What's better than 1 Reel Queen? Two! In this episode, we’re talking business as I speak with Monique Lombardo and Alisha Marfatia aka The Rise With Reel Queens. We're talking about how two women, from different states, in the same field came together to support one another to create something amazing.
Alisha and Mon came together to create the first Reels Course teaching business owners and brands how to creatively use Reels to skyrocket their business, grow their audience and make more money on Instagram.
Follow them on Instagram:
@risewithreelscourse
@thesocialista_
@thesocialimpact.co
Visit their website:
risewithreels.com
**Join Rise With Reels Here
Join the conversation over on:
My Instagram @iamtaraladd.
Check out my business Instagram @youroneandonly_au
Connect on Linkedin tarajoyladd
Visit the website (new one coming soon) - don't forget to sign up to the email list.
Produced by @davidjeasty
Music by @ramnac86 and @jompzz
What's better than 1 Reel Queen? Two! In this episode, we’re talking business as I speak with Monique Lombardo and Alisha Marfatia aka The Rise With Reel Queens. We're talking about how two women, from different states, in the same field came together to support one another to create something amazing.
Alisha and Mon came together to create the first Reels Course teaching business owners and brands how to creatively use Reels to skyrocket their business, grow their audience and make more money on Instagram.
Follow them on Instagram:
@risewithreelscourse
@thesocialista_
@thesocialimpact.co
Visit their website:
risewithreels.com
**Join Rise With Reels Here
Join the conversation over on:
My Instagram @iamtaraladd.
Check out my business Instagram @youroneandonly_au
Connect on Linkedin tarajoyladd
Visit the website (new one coming soon) - don't forget to sign up to the email list.
Produced by @davidjeasty
Music by @ramnac86 and @jompzz
Just a heads up if you've got little ears around this podcast contains some swearing. Hi, you're listening to the Word V, a straight shooter podcast that generates real conversations about the systemic issues surrounding working women motherhood, business ownership and society as a whole. I'm your host, Star lead, owner of brand design agency, your one and only mother of two boys, and a champion of working women and a balanced society. Hi, guys, you're listening to episode three of the word v. And where with mon and Alicia say hi, guys. Hello. And today's episode is when two women from different states decided to support one another. So guys, why don't you introduce yourselves? Hello.
Monique Lombardo:So I'm Mon.
Alisha Marfatia:And I'm Alicia. I want to I want to just correct you there. You said two different states. But honestly, Tara, we're forgetting that we were in a pandemic.
Tara Ladd:Oh, totally.
Alisha Marfatia:Victoria and New South Wales felt like two different countries. So they were, you know, correct to this? You know?
Tara Ladd:Yeah, totally, absolutely fine to do that. Yeah.
Alisha Marfatia:Tara's like I'm not inviting them on again.
Tara Ladd:She's different countries. Not kidding.
Monique Lombardo:We don't like Victorians here, we don't like Victorians.
Tara Ladd:So bad how that happend.
Monique Lombardo:So as you can kind of tell I'm Mon and I'm from Sydney. And I am an Instagram coach. And I have my own business called the socialist star. And I've had it for about three years, where I work with service based businesses and coaches to really elevate their Instagram, create creative content that really stands out so they can show up and make an impact. And I am the other half of our dynamic duo. And so I focus more on the product based side of businesses. So that's where I have my expertise, which works very nice hand in hand with mine. So I help product based businesses skyrocket their accounts skyrocket their presence, and most of all, turn those followers into more sales. So I'm the founder of the social impact. But together, we Yeah, on paper, definitely 100%. At the time, we were competitors. We were doing this like Yeah, exactly the same thing. We started out, we didn't have these niches, we weren't like your product and service, we were exactly the same. We're both either or both Instagram coaches, we're both real coaches, social media managers will the exact same person. We were both creating videos for clients. And together, we created writing drills, which is our company together. Yeah, it's not just the business, not just a hobby, its own damn frickin company.
Tara Ladd:Yeah pretty amazing. And I can actually come in and say that I have done the rice with Rails course and find it absolutely phenomenal. So I would highly recommend that if anyone wants to up their video game on Instagram, that that is a course for you to do.
Monique Lombardo:I'm slightly, slightly biassed, but it is life
Tara Ladd:Changing but but you know, it's not because um you changing. know, and I'm in branding, everyone knows this. So I know the importance of doing video marketing, obviously, but it wasn't my specialty. And I think that this is the thing, a lot of creatives think that they need to just know, every facet of creativity. And no, I there is just so much another thing for people thinking that creatives need to know every single aspect of creativity is just or you know, the realms of creativity is not, it's not right. So I mean, this is why we don't, we don't for my business, we don't go outside the realm of design because we focus on design, and we do design well. And if we do anything outside of that, then it detracts from what we can do well so I knew in my business that we needed to bring in a strong I guess a strong reel game so we call that Mon who conveniently lives around the corner.
Monique Lombardo:Oh.
Tara Ladd:We've been friends for you know a while on Instagram before she hid her peak fame and called her into help us out and I think that was probably pre August pre Reel boom that was
Monique Lombardo:yeah, pre COVID
Tara Ladd:Yeah, pre COVID. So and I think that that was evident to a lot of people that this was going to be a thing. This wasn't just a fad. Like the what was it? 2008 Social media it's just just phase.
Alisha Marfatia:No, I still got I still got Oh god. Oh, god, you're so lucky. You know, you just fell into Reels at the right time. It's just a fad. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Like I got all of that. You know, don't trust somebody that you've never met. I got All of it. Now, I know it's a cap, but I'm just risk. And, and I just feel like a lot of people looked in on us. And because because there hasn't been, there hasn't really been many stories at all, like ours. And for a lot of people, it was just like, you're probably getting scammed, you know, and she's your competitor. And I just feel like, this is one of the reasons why mon and I feel so strongly about it is because, because the story really hasn't been written before and the way we had it. For a lot of people, it sounded absurd. And for a lot of people, there was so many doubts, because they're protective. And you know, they just didn't really have that hope or trust in whatever. And so for us, it's like, no, this is possible, we've seen it, our students have re done, what we've done, different states, different countries, and they've become friends and business partners. So it's incredible.
Tara Ladd:It's not like and you know, the best thing about it is right, like, not only do you see your work working, like out there, but you building your own community, and you're like these people met, because we made that happen. And I like, you know, obviously you guys do it on a much larger scale than we do. But I find that from a much smaller scale, when we connect people that we know, or brands that we've worked with together and you like, wow, that like that was possible from pure connection of just speaking and making relationships with people, you know, and what I find the best about what you guys do is, you know, you have to take risks in business, you just have to and anyone that is anyone, you know, you're not going to go listen to how, like how I built this, for instance, you know, listened to all of those amazing podcasts about these about these founders that just, you know, went to hell and back to to push their businesses to where they are. And none of them sat there on their hands going. It's gonna come, I'm just gonna chill out and wait. So, you know, I mean, who cares? If it did fail, you gave it a crack. And I think that what's evident that it didn't fail, and you're just being like, here's my case study, you know, so I think that that's, that's just the best thing ever. So I'm going to jump in and kind of get back on this question path. And I guess, so how did you end up crossing paths?
Monique Lombardo:So
Alisha Marfatia:on this one, because mon was just doing her own thing. For businesses, it is no dead set like mon and I. So mon was doing her thing. And I came across her because someone else I was following shared something she had done. And I jumped on. I was like, oh, like she does videos, hey, those videos are good. Like, you know, because I come from a background of film and TV. Mom comes from a background of Communications and Video Production marketing. So together we really, straightaway I couldn't be like, okay, that videography like that is not someone who's just picked up a video camera and hope for the best. So I followed her
Tara Ladd:everyone Mon just hair flicked
Monique Lombardo:like I was like, yes.
Alisha Marfatia:I followed her. And at that point, I had started to realise the power of just sending a message. Right? What's the worst? Yeah, they can leave you on scene. Cool. That says more about them than it does you right? But I had already built friendships through Instagram by just sending a DM and voice recording. Hello. So anyway, I thought you know what, I'm just gonna do it. So I sent her a DM and she slid into my DMs in the slot and I've ever done. So I slid on in and then Mom, what were you thinking?
