes we're going to make early on every little drop in the bucket. I was like, yes, okay, we'll do that. Yes, we'll do that. And you know, for my little Enneagram seven brain was just like constantly being torn in so many different directions. And then, you know, that translates to your cash flow that translates to your marketing efforts, like the way that that seeps in and this can be really toxic to your business to like feedback. also really sticking to like, you know what you're doing, this is your business. Absolutely take those things into consideration. And in fact, I think, you know, we've kind of fallen off. I would just thought the other day. you know, it's time for a survey. haven't done a survey in a minute. do, I can, I use a lot of intuition in my business and I kind of had that feeling all of a sudden. like, you know what? I don't feel like my, I have the finger on this pulse, this part of the pulse of the business. I know what's going on over here, but I actually am not sure over here. So that to me is a really good time to start seeking that feedback. But just recognizing you don't have to take every piece. to heart, maybe. You can just file it away. You don't have to act on it all, I guess is what I'm saying. You can take it to heart. You don't have to act on it.
Emily Steele (21:09)
Totally. I remember vividly experiencing this in college. did, like I was a fitness instructor at Drake University and we were coming up with a new schedule and we got input from attendees. Like what classes would you want to see? Like what should we change? And so people put like, you know, marked the ideal schedules that they wanted and like the schedule changed and we accommodated the people who wanted different times. Nothing changed. They didn't come to the classes.
They saw the best version of themselves going to those classes, but they weren't actually going to come. And so it was so interesting in that moment. was like, people, even the way you give feedback sometimes won't change your own behavior. If you did this, I would do more of this. It's like, I don't believe you.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (22:02)
There's a lot of like, you have to look at what's the motivation and that's something we should all consider when we do give feedback. What's my motivation? Am I being aspirational? Am I being critical? where is that coming from? Am I projecting something? I don't think that's a very, like, I feel like that's a part of business that can use more work. Like there's more science to that than we probably give it consideration. And I know there's probably people out there like the, I don't know, the data survey statistic people that are like, yes, say more.
Emily Steele (22:32)
Yes, there's probably, yes, there's probably more research done on this, but I'm like, I find it so fascinating to request feedback and just really look at it as objectively as possible to be like, okay, I know the majority of these people who gave feedback are moms, they're like millennials, they spend a lot of time doing this. Okay, that means a lot of their perspective is probably wrapped around this, you know, like it's looking at just kind of understanding the people as much as you can, who are sharing the feedback and what motivates them. I think that's so key versus just seeing something so black and white. That oversimplifies it, you know?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (23:15)
When it, yes, when it comes to in-person, would say the, Priya Parker, I believe is her name. I think her book is called the art of gathering. she also has email blog, all the things. that was a great resource for me to also just in advance, like rather let's not throw the spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks. It's like, why are we gathering and why are we doing this and getting really clear? And if that's clear on the messaging, then you're going to get the right people at the event anyway. And when I say event, it could be anything, right? It be a workshop, could be a party, and that could be, it could be a baby shower, but just like, why are we doing this? What do we hope for getting clear on those goals and those outcomes? Then once you know what you wanted out of it, the extra feedback, you know which pieces to take and which pieces to leave.
Emily Steele (23:44)
Yes, I literally just put this quote, can I say it? I thought this was so good. It's probably a James Clear quote. Sorry for not appropriately crediting the right person. Just Google it. It says, a lot of times people think they lack motivation, but what they really lack is clarity. I think that's exactly what you're saying around the why. Why are we doing this? Because I find if I don't have full clarity, I am not motivated to complete tasks in the same way as if I'm like, no, I know that when I do this, this is what it drives or this is the outcome that's like intended from it. But when that's too ambiguous or gray, I just am like, I don't know. I don't wanna do that, right? Because I'm just, or like, I don't know how or I don't know exactly what to say. So I just, loved that.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (24:50)
It really resonates. Yeah, that's great. I'm gonna look that one up.
