Lauren Stallings with BME Home LLC

Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Woodstock, Georgia. It’s time for Kid Biz Radio. Kid Biz Radio creates conversations about the power of entrepreneurship and the positive impact that journey can have on kids. For more information, go to kid Business.com. Now here’s your hosts.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:00:28] Hello. Welcome to KCBs radio. I’m Lila.

Austyn Guest: [00:00:31] And I’m Austyn,

Layla Dierdorff: [00:00:32] And today we have an awesome guest with us in the studio, Lauren with BME home. Hi, Lauren, thank you so much for being with us here today.

Lauren Stallings: [00:00:40] Thank you so much for having me.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:00:42] Yeah.

Austyn Guest: [00:00:43] Thanks for being with us today. Uh, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your business before we get started?

Lauren Stallings: [00:00:47] Absolutely. I am Lauren Stallings with BME home. It is a full life styling business, so I do everything from wardrobe consulting to home organizations. So yeah, a little cover a little bit, but it’s a little bit, uh, it’s in depth when I get in with my clients. So they kind of get an all in one rather than having to hire for different companies. Makes sense.

Austyn Guest: [00:01:08] Do you work with, like, the whole family or like, the mom or whatever?

Lauren Stallings: [00:01:12] I’m nodding my head like, somebody’s watching this, right? Yes, I do, I work. Um, so BME actually stands for Boss Mom Empire. I am a mom. I have an 11 year old son. He’s turning 12, sometimes thinks he’s 21. Um, I’m sure both of you probably understand that. Absolutely. Um, but he he’s the reason for everything that I do, and I have a passion for it. So I’m leaving a legacy for him. And I actually started this business in February. Okay, I it all began. It all began, um, when I started my nonprofit two years ago. Okay.

Austyn Guest: [00:01:46] We’re very familiar with nonprofits.

Lauren Stallings: [00:01:47] Um, I know that’s why I’m excited to be here.

Austyn Guest: [00:01:50] All right, so. And you just kind of said when you got started and why. But, um, how did you get started with your business?

Lauren Stallings: [00:01:59] Honestly, I’ve spent nine and a half years as a first responder and in the public safety. Yeah, it’s cool.

Austyn Guest: [00:02:06] It is cool.

Lauren Stallings: [00:02:07] Though. Nine years in that world, um, it’s more like 20 after after five. It feels like you’ve been there for ten. Wow. So, um, this is just a passion of mine. And with the nonprofit, we would actually use the funds to go into nominated moms rooms, bedrooms, and completely flip and restyle their bedrooms to give them amazing, like, an oasis. Um, and then this just kind of became a passion. So February of this year, I started it and left, uh, the police department I was working at full time, and I haven’t looked back since. Wow.

Austyn Guest: [00:02:37] All right. Through that journey, what have you done that has helped you really succeed?

Lauren Stallings: [00:02:42] I’ve stayed consistent.

Austyn Guest: [00:02:44] That definitely helps.

Lauren Stallings: [00:02:45] Accountability is a big thing, too. Like, when I make a mistake, I’m the first to apologize to it. I offer, you know, any kind of other service that I can go back and help my clients with if something has happened. But staying consistent with Outreach Network podcasting.

Austyn Guest: [00:03:00] Yes. Yeah.

Lauren Stallings: [00:03:01] Um, and being involved with they be my clients become my family and my friends.

Austyn Guest: [00:03:07] So like that’s always a good thing to have.

Lauren Stallings: [00:03:09] It is. And especially because I’m coming into their homes and touching their stuff and I’m having to help them reorganize their life.

Austyn Guest: [00:03:16] I feel like you’re more personal. Yeah. I feel like you have to become close with them at that point.

Lauren Stallings: [00:03:19] Absolutely. For sure.

Austyn Guest: [00:03:22] So based on, you know, being successful and becoming this successful entrepreneur, you are now, what would you define success as? Because I feel like everyone has their own definition of it.