Monique Lombardo:No, this is what Alicia always says to me. She goes whenever she tells the story. She goes, I slid into her DMs and I was annoying.
Tara Ladd:You were persistent.
Monique Lombardo:Thank you is annoying. I am persistent. Yes. Thank you very much. You're absolutely welcome. And so she slid into my DMs and she's like, Oh, hey, I'm really loving the work that you're doing the alarm like Oh, thank you la la. And we're just talking just here we go. You know, just normal conversation.
Tara Ladd:First thought my first thought I was like, Oh, she
Monique Lombardo:looks pretty cool. Yeah, cool. Yeah, it's pretty cool. I'll gotta wait to see if I'm going to follow her. I'm very selective with who I followed. There are some people that will talk about and I go, Oh, yeah, I'm just gonna hurt to her Instagram page. And like, she's like, why you're not already following her. I'm like, so if I want her in my world yet?
Tara Ladd:It just depends. Yeah, like it's okay to let you know, it's a curated feed and your actual stuffs of quality. Right? Correct.
Monique Lombardo:And so I like kind of someone out before I follow them for a while. See if you're, if I'm following you. That's a good sign. It's a good sign.
Tara Ladd:She's following us guys. Just so you know.
Monique Lombardo:I was forced to
Alisha Marfatia:Tara into perspective. We have just started. Little little hint to hint. We have just created our podcast. Because finally biting, biting and we're doing it good. And so I created the account and I messaged Mom, it's like, Can you hurry up and follow our cut the fluff podcast for an account? He hadn't even followed our own podcast account. I was like, Can you hurry up and she's like, oh.
Monique Lombardo:But to my to my defence, I was getting on a plane from Melbourne to Sydney fickle. I was, you know, trying to put this beautiful reel together that we had created. I was replying to all of our community comments, may only have time to sit here and follow a page. I thought when I'm ready.
Alisha Marfatia:Just a page. Can we edit that out? So she sounds like shes interested.
Monique Lombardo:I'm so judging. I'm sorry. Like, no, it was a hectic afternoon. And I was like, Okay, let me for the page because I totally forgot. And she goes about time you followed it? It was 10 minutes. I dont know how fast you want me to do this? Anyway, so yes, so we would message and we became accountability partners. So every single Monday, Alicia was persistent. And eight o'clock every morning, she would send me a message. Hello, we would send video messages by dm every single day. And it was like I'm telling you, you know, when you send the video message on Instagram, and to a DM and you just see this little blue like dots like video one, video two, video three, and you can actually preview them until you watch them. Yeah, so that was one day. I remember. They're like 20 videos. I was like, I have so much work to do. One video is at least 15 seconds. This is four minutes. I'm like, It's okay, four minutes. So I'm there and I'm watching it. And she's a lady. Um, anyway, so she's she would send me videos and we would do checking, you know, like, you know, how was your week? You know, here are my wins here. My goals. Let's do a dance party. And I loved it. It was so great, because you know, we both worked from home. Yeah, we both have
Alisha Marfatia:been I've been sitting here for good minutes. Why didn't I know that? This is a podcast. But for anyone listening. I'm going to give you a picture. I'm getting on the dirtiest crazy. And I've got one eyebrow twitching and I've never been able to do that. Because new skill. Alicia, don't don't put this on me. Don't butter me up. Now you are we send these video messages back and forth. And it was really incredible. And you know, saying okay, what did you Yeah, I'm putting out my own spin on this to make Can
Monique Lombardo:you tell that, um, we just love to fire each other up. And to do that,
Tara Ladd:you know, we
Alisha Marfatia:actually did and we always finished with like, Okay, what did you win? What was your wins last week? What were your wins this week? You know, alright, 22nd dance and party. And so I'd put on a song and I just sort of dance it out. And then Vaughn would do the same. And, and just suddenly we started like, you know, we're on these two separate paths. And suddenly, we just started to sort of like, come closer, closer and closer, until we realise like, we are seriously on the same energy levels we have seriously on so many, you know, you know, morals in life. And so it was only really when reels came out. And one of our like, Well, hello, you know, we were all about video, like we already have an upper hand we already have years of experience and understanding that we're going to put into this and we're above everybody else like transitions people what's the transition in general like we've been doing this
Monique Lombardo:for years. We know life for years. And so when release came out we were like this is just second nature to us and everyone was DMing us we were bombarded with messages saying How did you do that but me for a call I need your help I need your help and so before long Alicia and item this was about to release came out so we became friends in about April. We did our first live together I think it was June or July and then we rules came out in August and then we will bombarded by like September we will fully booked out with coaching both of us booked out with people just messaging us and things like that. And at this time I'm like oh there's so much so much demand. I'm going to create a masterclass so created like a paid you know, 40 $50 masterclass, I had great attendance. It was insane. I just loved it so much and how everyone came on wanting to learn about reels. And a week later, Alicia messages me he was I think in October maybe even just yet but the start of October. messaged me saying hey Mon, like crazy. Id actually no, she facetimes me. Thank you very much. sound more consistent. Now she facetimes me and I'm like, we don't do this. FaceTime. What
Tara Ladd:do you like what's happening in the video? And
Alisha Marfatia:we didn't get any number so your call Graham? Yes. And I was like, Oh my gosh, is probably gonna be like, definitely. Yeah, I know. Please pick up please. And I was like, at the end just smiling. That's it. I'm Alicia, nice to see you in the real time of life. crazy idea. And I think as well from one she just she just seen the success. You know, she just seen the success on our own like on her own path by herself. She'd seen the success she'd seen the results. And so for her at that time, I reckon you know whether she realised it or not like one it was like, Well, I'm like, I've really got this awesome success. You know, I've already helped people on this topic. What's different? Why, why should we do this too? And why should we create a course? Do you really think people are gonna want it?
Monique Lombardo:Yeah, I was like, you know, people just bought my masterclass, they're equipped. Why did I need this course? Oh, now now, most of the people who were inside the masterclass ended up joining the course because like, what else can I get next? How else can I?
Tara Ladd:That's what I find really valuable about your course is that it doesn't matter how good you are, you can always get better. Yeah. And I think the more you do, the better you get. And like you said, he used to take me like 40 minutes to put a reel together. Now I'm just like, you know, you record four or five different things in the same video, and then you just cut it and snip it, and then you can put it together and like, I never would have known that shit. Like it's just little. It's the little tricks, right? Like, and I think that that's, that's what, like what I find so valuable in that course. And obviously, we know branding, but anyone that doesn't know that aspect of their brand and how to market themselves properly. There's also that added value hooks and timings and all that type of stuff. So anyway, back back to the conversation. Yeah.
Monique Lombardo:So then we I agreed. And I was like, Yeah, let's do it. I was a little bit hesitant because you know, most people say you see them on the street. You see them at the shop, and you're like, oh my gosh, babe, I haven't seen you when you shop. And it never happened four years later.
Tara Ladd:Yeah, never happen. Because it's an interesting conversation. Right?
