Manifesting a bleisure life with Isabel Chen

00:00:01: Do you want to live a life of freedom and adventure?

00:00:03: Are you wanting more than the daily grind?

00:00:06: Me too!

00:00:07: Welcome to The Emma Lovell Show, A place where we talk about living a life that you love now.

00:00:12: I'm your host, Emma Lovella And my number one value is Freedom.

00:00:30: This podcast will inspire, motivate and encourage you to go after your dreams.

00:00:35: To create a life you love until you live it now not wait for retirement or someday in the future.

00:00:41: I'll be sharing episodes weekly about how I harmonise business travel and software.

00:00:46: Also bring on incredible guests who share their journeys The wins And How they're creating A Life They Love.

00:00:55: Let's jump In & Get Dreaming.

00:00:57: This is a space for you

00:00:58: to manifest a life you love.

00:01:02: I would like to acknowledge and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this place, now known as Australia.

00:01:24: Hello and welcome to the podcast.

00:01:26: I am so delighted today, to be joined by Isabel Chen.

00:01:31: Hi Emma thanks for having me on a podcast.

00:01:34: This is um...I think we've talked about this for a long time but what i always ask people Isabel Yes Yeah probably Um..is too....i think we did it live.

00:01:43: We have done our lives before But we haven't done a blog-a podcast.

00:01:46: So And this will also be a vlog!

00:01:48: So we'll do all of the content and talk why that's important To you Isabel because I'd love you tell us a little bit about who you are and I don't say what you do, i don't like that.

00:01:57: Who Are You?

00:01:58: That's What

00:02:00: I Say!

00:02:22: And we do this using AI, but with a human behind driving it.

00:02:29: So what we do is that AI is used to basically take the transcript and then decide which bits to take out and turn into an Instagram carousel turned in through a real blog post whatever little bits you can get from their transcripts.

00:02:46: But its not very good at strategy.

00:02:48: so thats where I come in And then usually I have to rewrite some of it.

00:02:55: Yeah, yeah So good.

00:02:57: Um, yeah you're amazing with your presence on social media and we met through uh jade born's group where We were in the small business growth club and um i loved All the things you talked about but also loved You know something that jade loved about me and i love about you?

00:03:14: And we both loved about you is that you take action.

00:03:17: You know there's so many times people are in the group or they're in things And they, you know They just keep being in it and then not doing the thing.

00:03:24: It's like You've got to do the things.

00:03:25: so Try something and implement it?

00:03:29: So I saw that you were really great Implementing learning and growing.

00:03:34: It is lovely to have seen your journey.

00:03:36: I guess its been a few years now.

00:03:37: Hey!

00:03:38: Yeah

00:03:38: i think it has been four.

00:03:41: I started during Covid after Covid so i might be doing it once.

00:03:45: It was nearly five.

00:03:45: That's wild.

00:03:51: And so Isabel, as well.

00:03:53: I want to just jump into something.

00:03:55: actually you... Well let's do your name and then i'll tell you something.

00:04:00: So you're dealt with.

00:04:01: very fox digital why?

00:04:03: Yeah!

00:04:04: I've had some people ask me that back in the day Back when we didn't have smartphones yet

00:04:16: We

00:04:16: had Wi-Fi.

00:04:17: this was fast dial up.

00:04:19: I used to play a lot of online games, and that's how i got the meet people on line.

00:04:23: And you need to choose your username for those games right?

00:04:26: So this was when Chrome wasn't as popular.

00:04:30: It was Firefox The browser firefox.

00:04:33: Yeah!

00:04:33: Then I tried to create... so my login wanted it to be FireFox but Firefox is taken But I want something with a fox in there because I like foxes.

00:04:43: Okay Fairy Fox.

00:04:44: Yep That not taken.

00:04:45: Let's take that.

00:04:46: It's cute.

00:04:47: I feel like my gaming user name so i use it for everything.

00:04:50: yeah that's funny, its the old um hotmail and you're just...I don't know where the thought path was but then..it sticks!

00:04:57: And people are like yeah mine is like mbabe hottie.

00:05:00: So I have

00:05:00: to do this.

00:05:02: I had a lot of friends with that

00:05:04: something

00:05:04: hotty or cool

00:05:06: girl.

00:05:07: My dad sees his old number plate from his car.

00:05:14: It's just so there and then when somebody asks you about it, like what?