Lauren Stallings: [00:03:32] The best version I’ve ever heard is success is individual. There’s you’re comparing yourself to somebody else. And I was 14 once and I keep that in my head. And now I’m raising a pre-teen. Mm. Your definition of success is not what that person next to you is going to be. And it’s not what the popular girls is. It’s not what the outcast girl is. It’s not what the jock is. And girl to girl, it’s a really big moment when you can look at it and say, my success is being able to reach the goals in my own life. You mentioned Zelda, my kids obsessed. It’s so ridiculous.

Austyn Guest: [00:04:05] I personally play, but I’ve watched her play and she loves it.

Lauren Stallings: [00:04:09] It’s a different, different thing because that’s her thing, right? So you’re like, yeah, I’ll play it. Same thing. I’ll play it with him. But do I know all the ins and outs? Don’t ask me a single question about it because I have no idea.

Austyn Guest: [00:04:17] I’ve played once. I know nothing.

Lauren Stallings: [00:04:19] Exactly. It’s like I’ll sit down and play with you and we can have a good time. But that’s what success is, is cheering her on while also accomplishing your own stuff that might be different than what she has. So yeah, it’s one of those things that somebody else told me about three years ago. And it’s your success is always individual. It’s never going to be what somebody else is doing. That’s comparison. So knowing the definition and the difference between those two actually helps you go a lot further in life. That’s really.

Austyn Guest: [00:04:43] Different. Yeah. People have said that we’ve gotten a lot of different responses, but that one’s going to stick good. I’m glad. All right. So obviously becoming an entrepreneur has a long path. Usually takes a little minute to, you know, get into the groove of things maybe. What are some, you know, regrets that you have. Maybe when you started up your business or things you wish you would have done differently?

Lauren Stallings: [00:05:07] To be honest, I wish I would have started sooner. I’ve always been an entrepreneur. Um, I’ve always wanted to do other things. Like I just finished a commission drawing that somebody had me draw up. Um, that was their coworker in front of the house that started that was started by her family. So I finished that drawing as a Christmas present. Um, I’m currently writing a children’s book. Oh, okay. And I’ve already published two other books. So the entrepreneurial world is not new to me. Okay. Um, I’ve kind of always been into it, and it’s because I was raised by somebody that was in a corporate environment, and I didn’t like that. So like I said, I just spent nine and a half years in public safety. But public safety, especially as A911 dispatcher, you get new things every phone call. Yeah. So it’s always different. You can’t prepare yourself thing. It’s not ever going to be like one choking is going to be different than another choking, as crazy as that is. But one baby birth is different than another baby birth. I’ve done that too. Oh, really?

Austyn Guest: [00:05:57] So you okay?

Lauren Stallings: [00:05:59] Yeah. Well, almost have it published. The children’s book yet?

Austyn Guest: [00:06:03] Well, we’re getting there.

Lauren Stallings: [00:06:04] So it’s just that I haven’t started sooner.

Austyn Guest: [00:06:06] Okay, based on that, do you have any more advice for aspiring entrepreneurs to help prevent some of those, like, maybe help them get started sooner?

Lauren Stallings: [00:06:15] So do your research on what you want to do. But the other thing I think as an entrepreneur, when you’re starting is that that adventure and I say adventure, some people say venture. I say adventure because you’re learning something through that whole process. Yeah, and it’s supposed to be fun. And even if it fails and whatever. Again, so your definition of success and your definition of failure are going to be completely different than what mine are, than what my son’s are, than what either of you might share as well. But when you get to that failure point, you can reevaluate and go, okay, what did I learn in this? That’s going to make it easier the next go around? And so I learned a lot through the nonprofit that led me to be able to do my business now and actually make it a limited liability company with the state and register it, and it made it a lot easier. So knowing what path you want to go down and knowing that your passions are going to change will actually help you get started in one adventure to another. And knowing like it’s not, it’s not work if you love what you do.

Austyn Guest: [00:07:07] Yeah, if you love what you do, you’re not going to feel like you’re working. If you love what you do, you’re going to have like, having fun and actually enjoying life.

Lauren Stallings: [00:07:14] Yeah, exactly.

Austyn Guest: [00:07:15] I feel like the corporate world has put, like a bad connotation on the word work.