Monique Lombardo:Exactly. Exactly. You know, sometimes you think, you know, people come up with these really big ideas. You're like, Oh, it'll never happen. But this did. Yeah. Which I love. Because we're both actually takers. Yeah, Assistant assistants. But we're both action takers. And we're just like, let's just do it. So I remember, you know, it was like Sunday night, we'd be on Zoom together, planning out and mapping out what we're putting in this course, we spoke to our audience, what do you want to see in this course, and release, credit, some hype around it. And then by November, we opened we launched. And the best thing about this is we launched with no content inside the course. Yep. Which meant we could have a really awesome feedback loop to be able to they do module one, we get the feedback. Okay, module two, let's make those tweaks module three, which is why I think our course is really valuable because it was made in real time. It was made for that
Tara Ladd:jump in there. Have you guys read the lean startup? No. Okay. So that literally is putting his he's, you know, what do you call it, he's playing to action, he says, and I think the biggest problem when someone's trying to launch a product or some kind of service is that they try to finesse it and perfect it so that it's absolutely perfect prior to market. The thing is, you don't know what's going to be perfect. We don't know. So he was talking about this engine that they were building. And it had all of these like, specialty things in it five, five different specialty things, and it was gonna take ages. And he was like, how do you know that this is going to be profitable. And they're like, because we've heard this from this, this and this person, and they're like, Yeah, but you still haven't sold it or made it like, and it's gonna take five years and be like, you're going to invest all this money. And he gave the idea to divide the motor up into make the five different individual, you know, I guess, elements into their own motors. And they did that. And it just was a raging success. And they were like, you know, you could have just lost all of that income, because you were trying to perfect this thing. So exactly what I find really great about and then they got all the detailed feedback on each element so that when they did make the one that went together, they had the absolute perfect, I guess, model of what they were putting forward. And I think that what you just said there is absolute blinder to your success, right. You're creating a product for the people and not creating product for you that you're hoping to serve people. Yeah.
Alisha Marfatia:And that's the thing is we've done, you know, I see, I see some people who are like, yeah, the answer to, you know, a lot of money is just make a course, you know, we had really we done the one on one coaching, we did a lot of coaching that allowed us to understand, alright, well, what in your coaching sessions? What are people struggling with most? What are you helping with most? And so we were able to really ensure what we're putting together. It's not what we think because at the end of the day, you're teaching a course for an expert in an area totally so easy for you to assume what people know already. So for us, it's like, right, basic, basic, let's break this down. Because chances are, people have jumped even today, we get people coming in and saying, I've already started rails, I've already created rails, why would I jump into rows with Rails, and they jump in? And they're like, I've been doing it wrong.
Monique Lombardo:All this time. We're making quake talks, and they've taken off the watermark, or they're doing it and it's taking them 500 hours and I'm like, just just do it because please, I will we will save you so much time we will get you the results you need. Stop wasting your time trying to figure it out on your own. Yeah, we created this for you like for you. Yeah, and that's the thing when we did round one of it the real We only expect we only wanted to create these for our audience we only had in mind, one round had them in mind. And we opened doors with closed doors. We had 87 People in the first round of the course, which for us was like, wow, this is insane. Like 80 people. That's huge. Yeah. And we close the doors and so many people messaging us. I want to get in I want again, getting get me in and see
Tara Ladd:jumping in there. That's another thing too, right? It's not an open evergreen course. Right? It's just something that that you you providing a start and finish date to so you're providing that want. So I think that that's a really good thing. Yeah.
Alisha Marfatia:Yeah. And I think, I think one thing we should say, and I think we talked about this a lot. But getting really honest, I for I've definitely forgotten how difficult it was. And I remember when mon and I so this is two of us creating a course. Right? And I remember because I know people like Oh, yeah. Cuckoo cuckoo. And I don't think we really shared in those in those weeks, where we were creating that first round, and we were building this course out. i No one saw me except one. Like it was 24 hours on week question. Yeah, we didn't have an editor we didn't have and still to this day, like we love the fact that every part of this was us. Yeah, every part we created the presentations, we, you know, put the we shot it. We videoed it, we did everything. And so we divided it up, we conquered it together. But people do not realise the amount of time and effort to ensure that not only do you put a good course together, but you don't put it in with all the fluff, you handle the fluff because we never wanted to put a course together that would have people sitting there for an hour. Yeah, just.
Tara Ladd:Yeah. And I think that that's, that's it, that's just testament to, I guess, when your product goes out, and it looks easy. That just shows how good you are at a job. So I say that to people often. I'm like, if I make my job look easy, it's because I'm really good at what I do. That's why people go, it'll only take you five minutes. No, it actually doesn't. But
Monique Lombardo:it actually templates. Yes. To be able to make it take that time. Exactly.
Tara Ladd:So I'm glad that you said that, Alicia, because that was actually going to be one of my things to say because I think you know, and another thing, you're young female, right? A young woman and everyone thinks that you're just in a trend and you've just managed to find it at the right time. And no, sorry. It's not that at all. It's It's hard work. It's perseverance. It's date, like talking with clients and finding out their problems. And it's research. It's looking at other courses, it's finding what's working, it's you know, it's all of that stuff that people just don't see. So yeah, I'm glad that you brought that up because I was gonna ask that question so that people know that has a shit tonne of work that goes into something like that. So you're absolutely credited to earn the money that you're making, you know? But um, yeah, did you think it was gonna be this successful?
Monique Lombardo:No way. No way it felt like so we created so here's a bit of a background and you might think that we're crazy for doing this but we we created we created the course and obviously you need to link the platform to a bank account. Right Yeah, yeah. And you can't have a joint and we didn't even look into this we actually did not do this we didn't even look into this so right? We literally did this to serve and the money was just an extra bonus for us but I made the website I made the logo I connected everything just through my bank account because it was easy I was like Alicia Do you mind if I just with mine because it's just done. So I was like the admin slash website person at that time I did the whole website and the accounts Yep. And then Alicia was a lot more of the forward facing marketing content a lot more of the graphics creative side of that and then of course we go to the courses but we just kind of really looked at together on this website and I connected it all through my bank account and you know all the money was coming to my bank account my PayPal account my bank account, my PayPal account,
Tara Ladd:your income it tags.
Monique Lombardo:Dee Dee. I want to shoot myself for it. But anyway, at the time, we just thought it was just going to be a one off. Let's just do this. And at the end of have a long you know, once the payment plans expire, we'll divvy up the money and it's fine. And I know a lot of people said to Alicia, what Alicia tell us what they said
Alisha Marfatia:no like and that's the thing right? I want to just bring it back to the fact that I had never met one yes. I've never met I would probably seems like that's the thing right? I'm far out. I hope I've not as trustworthy as I was then. Naive maybe but yeah, doesn't scare me. But at the time, that's the thing we'd never ever met. It was I had her phone number I knew very little actual details about this was it was just the fact what I'd seen through Instagram and what we built together. So at one point, I think it was about 100. You know, we've done to win a bit long, maybe two or three launches by this point. And we weren't sure how to deviate. We were like, as in we'd Yeah, we'd said down the middle. But we obviously wanted to make sure we weren't breaking any tax or anything like, yeah, so was sitting in Monza account. And so when people like, Oh, so you know, I was like, I actually haven't got any money from the course yet, though. Like, you know, and they're like, What do you mean? It's in John's account? They're like, so the girl you've never met, has almost six figures.
Tara Ladd:You're gonna listen to this back and go, Yeah, that was pretty shifty.
Alisha Marfatia:Because of your last, like, a year, two years of your old income in her children, and you're waiting for her to one day decide, hey, I'm going to get rid of this. You know, so people were like, literally did not understand. And I just, I had so much I just, I don't think I've ever felt more like this. Like, I'm not a big boom getting a little bit more, but I just never felt so destined like this is yeah, the person is Sorry, Tom, my partner. But yeah, this is my person.
Tara Ladd:I'll walk down the aisle to you, Alicia. Don't worry. Oh, that's what I'm assuming you sorted out though. Clearly.