00:05:17: So...it is fun.

00:05:18: The story is fun!

00:05:19: We love storytelling don't we?

00:05:20: Yeah but I want to talk a bit with you.

00:05:22: Um..I've said some things that were do this exercise on our retreat which was where say three words about someone else because really met each other for few days I don't know.

00:05:38: Not the best light or not... We don't always see how we come across, so you think your presenting like this even in your social media right?

00:05:46: You think you've come across this way.

00:05:47: somebody else is receiving something completely different and what we want is alignment of how YOU wanna be perceived and HOW YOU ARE PERCEIVED!

00:05:55: So anyway..we did these three words exercise & SOMEBODY wrote that you were SURPRISING!

00:06:01: Yeah who he was!

00:06:02: And you're like

00:06:03: WHAT?!

00:06:04: Who said i'm

00:06:04: surprising!?

00:06:05: And it was me because Isabel, you are surprising.

00:06:10: Surprising and delightful!

00:06:11: And... You continue to surprise and delight.

00:06:15: It's something I love.

00:06:16: it was like a positive word because the more i get to know you The more again.

00:06:21: if see on me limited amount even though we share quite alot In the same as sharing alot there is still alot too person that you can only share so much of what your seeing.

00:06:33: So then just spend time with you on retreat.

00:06:37: I found you surprising and it was a joy.

00:06:42: I was surprised by that word because i didn't know how to interpret it, other people are writing stuff like clever resourceful but surprising doesn't make sense for me.

00:06:58: Well you

00:06:58: come out with something

00:07:00: funny like fairy folks digital.

00:07:02: That's surprising.

00:07:05: Where that comes from?

00:07:06: I don't know.

00:07:07: You're like, well it's a box of chocolates.

00:07:12: you never know what your going to get and i

00:07:13: like them

00:07:15: but we do know they are clever resourceful aswell.

00:07:17: so um you said your journey has been in four years.

00:07:23: tell us how did the business start?

00:07:25: why was started with this?

00:07:27: Oh,

00:07:31: should I go back?

00:07:32: No.

00:07:32: I think it's too far back

00:07:34: to when i was five.

00:07:35: choice.

00:07:35: yeah i'm just gonna

00:07:36: start there.

00:07:37: let's let's start closer to twenty-twenty.

00:07:39: one

00:07:40: thirty three okay.

00:07:42: so i was um actually i'll bring this in because if probably make some sense later.

00:07:47: So before i did any marketing at all i was actually a scientist.

00:07:51: so my trade My background is actually as a biochemist And I was working in South Australia, the SA government as a lab technician.

00:08:00: So work with fruit fly.

00:08:03: In South Australia we are actually food-fly free and part of my work is to make sure that fruits like infected from other states wouldn't come into South Australia because they had to check it.

00:08:16: so it's not infested.

00:08:18: but the problem with science here... ...and maybe this is true for other States or countries.

00:08:24: Is there reliance on funding?

00:08:26: So I was finding myself like, i would get a lot of casual work or part-time work but there's no stability because you don't know when it is going to end.

00:08:33: It will all be really short term contracts.

00:08:35: so it'll be three months six month maybe and I had worked in that for about four years.

00:08:40: then Because I started working at twenty fifteen And then in twenty nineteen I decided...I think I need change career path.

00:08:48: so I was looking what to do.

00:08:50: My dad has started his own online store and he was asking me to help him with it, because he had no idea what I'm doing online.

00:08:59: So i was doing that along my science job as this could be a few I can move into Because its kind of interesting...I can see if It's not an interesting working idea but because I wasn't paid But like.. I found it interesting learning about that sort stuff Like how the create website How to upload products on websites How to price them Writing product descriptions.

00:09:21: Actually I really enjoyed writing part cause I really liked writing.

00:09:25: So I decided to do a diploma in social media marketing at TAFE while working as a science job.

00:09:31: And then eventually, the end of year which was the start of twenty-twenty... ...I quit the Science Job and started looking for Marketing Groves!

00:09:39: My first job in Marketing was actually at Disability Non-Profit Twenty-Twenty if you remember when COVID hit Australian shores.

00:09:49: so i got that job.

00:09:51: two days later they said we had work from home and all communication had to move online.

00:09:58: And it fell, too me as their first communications officer.

00:10:02: figure out what to do because they have never experienced something like

00:10:06: wow

00:10:07: yeah cause there were really old school getting people come into your office in person sending up mailers like postal mail mm-hmm.