Lauren Stallings: [00:07:19] It gets you at the I love this conversation, ladies. You are correct. And it has. And it’s changed a lot though. So like now you see police officers and firefighters, they have their tattoos. They can share all of that. And even in the corporate world, there’s a lot of them that you can still do that. And so it’s changing. I’m sure you guys go into all of that. Yeah, you’ll get there.

Austyn Guest: [00:07:37] I’m sure there’s still a few people who obviously like having the same routine going behind a desk, having a computer, but there’s also a lot of people who don’t because it gets pretty boring pretty quick. You can’t have the same thing first for some people. Some people like that and it’s fun. Well, yes, obviously it’s not for everybody, but. Right. So we’ve talked a lot about the past and the present. Let’s talk about some future things. What are some future goals you have for your business?

Lauren Stallings: [00:08:00] I just actually achieved one of them. Um, I did, so I have been in business full time since February. That’s exciting. So I know I’ve got two more months to make it. Actually one one and a half more months to make it to a full 12. Um, but I needed I wanted to have 50 clients for the first year, and I actually just surpassed that. And in one week when I needed six more clients, I actually went to 52 clients. Wow. So that’s that’s amazing.

Austyn Guest: [00:08:29] That is amazing.

Lauren Stallings: [00:08:30] Like, I was like, okay, the universe is looking out for me right now.

Austyn Guest: [00:08:34] The universe is on your side.

Lauren Stallings: [00:08:35] So just growing that and meeting that, that future goal and being able to really kind of get other people on board with me. That and here’s something about hiring people. Whenever you go to run a business, if your intent is to hire somebody and expand your business, then they should be making you money. You shouldn’t be worried about spending money. And that’s the one thing that I learned in an entrepreneurial class recently, because I’m still in school ten years. I always like to learn. Um, but for me, it’s going to be able to bring people on and trust in myself and in what they do. Um, that they can bring to my business as long as we align in values and stuff. And yeah, my business is going to continue to grow. So yeah.

Austyn Guest: [00:09:15] That’s wonderful. Okay, so on to those deep questions we were talking about. So you might have to think about it for a minute and take your time. If you had the attention of the world for five minutes, everyone was listening to what you were saying, paying attention to you, all eyes on you. What would you say to them? Um.

Lauren Stallings: [00:09:34] Stop comparing yourself to other people and you’ll stop bullying others. I’m a really big so I coach. I told you guys this before the show.

Austyn Guest: [00:09:42] You did?

Lauren Stallings: [00:09:43] Um, and I 100% love it. Cross country literally lasts for nine months. And then we have track and field for another two months. So out of all of the entire year, I have one month without any kind of sport. Yeah, but that’s something that I try to instill in a lot of the kids that I coach. Um, and the kids that I talk to, my, my son’s kids. And it’s those because even as adults, you still you still struggle with that. Yeah.

Austyn Guest: [00:10:07] And it’s it definitely carries on.

Lauren Stallings: [00:10:09] It does. And it’s hard to break the older that you get, the more money that you spend on therapy to know that firsthand. So when you have when you have really good parents that want to start you out and, and give you that, that passion and see if you really like something that that helps kind of squelch the she taking pictures of us.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:10:28] She was. Yes. She is.

Lauren Stallings: [00:10:31] Um, they.

Austyn Guest: [00:10:31] Do that periodically.

Lauren Stallings: [00:10:32] Got it. Um, but it allows you if in those five minutes just stop comparing yourself to other people and it stops the bullying, because that’s when you stop looking at somebody and the jealousy stops and the hatred stops. Yeah, it’s it’s a vicious cycle.

Austyn Guest: [00:10:46] But yeah, it’s a hard one to break.

Lauren Stallings: [00:10:49] And I know both of you are probably at school. So you’ve heard enough of it. Yeah.

Austyn Guest: [00:10:53] Yeah. Heard it a good bit. Yeah.

Lauren Stallings: [00:10:55] The one thing I think I would do though, if I had the five minutes. So I would have everybody close their eyes. And I’ve done this with a couple of my kids before, close their eyes, be far enough apart. And then I’d ask one question, who in here has ever been bullied by somebody in your life? That means family, friends, coworkers, school colleagues, anything along those lines with your eyes shut, raise your hand. Every single time I’ve done that, 80% of the room has their hand raised. Now I’ve got both of you thinking.