Emily Steele (24:54)
I know, like I feel like I pull a lot of James Clear quotes because he's like the epitome of like, you know, a focused, diligent person. He wrote like the Atomic Habits, like that is so opposite of how I approach the world that I was like, this is a good, you know, the Enneagram experts would say like, like embody all of the numbers. Like you might be at your core, like a seven or a six or whatever your number is, but like, what does it look like for you to embody all of these numbers in different ways to become a really well-rounded human who can like have empathy but also ask for what you want. You can also be organized but also embrace spontaneity here and there, you know? Like, nope, no pressure. We'll figure it out at some point.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (25:33)
Yeah. Can I, can I give an unsolicited book recommendation shoutout on this subject? I'm currently currently reading The Plan by Kendra Adachi. And I probably, she's probably gonna think I'm such a stalker because I constantly am talking about her on Instagram and everything in life because I think she's amazing. But I am obsessed with this book because she not that this podcast is all for women but you know the foot women also need different things when it comes to productivity and planning and so this journey learning about how It's almost like the antithesis of atomic habits, but in a different way that might also cater to what you're saying that Just that it does go back to that motivation and that clarity but from a different perspective and really, I would highly recommend it for women in particular. As far as if you're pro for the productivity nerds out there.
Emily Steele (26:32)
That's me. I have it pulled up. I'm gonna see if I can get it locally That's always my first but I'm like always very eager to like buy it from Amazon because I just like love the like Can I have it tomorrow or get it on my Kindle that day? But I'm gonna be patient. Yeah, I write I'm like, okay to get it but I have it I have a tab open. So thank you for the recommendation I do feel like what sometimes to when books are written by men versus women like there's just sometimes a different perspective like you think about just we're differently so sometimes
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (26:45)
And I think her statistic was 97 % of productivity books are written by like white men. So realistically, if you don't fall into that category, you're probably trying to adhere to advice that doesn't really wasn't made for you.
Emily Steele (27:07)
Yeah, and then I'm like, fasting books and all of the other books out there. They're like, yeah, got it. This actually isn't for me. I'm not going to try this. Okay, I've got a couple more questions for you before we wrap. if I'm an entrepreneur wanting to create a locally focused media brand or event space or a brand like what you've done with your co-working, what kind of advice would you give them?-
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (27:23)
Look to the models that already exist. think I, I love this, this quote, from, think it's Henry Ford about like, you know, essentially not paying attention to the competition because the competitor be feared is the one who's going about making their own business better all the time. Not the one looking at the competitor. I almost took that a little too far where I wasn't looking at what else is happening around me. and and, you know, I've since rectified that, but looking and finding community that is also outside of your existing community. So I don't know, I don't, I know one or two other local, coworking space operators, but I have an incredible network nationally of spaces that are owned and operated by women for women. And so I have this great community through Luminary, a partner network that we have. like, those are my people for my coworking. I'm also in a coaching everything, coworking as a coaching group, right? So finding these resources, the 10th house, I love an online community where I can, I like found my people. And then I remember the way after launching Indy Maven, hearing the 6 a.m. city guys, so they do local newsletters around the country as well. I was like, I could have looked at them a lot sooner and like learned a lot from them since then finding, there are newsletter coaches out there. Now I've done courses, but I kind of wish I would have maybe looked around a little more sooner. Like just kind of opened my eyes just because I didn't have to make it so hard, right? That you can find support and community. I was so focused on making sure that I wasn't looking at the competition that I also lost some opportunities, I think, to learn and make my life easier. So I would just say, yeah, yeah. And right, and not be so precious with it too, right? Like the willingness to make mistakes, try things out, but also know when to quit them or when to quit people.
Emily Steele (29:42)
Yeah. Gosh, I know. I feel like entrepreneurship is just like a journey of just like getting to know yourself and shed things and where you need to elevate, what mountains you want to climb next. Like, what am I?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (30:12)
And I don't know, I don't have an MBA. Maybe these are things you learned in business school. I don't know. But all I know is I definitely learned it the hard way and firsthand. And I'm glad I did. I love the journey that I've had and continue to be on. But I would say learn from my mistakes.
Emily Steele (30:16)
Yeah, and I'm be like, it's not for everyone, right? Like some people are like, should I start a business? I'm like, I don't know. Like there's a lot of hardship to it that you don't necessarily need to have if you work for someone else. But if it like pulls you and like, I don't know, part of me is like, you never try, you'll never know. So it's like, what is the risk in trying? Cause some businesses, the trying piece is really expensive. You know, I think starting like a digital media brand, like the friction is less right, than like someone who's like, I'm gonna open a restaurant and I have to sign a 10 year lease, da da da, right? Like that, you probably have this with.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (31:09)
a digital media brand versus a 15,000 square foot co-working space were two very different things, you know? And so my risk tolerance, absolutely. But one, you know, I don't know that I would have just kicked off with the co-working space. I had to build up.