Monique Lombardo:Yes. So then we ended up because you can, again, only have you can't make it a joint bank account without having a company? Yes, of course, then started that. So then ask the third round advisors rules. When we realised sheets, this is actually a thing. Yeah, this is actually a beast of its own. And it was just getting bigger and bigger and bigger. And we're like, we need to do something about this. So we caught up our accountant, Jake, our accountant, Jacob, and we're like, just sort us out. So he made us a company. He connected our trust he he created our bank accounts, all that jazz. And then finally, we had our own rise with reels bank account card, and those we can just be like, yes, check. Yes, check. Taking the money, taking money out of that account separately. And you know, we've now become
Tara Ladd:trying to reconcile and save receipts, all that stuff's okay. We do still save
Alisha Marfatia:all the receipts, bye. Bye. But it is just, it's been really insane. And as you know, it's just a journey that I've forgotten so many of these key parts. And that's why I love this because when every time we get to speak about it, I remember key moments and things that I was thinking. And for me, the one of the most memorable moments in my entire life was the night before I met mom. And so it was nine months since we, you know, started chatting and had the course and, and I'd convinced her to come down to Melbourne. And so she was getting on the flight. And someone said to me, our friend to kneel she was like, what if you? What if you don't get along with each other? Yeah. I was like, first of all, put those words back into your mouth. Second of all shit. thought of that. So then the entire time up until one was coming. What? Don't what like we've, we've seen incredible success with accidentally not accidentally, but you know, we've never intended to build such a successful second business together. What if we don't get along? What if this is the worst decision? What if? What if? What if, what if, right? And, and so I'm like, I feel like I'm going on a really crazy Tinder date that I've been speaking to them for so long. We've decided our whole life plan and Married at First Sight.
Monique Lombardo:Sight. Yeah, I'm like, What if she's like, five foot four. And you know? Know, it's like, you know, you have this vision of this person in your mind. And I'm guessing this is what Alicia thought, you know, and, and then she saw me in real life, and I was not what she was expecting. Right?
Alisha Marfatia:It was more just the fact that we had illustrations of ourselves and she looked taller than me in the illustration. So if to give you some perspective, like I'm not at all but it was just a crazy shock because at the time I went to pick her up from Melbourne Airport, and I surprised her with a big banner, and I said had reals Queen banner and I had my beautiful mom made flowers that I could take and I put my phone down because I couldn't record this moment. It was on record for about 40 minutes. As I waited, and I wasn't sure what she looks like really looked like everyone was coming down in masks. So at one point, I picked up my son I was waving it around, and I realised that's not mine. And so this girl was looking at me. Anyway, someone finally came down the stairs and I just like I can't even I reckon that's what like feel somebody Married at First Sight. But it was crazy. She came down we like hunt and it just felt like the world. I was like you easy, joyous, heavenly. But then I looked I was like
Monique Lombardo:very short. I'm five foot one. What are you, Alicia? Oh, no more than that. He's very tall. She's like, not very tall. But she's like, a to a five in size. She's
Tara Ladd:no. I'm five, two. So he was shorter than me. So I know. Yeah.
Monique Lombardo:Where's Alicia is like, I don't know, five, seven?
Alisha Marfatia:Something like that. Yeah, I reckon both
Tara Ladd:to get to Washington.
Monique Lombardo:Very tall to us. Definitely grateful to us, man. And I would
Tara Ladd:just never have to worry about wearing heels around guys. Like it's just, it's not an issue for us. Maybe you do, Alicia.
Alisha Marfatia:It's around. I got a totally like, good one. Mongolia. I
Tara Ladd:love it. It's, um, I'm gonna jump into this one. Because I think that it's really important. So I'm all about champion champion.
Alisha Marfatia:Word. So it's adding together.
Tara Ladd:Yeah, championing other women. And we've noticed a big shift over the last few years, right? How do you feel coming together has helped you both individually, careers wise.
Alisha Marfatia:I can't even put it into words.
Monique Lombardo:In like, we always say that rise to Rails was the catalyst for our business. Yeah, both together and apart. Not just in our business, but in our confidence in our money mindset. Oh, wow. Like, I remember the first one, we're trying to decide on a price this course mind you. At this point, we'd hardly done any courses ourselves. Courses weren't as big of a thing as they are now when we first started this. And we were like, ah, is $350 too much in the home? Like, he's got so much money. And mind you, we were very much in the mindset back then of, you know, we love what we do. We're not gonna charge heaps for it. And you know, we love our community, medical tchotchkes, heaps for it,
Tara Ladd:but as a point in coming back to it. Yeah.
Monique Lombardo:And then as we kept on going, we just, yeah, we just realised that people aren't paying for my time, even though they should be because that time was freaking insane. But they're paying for the value they're paying for the results, they're going to be getting out of it. And it's like, no, we need to charge our worth. What like, what results can be is possible when you do implement everything, say this course and it's just insane. And I think this is really not just the course itself, but our relationship and how we came together has really opened up so many doors for us where we've been able to speak on podcasts that have just, you know, world renowned Australia wide renowned
Tara Ladd:yet Yeah, makes me a little bit proud every time I see you get on something like that so credible. I'm like oh my god, that's just so amazing. Like it you know, it's just it's just awesome to watch it like I am not one of those people to sit back and go oh, like I'm not doing that. I'm just like that is just so good. This is her moment or this is their moment to shine and it's just awesome to say it like you know well he's it's to let you know when you see it happen. It's just Yes. Like wow, like you've watched the hard yards go through and then boom, there's there's their moment that's the moment when they're going to talk about this is when things changed for us and I think that it's just really nice to witness that like
Monique Lombardo:gold at the end of the rainbow totally like Instagram has worked with both of us separately. And then she reached out like at Instagram have said our real pros and then you know there was shared accounts in there and we're in there and you know, we said to our family friends go check out Instagram stories and they're like, here's yours your other board account like no the grey Instagram with the Instagram saying like insane to think that you know this this girl from you know Camden this girl from Victoria we're able to make this huge impact around the world. I love how mom gets to like a small sub why because Alicia is old Victoria but you know why I think it's so funny because you know like where we where we are Tara wearing KHAMSIN which isn't isn't the city
Tara Ladd:No, it's regional city. regional city. Yeah, yeah, we
Monique Lombardo:like on the outskirts like it's regional this farms around us, right.
Tara Ladd:They're gonna know you know, when, like, we just totally got flooded the other day too. Yes. With a secondary airport comes in. They're gonna know okay, I'm done. I think so. They will.
Monique Lombardo:But Jimmy like you don't think about all this. You know this. This person comes out of Camberley? Yep. They think all you leaving Sydney in the city. And I'm like, the city's about an hour and a bit away.
Tara Ladd:Yes, yes. And do you know what I'm going to add to that? That was one of the reasons I started my agency right because I felt like there was a calibre that needed to be brought out here and I felt that and no offence to anyone that hate everyone did their own thing, but I felt that I could bring my own calibre. Yeah, so Like, you know, working for an agency and coming out here and just bringing that standard. You know, there's obviously some amazing people out here. But obviously I do things differently. So I was like, there's a place for me there, whereas I will be really oversaturated in the city. And the city wasn't me, I remember, even my old boss was talking about moving out our studio to set limits, and which is, I don't know if you know where that is Alicia, but it's about, you know, another 20 minutes over the bridge. So two hours. So we're like talking two hours from door to door, maybe two and a half hours. And I was like, I can't do that. And that will put you up in the city, like, oh, rent apartment, and everyone would probably would have been like, that's amazing. And I was like, No, it's not, I like to park my car on the road. I like the fact that I can just walk around without heavy music, and you know, Saturday morning traffic, and I can go for a run without getting hit by a car, like I just loved. I love the essence of living out here. So I was like, you know, we're gonna bring this out here. And I think that's what is really starting to turn with the rise of online, right? Like, we're seeing these small, little people, little, that are no longer Liddell. Just making a name for themselves. And I think it's just so awesome. And I guess COVID will have a massive impact with that, and allowing people to just, and of course, everything's gonna come out of the city, if you've got most of the state travelling to the CBD for work, but if everyone's just kind of in their own little pockets, and I think that it's better, right, because then it's dispersed business across all of the areas, you know, people spending money in their local cafes more than they would have ever before. And I know that I'm building relationships with my, with my cafes in the air, obviously, now work here, but you know what I mean? Like you're building those connections with people that you otherwise wouldn't have. And I think that I love I love the fact that you guys come from small towns, or are you from small town later?