00:10:17: that involved a lot of YouTubeing on my end to figure out What To Do I come up with strategy or what to.

00:10:22: Well then that word we said before is true, like resourceful.

00:10:25: Like how good and I mean in a way great timing That they got you on board because if they didn't have your own board And you know communications was something the industry i come from Yeah it really saved me during their time Because when I went out and said im in comms!

00:10:41: I can help you... Im at home..I Know How to Work From Home You know?

00:10:44: Then It brought in work.

00:10:46: yeah

00:10:47: Yeah, but the interesting thing when they hired me was before They had me on board.

00:10:51: There were actually already doing social media.

00:10:53: So there are their Facebook page that linked in and all of that.

00:10:56: But I didn't know whether what we're doing is actually performing well?

00:11:00: so What did you know how to do?

00:11:02: it's like this numbers right like say certain number.

00:11:04: people have built a post with the number engaged Didn't know why it meant.

00:11:08: And then meet my science background i was able help them Understand that.

00:11:11: because i would say okay This number of People Have Viewed Say Dispose Which means It's called their attention somehow.

00:11:18: So this means if we do more stuff on this topic, it'll probably catch more people's tension.

00:11:23: so I was able to give them like more information about how to improve your content through my analytical skills which are gained from science.

00:11:31: Yeah amazing and i think you use a lot of that now in what you're doing.

00:11:37: because like hand-on

00:11:38: heart yeah?

00:11:39: I love the...I'm the primer girl you know, that I like the photo.

00:11:44: That I liked doing talking and posting a lot of random stuff...I'm very bad at it!

00:11:53: And this is something i learn in marketing from my studies.

00:11:56: You have to analyse your data.

00:12:04: So it's interesting when I do sometimes like, oh that would be helpful to know the people liked and stuff.

00:12:09: but i don't.

00:12:11: And a lot of people forget that right?

00:12:13: To look at how are things performing?

00:12:16: is it performing what did they want?

00:12:20: or just keep kind of the definition of insanity?

00:12:23: you're doing this same thing expecting different results.

00:12:27: At the BFood thing about marketing online.

00:12:29: You've got all these numbers compared.

00:12:31: if your billboard at bus stop You can't measure, you can like estimate this number of people walk fast to use that bus stop but don't know if they actually look at it or do just

00:12:40: forget about.

00:12:40: We literally can sit and how many people opened?

00:12:43: Yeah!

00:12:43: If we could get a thing which will show us what areas are stopping where the exit is.

00:12:50: I mean...I know all these things so i won't be using them.

00:12:52: But he's not going to use those.

00:12:53: This is why i have wonderful assistant and i'm like Can you go look into

00:12:56: data?!

00:12:56: So right now there're people who are like YOU!

00:13:03: statistical or numbers.

00:13:07: That's why wonderful people like Isabel can support

00:13:09: me,

00:13:10: yeah come to me there we go subtle pitch but okay.

00:13:14: so well let's fast forward a little bit too.

00:13:17: Why are we talking today?

00:13:18: I mean We're talking because were connected and you're wonderful.

00:13:21: But we also talk in Because You recently came on my pleasure life retreat In Kangaroo Valley And it was your second time Second time of that destination, so I don't actually do that very often.

00:13:33: you three of you said You would come and you did.

00:13:35: So i said i wouldn't run it.

00:13:36: if you asked If you're gonna Come i'll do it again.

00:13:39: And i did um?

00:13:40: It was beautiful like in my humble opinion.

00:13:43: so Tell me what.

00:13:44: What made you want to go on a retreat Like?

00:13:46: what made you wanna come on a retweet with me?

00:13:48: or you mean

00:13:50: The first time?

00:13:51: well because the second hand you know what answers.

00:13:53: Well, you know tell me will.

00:13:54: there was a first-first time wasn't there?

00:13:57: yeah

00:13:57: And it shouldn't happen.

00:13:59: It didn't happen.

00:14:01: I can't remember, i think when you pitched that...it just sounded like a really nice location because You said something about animals Something about getting away from the city.

00:14:10: So Just in case people don't know this I'm actually from Singapore and then moved to Australia.

00:14:15: The reason why I chose To move to Adelaide specifically is Because there's nobody here.

00:14:22: Yeah From my very busy place yeah

00:14:25: Yeah.