Emily Steele (31:14)
Totally. And so I'm always like, just take, like, what is your appetite for risk? what if, like, you get to, you're in the red for several months, like, and you need to draw on, like, a second mortgage? Or when do know to throw the towel? Like, those things are your choice. You're like, these are your choices? And like, I can't make them for you. So like, I don't know. Like, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna, I think the people who are just like, everyone, like, try it, be an entrepreneur. I'm like I don't know if I agree with that statement fully, but I also do what lights you up and try things, but I also, there's always a but. But no, what's potentially on the other side.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (32:09)
I go back to that gut check of like, honestly, would it make you mad if you saw somebody else do it? Can you imagine not doing it? Like I couldn't imagine not trying. I actually tried to get this idea out of my head and I couldn't. It was like I had to act on it. And there are definitely days that I wish I hadn't. And there are days I'm so glad I did. for, and then you just have to decide, are there more of the good days and the bad days? Then do you continue on? But yeah, definitely not for everyone. But like neither skydiving, so don't jump out of a plane, know? It's teach their own.
Emily Steele (32:45)
I know, for sure. I just did skydiving like two months ago, so it's very fresh for me. No. Yeah, I don't know if I'd do that again, but I did it. And I did it for a cause so that I justified it, right? Like I'm like, this is for something important. But I was also like, this seems very crazy to just be like, yeah, like dropped onto a human I've never met and here we go. But he was like, this is my 8,000th jump. And I was like, okay, if you've done this 8,000 times Surely I'm not gonna be the 8,000 and first one that doesn't work, you know? Like I'm just trusting the process. And here I am talking to you alive. I love it. Okay, so what's next for any Maven and Maven space? Anything on the radar that we can share with listeners today?
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (33:40)
gosh, if I can't, well, let's just say on the Indy Maven front, we're doing a brand refresh, which I'm really excited about. So it's our first brand refresh in five years since we launched. And with that is just coming some just like, it's a visual shakeup, but also kind of just, that's always that nice time. It's right. like when you do your spring cleaning, this is a good time to get rid of stuff. It's a good time to introduce new things. Do I like that lamp over there? So I'm kind of in that mode. We're over in that mode with any Maven and then with Maven space, it just depends, but definitely it's no secret that our lease is ending here in this location. So that will be the hint that I drop.
Emily Steele (34:03)
Okay. Okay. That's spicy.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (34:26)
It's like until some ink is signed on something else, but that probably gives enough indication You know or the whole thing backfires, and then I don't know but as of right now Hopefully in the next couple weeks. We'll be making an exciting announcement
Emily Steele (34:35)
Okay, okay, I love this for you and I'm on edge of my seat. can't wait. I'm like, now timing is more like, yeah, you're like, well, I saw that on October 22, but you know, things have changed dramatically.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (34:50)
Ugh, if this doesn't get done by the end of the week, I don't know. I don't actually know what my threat there is, but I just know that I am beyond over the process of what this next chapter looks like.
Emily Steele (34:55)
Okay, okay, we're like sending good vibes here for like a swift like for what you want and desire or if it's not this then the next best thing, right? It's like, when can rejection be protection but also like can get this done, you know? It's like a little bit of both.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (35:10)
And then, you know, that's like perfect summary of entrepreneurship right there, right? Like we just don't know what's around the corner. I have to be okay with any possible outcome right now and learning to live with the uncomfortableness and the learning to live with the not knowing, even though it's excruciating. It's totally part of the process that I am just trusting right now.
Emily Steele (35:26)
Yeah. Yeah. I love it. Well, thank you for being on the podcast today where you can listeners learn more about you and your businesses.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (35:49)
Yeah, indymaven.com and mavenspace.co and I'm Lesalina on all socials, L-E-S-A-L-I-N-A. I suppose I'm more just like professional on LinkedIn and whatnot, but you know, it's like that thing Twitter launched how many years ago and you thought, this name won't follow me except 20 years later, here it is. And you know, then you complicate it by like getting married and then you have this top secret maiden name and then LinkedIn won't let me identify myself because I use a secret. My maiden name, instead of my married name. Anyway, I'm not hard to find, but yet I am. Yeah, exactly. That's my challenge. No. It's like a puzzle.
Emily Steele (36:22)
If people want to find you, they will. So I love it. Or they'll reach out to us. I'm like, how do I find her? I love it. Challenge accepted. Yay. Well, thanks again for being here today. Appreciate your time.
Leslie Bailey (she/her) (36:38)
Thank you. Thanks for having me. It was fun.