Austyn Guest: [00:11:26] Turn the tables real quick. That. Wow. Okay.

Lauren Stallings: [00:11:32] How’s that for your deep question?

Layla Dierdorff: [00:11:34] That was good. That was very good answer.

Austyn Guest: [00:11:37] We got a lot of different answers to that question. That was a very good one. Okay, so the second question, if you woke up tomorrow without your business like it was just gone, what would be your first steps to recovery or would you even try to as if it never existed.

Lauren Stallings: [00:11:51] As if it never existed? Yeah.

Austyn Guest: [00:11:55] Um, kind of like Groundhog Day or something.

Lauren Stallings: [00:12:01] Okay. Didn’t expect Groundhog Day on that one. Um, as if it never existed. I would find what my passion is because if it wasn’t this, then it wouldn’t exist. So. But what does excite me? What makes me want to get up and go to work? What makes me want to bring the money in and make a six figure month? Um, and if it’s not this, then it’s something else. I’m a creative person, so if I did wake up tomorrow, it would have to be something in the creative world. I’ve done corporate. I’ve. We’re done. Yeah. Done. The insurance world. I’ve done public safety. I got the check marks and all of the clothes still. Yeah, um, probably should organize my own closet, but, like.

Austyn Guest: [00:12:40] Like, it’s ironic that you organize other people’s, but yours may not.

Lauren Stallings: [00:12:43] Be. I have to hire people for that. Because if I’m doing your house, I don’t want to go home and do mine.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:12:48] Fair enough.

Lauren Stallings: [00:12:49] So, yeah, it would have to be something in the creative services, but I know exactly where to start now, so it wouldn’t be as hard.

Austyn Guest: [00:12:54] That would definitely be helpful. Okay, so we just asked two deep questions that you have to think about. We’re going to do some quick this or that now so that you don’t got to think, just answer as fast as you can. All right. So here we go. Cats are dogs.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:13:09] Dogs Spider-Man.

Austyn Guest: [00:13:10] Or Batman. Spider-man books or movies are both.

Lauren Stallings: [00:13:15] I can’t do this or that on that one.

Austyn Guest: [00:13:18] Um, waffle or curly fries?

Lauren Stallings: [00:13:19] Curly fries?

Austyn Guest: [00:13:21] Uh, mountains or the beach?

Lauren Stallings: [00:13:22] Beach?

Layla Dierdorff: [00:13:25] All the.

Austyn Guest: [00:13:25] Yeah, I saw that when you walked in. Sweet or salty? Salty chocolate or fruity candy? Fruity cake or pie?

Lauren Stallings: [00:13:33] Say that one more time.

Austyn Guest: [00:13:34] Cake or pie?

Layla Dierdorff: [00:13:35] Oh.

Lauren Stallings: [00:13:35] I thought you said Pinkie Pie.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:13:37] Um.

Austyn Guest: [00:13:38] Kaylee, a question. Um. Lower high rise jeans.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:13:43] I’m a millennial. Low rise.

Austyn Guest: [00:13:47] They’re coming back. They are comedy or horror?

Layla Dierdorff: [00:13:50] Comedy all the way.

Lauren Stallings: [00:13:52] All the way. Yeah. We don’t we don’t do our days with horror.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:13:55] No, like a horror.

Austyn Guest: [00:13:56] Comedy is always a good combo in movies.

Lauren Stallings: [00:13:58] Anything but done in the 80s. You’ve got it.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:14:01] Yeah.

Austyn Guest: [00:14:03] Okay. Well obviously that was a good this or that round. Thank you Lauren so much for hanging out with us today. We really appreciate it. Uh, can you tell can you tell everyone how they can get in touch with you and check out what you’re doing? Absolutely.

Lauren Stallings: [00:14:17] So my biggest form of communication currently is either through my website, which is BME home llc.com, or on my Facebook or social media pages, which you can find us at the BME home.

Austyn Guest: [00:14:29] All right. Very very nice. Fantastic. We enjoyed our time with you today. And we know that our audience will get so much out of here in your story. Thanks for listening and we’ll see you in the next one.

Layla Dierdorff: [00:14:38] Thanks so much.