Monique Lombardo:I'm from a little suburb,
Tara Ladd:but yeah,
Alisha Marfatia:I'm 20 minutes from the city. But I think the big thing just is that we didn't think we would do any of this. Yeah, I think we were capable of any of this. You know, we've always been described as you know, energy, like, you know, energetic, and, you know, oh, like bouncy or whatever, really, but yeah, we've always been described as that. But truly, truly, like, I just, when we named rise with Rails, we never realised that, that would rise would be so true. would be so like, it's just our essence, you know, we're all about, you know, seeing others rise, we're seeing each other rise, like, you know, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna lie when one has a cool opportunity. I'm like, so incredible, of course, yeah. But right. Like, it doesn't come out from a bad place. And like, a win for her is a win for rice with real lean for us. And, and it just inspires me to do more as well. And you know, vice versa. And that's the thing. That's the biggest thing, I think, yeah.
Tara Ladd:A healthy competition. It's it. But it's healthy. And I mean,
Alisha Marfatia:even like, it's just like, it's just the wake up call. And it's like, hang on a second. You know, people, we still get underestimated all the flippin time. You know, like, we walk into, for example, like when I had to go fix up stuff with the bank and the girls like, you can do that online. And I'm like, No, this is like a big thing. And she actually ended up like, after a while. She's like, What do you do? Can I just ask what you do? And it's like, yeah, we might be 25. We might have been what 23 When we started this, but I just together like, I just feel so when we're together, I feel unstoppable. And I think I think
Tara Ladd:that's a really important point that you just raised there. I don't think a 23 year old god 25 year old guy would have had the same line of questioning. And I think to me, this is this is what I've started this podcast for. And it's not to call out guys, like, you know, it's not what it's about, but it's just about showing, like what we deal with on a daily basis. Like, just the, like, just what societal expectations are. And I think that that is like, classic. Right? And I mean, this is another thing I'm gonna jump jump down. You know, I'm about trolling. Have you guys had trolling? Um, come? Sure. Yeah. I mean, I think as a as a woman like that, that she can cut deep and I know that just ignore it. But like, I mean, you can have Lukka and notorious troller that can just absolutely dim your light. And I think that, you know, has that happened to you?
Alisha Marfatia:It's, it's something I'm, I'm actually inspired by mine, like, you know, monster cares about it, but we do have slightly different energies or, you know, in a sense, where I think mon steps more into the sort of, you know, when they saw sort of the feminine energy, the mass, you know, that sort of, I definitely think that modern sort of shows in our partnership, that sort of thing. more dominant masculine sort of, you know, energy and then I'm vice versa. And so I definitely think that together, we help each other a lot because of that. But there's 100% been times where I remember the first one, where one and I did a reel together, and we did the wipe, wipe. Yeah. Oh my gosh, I
Monique Lombardo:forgot about these. Yeah.
Alisha Marfatia:How much will that hurt us? Because we were like, Okay, so
Monique Lombardo:this is the story. So when we first announced right did really badly and emotional is so sad. I'm
Tara Ladd:good with heat.
Monique Lombardo:Let me first entreprises real so the first time we did the trend where was like you wipe across the screen. And this was this is before collaborations came out. So this has been posted on my page. So I got on first and it's like you woke up this day at that stage to the camera and it's and it starts off and you get your hanky or your your rag and you wipe across the screen. And I'm looking like a normal human that you know, just standard, man. Right? And, and I said to Alicia Kay, get dressed up in something beautiful. I want you to put the real, the real sparkle filter on there. And wow, come with how affected I feel right now. Anyway,
Tara Ladd:I'm really glad that I think that people need to hear this too. Obviously, if it's making you feel like this, this is that's how that
Alisha Marfatia:feels. Right? Like, I think for some people as well, they might, they might hear this and they might think oh, like I've seen worse than that or whatever. But it's just when you're in it, and you instantly get it. When will you when all at that time we were pretty much doing was showing up we had not yet realised the business side of it. We really weren't giving so much. Yeah, much of our time and energy away. And so for this, you know, like we put ourselves out there again, not many people were doing this so we really were paving the way and
Monique Lombardo:and so this reel came on and I came on as the normal person like the person that's starting out reels doesn't really have an ID yet, and they've now wiped and as I wipe it transitions into Alicia and Alicia, they're looking beautiful her hair done sparkles. And she's showing the show like she's showcasing after article after wars. Look how you're either the co op You're amazing You're incredible and I'm now swiped back to me normal like oh what's going on swipe back to Alicia blow up. And someone had commented saying Monique, I used to love you for you know you were championing because I'm I'm what's the word? I'm ethnic, right so my skin's quite dark my features are dark I'm not your traditional Australian person when you look at me from from the start you probably think that I was born somewhere else and I people I didn't even know I had this impact but people like well you know you're really showing that business owners can be of colour can be of something that's not you know your quote unquote whites you know whites empowered Australian or white empowered person and and I was coming on as you know Monique before versus Alicia often obviously Alicia is you're not not typical but she is you know fair skins you know like she's she's just got that you know that white Caucasian look stereotypical, stereotypical person very much I've got where I've got family from all over the world does people don't know that though. Yeah, right. But looking from her from face value looking at me from face value, right so and she was basically saying, I wish I had the screenshot but I could probably find it again. But you know, when you when you showcase that, you know, before your you know, your ethnic and that's, that's a bad thing. And now you're showcasing you know, being white is the is the supreme, you know, the white you sort of swapped it around. And firstly, does that make sense swapped around because my account was my page. I'm not gonna have Alicia at the start. Secondly, that was not the intention of this row. We don't see colour I don't see us as being different. I don't see colour and I don't know if because where we're in Australia, and maybe we're a little bit more privileged than those in America because she's from America. And you know, the whole colour versus not colour is very, very ingrained in their history there is in Australia. Yes, it is in great Nike Street by very, very multicultural. We don't see colour as much here. And it is a bad beg to differ in. Very Yeah, definitely. For me, for me, especially, I didn't grow up thinking, wow, that person's you know, why they're better than me. Or that person's darker than me. I'm better than them. I not once ever thought that because I grew up in Western Sydney. I you know, all my friends white Chinese. You know,
Tara Ladd:it's a mixed bag.
Monique Lombardo:Bag and yeah, I just, I never saw colour between us. I never thought I'd only show superior to to what I am. Because she was you know, quote unquote, white, even though she's technically not like she has
Alisha Marfatia:I just okay. All right.
Monique Lombardo:Ethnicity, you
Alisha Marfatia:know, yeah, and I just, um, yeah, and because she said in the comments, and it was just like, you know, I've lost all respect and yeah, and it's just like, why We pour our heart and soul into our content, our heart and soul, our families, we might be at family dinner, and you know, wear off in our bedroom quickly posting or you know, where we're constantly making sacrifices for the free content we put out there. Right. And we've seen amazing stories and results just from our free content and for people to come along. And just be like, I've lost all respect for you. You are, you know, showcasing that this is better. Like, it's it just it was our first experience. And, and it was really Yeah, it just,
Tara Ladd:can I ask, what was the cut? Did anyone comment on that thread? Did that start a conversation? Yeah. See, that's the thing. That's the thing. So I mean, and it was really interesting, because much gogglebox I mean, Google box, I know that there was a I know that there was a show, and I don't know what it was, but the show on gogglebox was talking about racism. And all that was just difficult conversations. And when you should cancel culture, and all this type of stuff of when people were offended. And it was saying that now, there are so many different sets of rules, that nobody knows what the rules are anymore. So to one person that could be highly offended, offensive, but to someone else, they may not be offensive at all. And you can have these exact same upbringing, the exact same culture, the exact same everything, discrimination, whatever. But they experience things very differently due to their own mindsets. And I think that is a classic case of that. And I and it was, you know, ACMA was on it. He was saying that people need to learn to be offended. And just to move on. Because this and I thought that that was a very interesting point. Because we're too busy, I guess, trying to correct what is politically correct. But nobody knows what the boundaries are. Correct. What is politically correct. So I'm going to say right now, but again, I'm coming from a place of, you know, white woman says that, I didn't say anything in that. And I probably wouldn't have, but it would be a really interesting conversation, if you open that up on the platform to see if anyone saw it like that. And, I mean, what I find from things like that is that we can all take away a learning experience, but and you know, what, the the issue with that is that, I mean, if you flip the perspective, it's like, would she have said the comment anyway? Why is she just there to issue jealous person just trolling? Because she can be? And that's, that's the thing, you know? I mean, I didn't say it like that. And I thought it was amazing. I was like, that's a cool transition. No, oh, it's big blow up to a white chick. But again, like I said, it's different. I didn't see it. So yeah,
Monique Lombardo:we'll see. We didn't make that with any intention. Yeah, he didn't see what they want to see. Like, I
Alisha Marfatia:still don't know. But um, one thing I think that we've really learned along the way, because we've had to deal with, we've had to deal with, you know, complaints, we've had to deal with all sorts of things, you just can't, we've just come to the point where like, we can't we want to, we want it to be amazing for everyone, but we can't please everyone. And that's because, one in order to get the results, you need to do the work we give you halfway you've got the tools, you need to apply them. And, and so we've really had to learn that when people complain when people troll. It really is because, like, you know, yeah, I someone really pissed. They underestimated me the other day, and, and it really pissed me off. And I was just like, You know what, kill them with kindness. And with kindness, I'm like, sorry, you've had such an awful day that's made you feel really bad. You know, like,
Monique Lombardo:a lot of good, a passive aggressive, passive aggressive on the aggressive one.