00:14:25: so somewhere where It's smaller than Kangaroo Island, so that's a destination here in South Australia.

00:14:31: Kangaroo island is actually seven times bigger than Singapore but our population and Singapore was like five point five million people.

00:14:38: Yeah So I wanted to move somewhere.

00:14:40: there wasn't like Sydney or Melbourne Was fairly quiet at nature around such as Adelaide And your retreat appealed me just because of the same reason.

00:14:49: nobody it's around yeah, and i have space around me to move.

00:14:54: Yes Like I can stretch my arms I will hit someone else.

00:14:57: And I mean, Singapore does some really beautiful nature.

00:15:02: It's very hot and

00:15:03: it... I think that the other thing because i wanted somewhere they had four seasons as well.

00:15:07: Yes you definitely get.

00:15:09: Well I was there like forty five degrees.

00:15:11: You can be in April or ten or five Depends on what

00:15:18: we're talking about.

00:15:19: No, Adelaide.

00:15:22: Singapore doesn't get

00:15:25: down to ten?

00:15:26: I saw a winter shop in Singapore and was like why... It's

00:15:32: for people who go overseas because they buy

00:15:35: on their puffer jackets.

00:15:36: that gets so excited about all the winter gear.

00:15:38: So you could use it elsewhere.

00:15:40: And to be fair i'm thinking of the same last night like ski jackets and ski pants, I'm not even getting there once a year at the moment.

00:15:51: Maybe i need to let go of some of that ski gear.

00:15:54: when i lived in victoria.

00:15:56: it doesn't make sense anyway but you were gonna come on my first... well so it wasn't my first retreat.

00:16:04: we're going to host a walking retreat which obviously suited you to

00:16:08: nature.

00:16:09: now remember?

00:16:10: We'll go up somewhere

00:16:13: the start of twenty-twenty three.

00:16:17: Yes, and you had booked on.

00:16:22: so you actually had booked but my life went a bit topsy-turvy at the beginning of twenty thirty three.

00:16:29: I just couldn't commit to it.

00:16:31: unfortunately we refunded you as part.

00:16:40: We had an intention for it and then we kind of got muddled with our intention, what was going to be.

00:16:44: It's been trying too many things so I was hosting them without a friend or colleague.

00:16:49: Jade you know?

00:16:51: You always have to go back the drawing board.

00:16:55: The intention is really great!

00:16:57: A walking retreat to reconnect nature into yourself.

00:17:00: And i still stand by that one day will do because I believe in the simplicity of it.

00:17:09: but it was not working out and so you were very gracious.

00:17:15: And i said, I hope to see another time!

00:17:18: It

00:17:18: probably.

00:17:20: then two years later he got to come.

00:17:22: And I quit my job by then?

00:17:24: Because at twenty-twenty three hours still working on my job.

00:17:27: Twenty... twenty five?

00:17:28: It's last year right?

00:17:30: The start of

00:17:30: last year.

00:17:30: yeah Yeah..I just quit.

00:17:33: And so you've actually been on two of my different retreats.

00:17:36: So we had the same destination, different topics.

00:17:38: So twenty-twenty five Retreat was last Rest and Receive Retreat.

00:17:43: Oh yeah, Rest & Receive!

00:17:45: So Rest & Recieve is um...the company name now?

00:17:48: It's all about, y'know, the premises when you rest your receipts.

00:17:51: That was the content that we did there.

00:17:54: Then this year it was Bellagio Life Retreat which is how to combine business travel and self care.

00:18:01: So tell me like what was your experience the first time of being on The Rest and Receive Retreat?

00:18:07: Well, it was really relaxing because I didn't have to think about anything.

00:18:11: Because everything was fully catered for-the food destination What we were doing each day so felt fantastic.

00:18:18: And as someone who is an elder's daughter Who used to planning things other people That was a dream come true!I didn't Have To Think I just had to do.

00:18:28: You said to turn up at the airport and yeah, I just have

00:18:31: that.

00:18:31: I didn't even they had to pack stuff.

00:18:33: I packed clothes because you say Yeah, you were telling us like what to pack?

00:18:36: And then look there less Just clothes and toiletries That's all i had to bring.

00:18:40: Yeah It is it such a refreshing thing.

00:18:43: I think this why I love retreats too when I like going on things Because I am often that person as well.