Alisha Marfatia:Honestly, it's, it's like when people might say for example, mon, and I've really struggled with this as well, is that Monique and I are not. So we after her big, big, big launch and meeting each other for the first time we went and bought a luxury product and mana and I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever done that never ever, ever, ever imagined I'd be doing that, like spending more than say, for example, $200 on ourselves, Never, not the idea of why I designed a bag. Yeah, so we were really, really and when you will show anyone, you know, like you can't show anyone because we don't want people. We don't want people to, you know, judge us. We don't want people to say on your show show you off and you've changed. We don't want people to think oh, you know, we've invested our money. And you know, so we had all these stories that we were telling ourselves because we were scared what other people were thinking and that moment oh my gosh, man.
Monique Lombardo:I know. And so we've now met twice now. So once back in May 2021. And just again, though, just
Tara Ladd:before the lockdown wasn't like home, you'd be stuck there
Monique Lombardo:seriously. And I was like, yes can be home. But yes, and then we met again. Our second meeting was last week, which was what? Much. And we, when we first when we, when we're there, we're like, let's just celebrate our success, we don't actually take a moment to celebrate because we launch, we get straight into the course. And then it's done. And we move on to the next thing. Yeah, there's no actual moment where we do anything together where it's sacred in us. And so we decided, let's do something special. Let's go together. Let's go by our very first designer bag together. And we just got to experience that whole thing together. And then we met again for the second time last week. And I was calling her like, do we bring? Do we bring our YSL and she was like, bring it. And so we walk down the street with it together and was just like, it was so nice to say, we created a business, a company that allowed that has brought us together now we have this awesome thing to show for it. And it's just that one little thing that's just like, we make this we made this happen. And it's just
Tara Ladd:isn't it? How much did that like, you know, you're seeing out the front that you see it all the time as stupid entrepreneur accounts stay in front of the jet with a massive car. Yes, a girl buys a her designer handbag and Oh, hang on a second, she's materialistic because she's worked out for money. That's That's shit. You know,
Monique Lombardo:there's Baris, the Aston Martin's that, you know, Next Level cars. And he we our little, you know, 3000 $4,000 bag.
Alisha Marfatia:Like, I don't want to share this. And yeah, we've worked on a lot, literally to put into perspective. I went in. And as I, I thought up to the point, I came home with the bag, and I was telling people, it's like, look, this is my give this St. Laurent bag. And they're like, I don't even say every time I go into the shop and say that, and I was like, how on earth do you say it? And they're like, Alicia does not have this size tag. Thank God, I can pull it away.
Tara Ladd:Because I still don't know it. That's a real guys, I reckon tell that story. I reckon. Yeah, story. So I guess this is jumping into the conversation that I wanted to kind of go into with the, I guess, the vulnerability and showcasing your personality is important. They going further to showcase vulnerability and emotion in video, like or even in content in general, is just, I just think it cuts through as like, obviously, from the brand strategy side of me, it just cuts through the shit. And I think you can have this amazing Generic brands where you're placing big audiences, and you can still make good money doing stuff like that. But I find you get the real loyalists in that vulnerable content. And like, I mean, for instance, when I shared that content about Ari, which, for those listening have spoken about it for my son is two and a half, he had a liver transplant nine months. But when I spoke about that, I was very hesitant whether I wanted to share that story. And not and even when I was pregnant, I was very hesitant whether to share that I was pregnant, because I was kind of like, I'm going to go out, I'm going to fall pregnant, have this baby rock up back to work and be like, I've had a kid, you know, you didn't even know about it. And here I am still boss bitch and my way through. And then I thought, you know, I got through it. And I was like, You know what, that is the wrong narrative to set. This is my time to prove what am I trying to prove? 100%. And I thought, You know what, I'm changing this narrative. So then I switched my own narrative to be, I'm a mother, I have a sick kid. I'm running a business in the middle of COVID and maintaining and retaining a team. That's the narrative I want to set. And that built me such a solid foundation of our guests community that is still complex, hence why I've got this podcast out because it's relatable content. I think the more and more that we see people being vulnerable. I was having this conversation with one of the guys that I know has business and he was saying that he saw a girl crying to the camera the other day, and he said, This is just so stupid, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, Look, some of them might have made up, but but they have their reasoning. And I said, Did you hear about the woman that cried to the camera about the IVF stopping during the lockdown. And he goes no. I said she literally got the government to flip, flip the decision to allow fertility treatment to reoccur. And I said and I think that was worth crying to the camera for Don't you reckon? So I guess this is the question. How do you feel about people showcasing those vulnerabilities and how do you think that they can do it in a way that isn't I guess tacky? Or I guess more aligned to who they are as people
Alisha Marfatia:Yep. And look, this is something I've really struggled with as well, because my I have really bad anxiety. And I even struggled to admit to myself say it out loud that, you know, I had depression. And I yet I didn't want to share it. Because in my eyes, I thought there's other people with bigger issues going on. And I think this is something we all start to get in our mind, my problem isn't a problem, my trauma is in a trauma. And it's that line of it's not big enough to sort of talk about and other people. You know, yeah, that and the other thing as well is get into my head, and I'm like, I don't want to share that. And people think, Oh, is she playing a sob story? Like, you know, she's sort of just bringing up a hard time. And so I feel like there's those two different things, because people out there have put that narrative around things like that, like that guy said, you know, she's kind of the camera, you know? Yep. Like, I now see these things, and everyone has a story. Everyone has a chapter that's not read aloud. Right. And that right, there is the stuff that empowers me, that inspires me. And I think it's two big things there is understanding and really understanding like, not just saying and feeling Yeah, okay, Alicia, but really understanding one, that whatever your trauma, like whatever it is, in your story, that's absolutely valid, right, own it, own it. And that's the second part, own it. Like you, if you cry to the camera, if you you know, I had people who and similar, a few other lady said the same thing, because they put up a story and I said, Look, you know, let's, let's tag, you know, use this tag thing. And let's share a moment that wasn't shared to the feed, right. And I had a moment where I was absolutely crying to the camera, because I didn't want to, I was sort of talking to myself. And that's I found what a lot of female business owners do. They don't want to they feel myself because they're like talking to themselves. They'd like, it's sort of the way that they're not facing Tony anyone, they're not putting their problems on to anyone, but they've got these moments. And, you know, there's times when I've sent mom videos or photos, and I've just really broken down. And so to share those moments, but I'm like, I don't want people to then think what, you know, what a show off? What a you know, all these things. And it's not I realised when I started seeing all these other women. I was like, not once did I think what, uh, you know, she's just putting on a performance or I was just like, yeah, like, good on you. You know,
Monique Lombardo:your, your vulnerability is your power.
Tara Ladd:Totally. It's also your essence, right? I mean, if you start to flake around, like, I'm not gonna lie, I'm a completely different person. After having my children, I am just a completely different person. And there's some shit that I've said to my kids. Prior to having kids and I'm like, Oh, my god, shut the hell off. Laying this stuff. And I'm like, Oh, no. And I mean, like, you know, but then again, like you, it's like when you run a business, right? And someone goes, Oh, hey, you free 10am You run your own business. Let's have a coffee. And you're like,
Monique Lombardo:I used to hate these have one friend that would constantly say, Let's go to the gym today. My
Tara Ladd:mom does it. She still doesn't
Monique Lombardo:know my family knows my family. No, do not message or call Monique during the workweek, like at all. You call me on the weekends, do not call me during the workweek. And my dad calls me so he's my dad lives in the Philippines. I haven't seen him for years. Yeah. And he called me one day. And it was a Monday morning. And like, Why is he calling me? He knows he can't call me I mean calls? You know, the answer was I was in a call. He called me again later that afternoon and again the next day, and I found the answer because I was free. And he told me that he was in a car accident. And I was just like, I'm so sorry. Like, I'm you know, you just get into that mode where you are just, you know, work mode completely. And for me, I just, and I feel so bad because you know, you shut everyone out. Could you do on doing what you're doing serving your people that you'd get to serve yourself? Yeah. And serve the
Tara Ladd:people that love you. Yep. I agree wholeheartedly with that. That's a hard thing. And like it's with kids and I think I know that you guys don't have kids. But what I found is that extra layer of dynamic now so like even you still have scattered I was trying to organise something may I was like a grade schedule out like I was like, no one could get past me my systems were intact they still are in tactic gonna do that before I had kids. But you know, all my systems were to a tee I have now had to get Sam in to manage the day to day because things go into my head and then leave as quickly as they've gone in. And if they're not important enough, or I remember them, you know, that's also a condition of my ADHD. But you know, if it's not, like if I don't do it, then I'll forget and I'll be like, Oh my god, I mentally did that. And I'm so sorry. And, and I think that you do get stuck in that in that rut of trying to Uh, you know what I actually wonder. I call it an invisible timeline. And I don't know whether you guys have subconsciously put that there. But I remember when I was in my 20s, I'm 35. Now for those who don't know me, I remember going through your started my career at 2020. And I was I said, if I'm not where I want to be, at 28 years old, I'm gonna leave and start my business. And I tried and I'm anyone that knows me will know that I have got tenacity and like, so much motivation. So if I wasn't going to get to where I needed to be at 28, there was no damn reason I was just not going to get there. And I tried and I, I made the best portfolios, and I had so many people say how amazing I was doing them. And, you know, I just couldn't get my foot in the door, I just could not break into those, like the high level agencies, I'm talking about the ones that create the TV series and all those big campaigns. And then it kind of, you know, you think about, and I was like, the other day, I was like, why 28. And then I was like, ah, because I wanted to have kids at 32. That was my invisible kid age. And so subconsciously, I'd already told myself if you're not successful in your career, by 20 years old, you've then got two years to kind of try and push your business out, and then give yourself a couple of years to kind of have a kid. And we all know that not everything happens smoothly with children is people have infertility issues. My sister being one of them, so I was aware of all of that. But that was my like, invisible thing. So obviously, I've got married at 28. So then, you know, came that the stereotypical once you married? Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. So do you find that maybe you've got an invisible timeline that you're not aware of?
Alisha Marfatia:100% 100%
Tara Ladd:Did I just make you realise something?
Alisha Marfatia:No, no. I'm aware. I'm aware. I'm like, what, what age do I need my surrogacy app so I can continue. And literally, Alicia is like, give me a surrogate. I know, I'm like I for a long period. I didn't even think I wanted kids. Oh, I
Monique Lombardo:was I wanted Yeah,
Alisha Marfatia:I wanted. I wanted what my parents have, you know, this big, nice modern family of you know, whatever, but, but I was like, I don't actually want the kids. I hadn't yet experienced any kids in my life that I could stand. So it's yes, but now I'm like, okay, so you know, when I'm moving like with my partner so that that way he can propose hopefully, you know, he wrote this into this, let's be honest. But then he can propose to me next year then. Then then maybe a year and a bit then the wedding Kukuku I have enough money to support this dream wedding that I'm thinking of? Maybe maybe hiring a maid of honour. Well, this is awkward. No brochure list as my fresh yet please. But yeah, it is it is absolutely they are and, and we've actually been in the position where we've got friends who are our age and currently haven't having kids.
Monique Lombardo:And like, wait, 25 and I've always had you know, when you're younger, you picture in your head. You're like, okay, 25 seems so old, right? Yes. 25 seems so old. My slides, I want to have my own house. I want to have I want to be married and I want two kids. Yes. My my parents that was them before, before 25. And here I am. 25 had the house which is great. Yeah, but the rest of it. I'm still waiting for the proposal.
Tara Ladd:Oh, my I was the same as you. I'd been with Ryan for 10 years when he proposed eight years when he proposed so. But I found that a really good timeline. I just I don't know. I like it's really weird how we think like that. So yeah, I was engaged it 2026 Married 28 kid 32 Kid 30 kid 33 Kid 35 I was just 33. But like, I mean, I was really happy with my timeline because I always again, like I said, I'm a planner. So you know, when you get to that age, I was like, Alright, I haven't been to Europe yet. It was always a thing I wanted to do. So it was like five years in a row. We just went everywhere. Went to the states twice went to Europe three times. Like, you know, went to Thailand. It was like Bang Bang Bang Bang. I'm really glad that we did that, by the way, because I don't know how I feel about it now.
Alisha Marfatia:That's the thing I've set sail literally set sail to my idea of doing those incredible trips while I'm young. Like yes, I very fortunate I did did trips, but I was going to sell Croatia, um, you know, do you know? And I had friends who were like 30 And they're like, Yeah, I'm gonna go do that. And I'm like 30 Like, you know, don't you want to do something else now like, rather than those backpacking not backpacking? Let's
Monique Lombardo:be honest. No way I do not believe there is an age to travelling and having a group when I went to Europe not we did not that Yeah. But it's not more so like it's it was more so they're on a boat with all these 21 year old
Tara Ladd:No, sorry,
Alisha Marfatia:I went 30 year old.
Tara Ladd:Yeah, I went. I went 3030 31. We did the next level up so they had the young there was like three different types we went to the middle luxury one, whether it was like going to knock out or the kids that didn't have enough money to do it, but it wasn't. Yes, it was. It was a segmented boat. But they'd segmented that ages. And yeah, my mom and dad came along on that, like that was really, that was I had such a blast doing that. But yeah, like the young piece up party all night, like we still had some of those on the boat. They weren't young, young, they were like, just our age, just really living up their lives. And it was like, I can't do that anymore. It was just Do you know what I mean? Like, like getting that out of the system. If you've got kids, and you can travel, that is totally cool, too. For me, I can't do that always had a transplant him being insured to travel is like$900, just to insure him and if he is sick over, wherever we go, we need to make sure that his medication is available if we do strike, you know. So there's all these things that we need to be really cautious of now. So, to me, I'm like, I'm really glad that I did that those experiences, and I was able to spend that time with my husband prior to going and just having fun spending that time together. But there's things I want to do with my kids now. Like it's a completely different mindset, like I want to travel Australia, do some do some road trips, like and see our own country, like it's not always about going to another one sex, it's just things have changed until the foreseeable future. And I was fully aware of that. So I know you see these women and they're backpacking with their kids on their backs. And I'm just like, make credit to you could not do that. But one that kid is heavy hand lug moan or something that hill but, you know, it's things like that. So I think we've put it I guess, a timer on our own on our own lines, you know, and guys don't think that they need to it's they're not had luck. I mean, surrogacy Assad, but you know, for pregnant like, you know, you're out like, and you don't know if you're going to get seek, you don't know if it's going to be good pregnancy. I've know so many people that had that I don't even know what it's called, but they vomit the whole way through. And I was like, I would have been so screwed if that happened to me, because I was like, I'm gonna work right up until I'm like, 38 weeks pregnant. And that just would have shut me out. But and I think the real the realistic expectation happened after he was sick, because that wasn't in my plan. And that really shocked me to my core about how to rearrange things. Yeah. So I mean, I guess that's, that's the thing, isn't it? Like, it's our own life plans and trying to fit our careers and our and our success into that plan. But I guess I want to ask you another one. And we've kind of touched on it. But I guess I personally love content that goes deep, you know, the real political, opinionated type of content. And what I'm seeing, and I'm clearly sucked into a nice algorithm, which I don't hate, by the way, because it's hard truths, about, you know, women in society. And I feel from my side of rails and Tik Tok anyway, that there's a real uprising of that type of content with women. Like, are you guys seeing that as well? And, and how important do you think it is? Like, I guess, using video to help women communicate those types of messages?