00:18:49: so he really does I think ask like maybe elder daughter type A business owner

00:18:55: And help people do stuff for their time.

00:18:59: When things don't

00:19:00: turn out right you have to fix it.

00:19:03: Well, yeah It's on you and your the one that um not too be but you get blamed towards your response.

00:19:09: Yes!

00:19:10: Yeah sorry I'm Asian

00:19:12: Yeah very responsible.

00:19:14: And like this timespare is like I'm tired of being irresponsible when i want To Be The One Who Kicks Back.

00:19:18: Which Is Why I go on cruisers Because Everything Has Taken Care Of.

00:19:23: Everyone has Things To Do But I Can Sit On My Balcony And Stay At The Ocean.

00:19:28: But, well I love that.

00:19:29: And then something maybe if it surprised you but was lovely for me to witness is how much you connected with the other people who came?

00:19:40: Oh okay!

00:19:41: The two others requested we held at the same time... Well

00:19:46: yeah in Jetsville all of them were on their first retreat.

00:19:50: You had a lovely connection and seeing your interact

00:19:57: You know what I think really helped?

00:19:59: It was the car ride to that destination because you pick each one of us up and then it was such a long car, right We were talking in the car.

00:20:07: So we got to know each other at the car.

00:20:08: Yeah yeah so by the time he get there its more comfortable.

00:20:13: Yeah, and everyone's coming in with an open heart.

00:20:15: I would say also the venue really lends itself to...I mean although we're into houses.

00:20:21: so because on that property we could have actually been in four houses but even so We had that communal space The outside communal space Inside lounge room, dining table, kitchen.

00:20:33: So there are all these places where you come together.

00:20:36: Um, and then I think yes you bonded in your house because we're the other house with.

00:20:39: Yeah yeah YouTube

00:20:43: to loud friends

00:20:44: he became like that three musketeers.

00:20:48: they adopted you for sure?

00:20:51: Yeah well it's wonderful as a witness cause just never know.

00:20:54: bring together all these people bringing together personalities different types of people who don't how are gonna go.

00:21:02: so It gives me a lot of joy to witness that.

00:21:07: I think you put me in the right house because they remind me on my aunties, My aunties are really loud as well.

00:21:11: so it's like oh this is easy just like my auntie.

00:21:14: We can hear them coming!

00:21:16: Yeah

00:21:18: and then next time i did The Social House And You Got To Be In The Social Houses Yeah

00:21:23: Oh gosh that house was actually way too loud.

00:21:25: Okay So your like Next Time.

00:21:29: But This Is Also Sometimes Where we Have The Hotel As long as it's got a communal area, where you have the... Or bigger house and everybody gets to go their space.

00:21:38: I think that is really important for having a place with solitude because some people will feel like they should always be around but giving them permission can get in your room or going out into nature or places you find to be solo.

00:21:52: then there are also places where yeah its just very natural.

00:21:56: together You've had some special like, somethings that you really took away from the first one.

00:22:04: That brought me a lot of joy again... Sometimes it's like people come on retreat and do all those things.

00:22:10: when they go home then they're like ahhh!

00:22:13: Busted again because there can be hard to maintain these things.

00:22:17: but I love this is few thinges that you take away in your kept doing still do Can tell about them?

00:22:25: Okay, so that was.

00:22:27: I think one of the biggest thing That i took away from the retreat Was to celebrate really small wins Because you were telling us like it doesn't necessarily have To be some money.

00:22:38: Doesn't necessary Have to be something we earn.

00:22:40: It can Be in a form Of gifts.

00:22:42: Yeah right because gift monetary value.

00:22:44: And then You Were Telling Us About How You Have Like Notes In Your Phone Where You Would Do This.

00:22:49: Write Down Like Gifts I Receive This Amount.

00:22:53: Then in come I received this amount and there's something else.

00:22:55: I can't remember why it was but isn't my phone?

00:22:57: And so I started doing that as well.

00:22:59: once they left the retreat, and I kept receiving more and more gifts and then I realized actually You know what?

00:23:06: I'll take a look because have that note cuz I think I receive a lot of gives in that year after starting their practice.

00:23:12: Well you acknowledge them and you see them when you haven't least to look back on him.

00:23:16: those days where your like Nobody gives me stuff nobody is.

00:23:20: You know, we do have those days where you're a bit like nobody's paying me.

00:23:23: Nobody is coming to meet.