Alisha Marfatia:That's an interesting one. Because it's sort of, I don't know, I'm in the place where, like, on the political side of things, I am at the point where I'm like, if you post something political, like, my mental health right now, like, cannot do, I'm not watching the news for the reason, right? Like, yeah, so when I see people, you know, talking about these things, I'm like, I, if I just, you know, flow in, I've got my own opinions, everyone's got their own opinion, totally my job to say, You're wrong. I'm right. Like, I don't know enough. I'm not a scientist, I'm not a you know, like, I'm not any of these hire people who have this really good understanding. So for me, I'm just like, I'm just gonna keep doing what I'm doing what's important to me, you know, you know, this power, this empowering women and you know, women supporting women, this movement, right, I'm just going to focus on what I can right now. So for me, I actually had a I had a client who I was working with, and they're very, very out and proud about their political stances in America. And for me, that was a really big challenge. Because, like, yes, it's a platform, you've got a big microphone in front of you, that audience number that's, you know, you've got this massive microphone and power to come out and talk about these things and make change. And I'm not saying I don't care about these changes, but I'm saying for me, right now, I've finally sort of got to a place where I'm like, Okay, it's not that you don't care. It's just that if you subscribe into all of this, you got to kind of get anything done. And
Tara Ladd:that's exactly what I had in a bowl. Yep, that's exactly right. It's interesting. You say that because I deliberately divvied up the content that into my own personal brand for that exact reason. So I knew that I could shut that that platform off and just, you know, speak about that content over there. And then keep, you know, the brand agency design agency stuff, talking about what's relevant over there. So what I was finding is that The thing is, a lot of the content that was hitting on that was quite personal as well. So I've got to find that fine line balance, or it's not going to go too far and alienate. But also still push the boundaries a little bit helpful, either on my personal page, I'm for it, like, bring me a debate, I'm here for it loaded. So I'm like, I'm up to have that discussion. But you know, with that comes passion. I think, talking and like you just sit there and talking about political things for the sake of talking about political things. It's not necessary. If it doesn't stick in a line, it doesn't align
Monique Lombardo:doesn't align. Why, like, why are you talking about it? Why exactly right there? And I feel like sometimes the show in a sense, yeah, I think it's really just about understanding who you are, as a business owner, what kind of content is within your realm? Yes, you can stray from that when things do happen, and you can have your opinion, but there's a time and a place. And I think your content really needs to be reflective of you and who you who you are, and who you want your community to be. As opposed to it being like, Hey, this is my standard, like See you later, bitches. So the difference and there's a time and a place. Yeah,
Tara Ladd:I totally agree with that. I'm gonna jump through to the end, because I know that you guys are busy, busy gals. So what are your plans for the future?
Monique Lombardo:What are our plans? Hosley? This is the question because we we are big ideas people. I believe in crowns. So that's a little bit of a hint. I'm Alicia do one of you've Tara and everyone just a dress, just want to tell them what we're doing to it all the way. If you are listening, a few are still listening, then you are the first person yet this is the reward you get one. Okay. So the first thing so we are first thing that we're launching, we've already alluded to this already, but we have a podcast podcast called cut the fluff just coming out in a few weeks. And this is your no BS podcast where you get the insight into who you are and and insight into who we are as business owners, but also an insight into what really goes on behind the scenes when it comes to creating businesses and courses and companies because that quick setup sort of stuff isn't there. Yet you see the highlight reel on socials. But you don't see the nitty gritty, all the nitty gritty that goes on behind the scenes, and it can make you feel so isolated when you do feel those issues. We've got stories on there that we haven't revealed anywhere else. The story's insane. But the second thing that we're launching Alicia, take it away.
Alisha Marfatia:Drumroll please. So, we have seen beyond epic success, life changing success from our first course of rise with Rails. And with the understanding that Monica and I have in the film and video world we have put together a are we are putting together and again, it's going to be based on what everyone needs to take it further. We have got reels Queens course. So the reels Queens course, this is your advance the very first we're the first ones to release the rails course rise with Rails. And we're going to be the very first to launch the advanced rails course. And this is for people who have already seen the results. And they're like, hey, Alicia Mon, I just made 25k from one reel. I'm ready to make more. I'm ready to do more, I'm ready to make more of an impact with you know, up level transitions. We have a specific specific breakdown from mon force service based industries to make more money, a specific area from Alicia for product based businesses, how to make more money launching selling, it really goes that next step,
Tara Ladd:say levelling up rails,
Monique Lombardo:levelling up real love helping other people level up their reels because people like I got a message the other day. Do your reels really work. Like I just see you dancing in them. And I'm like, last week, I made 30 grand for my reels.
Tara Ladd:I'm for that because I think that this is the thing, right? I think people need to know the monetizing of real like, oh, the monetizing of, you know what, and we're being customed into saying, Oh, you shouldn't tell people how much you earn. And I know like you hear that six figure crap, like I'm not all about make six figures. But you know, if you're making it, tell people you know, tell them what they can do. And I love that. I just love that you guys are doing it. I think it's great.
Monique Lombardo:Yes, I'm so excited for this course it is going to come out in the next few months. So stay tuned. But there are two big things that are happening. We're also going to be doing a few other things that we've been on the on the in the works, but those are two things that we're knocking out of the park first.
Tara Ladd:Love it. You guys. I think what's really cool about that is you know you're showing that you've got something that's amazing, but you're always working, always working to make it better and you're always working and this is the thing with branding, right? Your Brand never stops you're always evolving. Got a service or a product or your actual brand itself. And I think that that's such an important message to send. Now let's wrap this up. So guys, let them know where that if they don't know who you are, which guys under a rock and let them know where they can find you and what's going on in your world. And on the you know, if you've got any things coming up that they can subscribe to, or Yeah, take it away. Sorry.
Monique Lombardo:Yes. So you can find us collectively at rise with Rails course, or cut the fluff. cut us off pod. That is where we will live with. That's where we live together. But separately, you can find me at the socially start with an underscore at the ends, or Alicia at the social impact.co. Because that is where you find all our goodness, we get to connect with us. We share some of that real role side of business ownership and reels and content. And we're always here in the DMS for little chat to slugline because
Tara Ladd:apparently that works works apparently.
Alisha Marfatia:And if you do if you do have a little sauce at the show notes, we'll give Tara, Nikki little link that if you're listening and you're thinking, Okay, I've heard the success and this is the absolute kick. I needed Tara to get me into reals, then we will give you a very exclusive pass to
Tara Ladd:start in. Very, very cool. It's I can again, I can actually say that it is a really, really good course. And yeah, I mean, Stacy did one the other day and I was like, that's really cool. Like what she did, and we let him know. And I think adding your own spin to the things is really important as well. But again, thanks so much for joining me, guys. I think you're both amazing. And I think caving away, and everyone else we will chat next week.
Alisha Marfatia:Thank you so much.
Tara Ladd:If you enjoyed this episode, then don't forget to head over and write and review. It helps to let other women know we're around. Also, don't forget to follow along on my Instagram page at I am Tara Ladd or hit up WWW dot Tara ladd.com