00:23:24: I never get anything Like I heard somebody say i'd ever win anything.

00:23:27: and yeah your telling me in your life hand on heart?

00:23:30: You've never won Not A single thing!

00:23:34: I can't believe that...I don't believe That..I truly Don't let you Never had a win.

00:23:40: We you Know.

00:23:41: And then maybe it's like you only thinking about a competition but It's like maybe you even just won a competition in your classroom when you were seven, like surely there has to be something or you won because someone gave you some thing.

00:23:56: I think this is the different way of thinking about it.

00:23:58: You get a discount at the supermarket?

00:24:01: Yeah

00:24:01: that's a win!

00:24:02: So i actually got six hundred and seventy five dollars in gifts last year.

00:24:06: That's so good.

00:24:06: There are probably more than that...I forgot to track them but six hundred thirty-five and then discounts..i got three hundred fifty.

00:24:12: that's not discounts.

00:24:14: Yes, it's a huge saving you know and I look at the...I track the flights they get.

00:24:21: You don't go to the lounge a lot for the airlines then you got to come with me one time.

00:24:26: so Yeah So if like or cancelled that sucks but then you've got to Come With Me And Then you Got

00:24:34: free drinks And i got room for free as well.

00:24:36: They paid For my Room.

00:24:37: They Payed for breakfast The next day too.

00:24:38: That's

00:24:40: couple hundred dollars Or three hundred dollars?

00:24:42: No, that's at least three hundred dollars.

00:24:44: Exactly!

00:24:45: I shared it with my friend because there was so much money i couldn't spend at

00:24:49: all and i said to my husband like you know the lounge.

00:24:53: we then uh a recent flight couldn't go in the lounge cause of the airline record And It cost us one hundred dollars at the airport To feed The Three Of Us?

00:25:02: Its One Hundred Dollars.

00:25:03: So its Like Literally Every Time We Go To The Lounge Is Saving Us One Hundred dollars Cause We Would Or You Go To A Shop In Singapore.

00:25:11: I Don'T Go To Shops because I go straight to the lounge.

00:25:14: But if i was walking around the airport,I'd probably buy something.

00:25:16: so it's saving me money cause'i don't have to spend money on food also stops me from seeing this shop!

00:25:22: I will buy the croissants but otherwise... I'll

00:25:24: just

00:25:25: go straight into the lounge and say that I won't be spending any money.

00:25:28: So you've seen that?

00:25:29: And then you want kitty litter?

00:25:31: Yes two times now.

00:25:33: Two times.

00:25:34: That stuff is expensive.

00:25:36: yeah You know It's actually going to release The income stuff that we did or the value tracking in those sorts of things, like what is income?

00:25:49: And it's literally your... It's things incoming.

00:25:52: So What Is Incoming To You and how can you get more of That?

00:25:57: Or How Can You Recognize Where You Have It?

00:25:58: and so I have a masterclass on that and i'm going to re-release it because right now with whats happening in the world We'll have look at these Things Like where can I keep my money?

00:26:08: and you're not having to spend money on kitty litter.

00:26:09: that keeps your money so that you can use it On the things that you need to or want to use.

00:26:18: Yeah, absolutely.

00:26:19: I also won...I don't know if i shared with but I won a ticket To A festival last year That was going to be like a marketing festival.

00:26:26: Yes So I saved money at a ticket which was like seven hundred dollars.

00:26:30: It's huge!

00:26:30: But because I wanted that ticket?

00:26:32: yeah Because I wanted tickets just for the flights And hotel Which helped me save a lot

00:26:37: Well, in the personal development and professional development.

00:26:40: And networking and opportunity so many things that you're getting as value from doing it.

00:26:46: but another thing I just really warned my heart was we didn't exercise about letter to your future self.

00:26:52: Oh!

00:26:53: That one?

00:26:54: Okay... I don't know if i should say that I don' t how explain it.

00:26:58: other people were asking me to explain how I manifested those things.

00:27:04: Well, you tell me what you did and then I'll explain the letter.

00:27:09: And now it works!

00:27:10: I don't know how yet.

00:27:10: going to explain a pilot one...

00:27:13: Will you just tell us what happened?

00:27:16: Alright so that activity was to write the letter from our twenty-twenty six self.

00:27:21: So this is last year's retreat The first one that you ran First Kangaroo Valley on.

00:27:26: We had to write a letter From Our Future Self saying things as if they already happen and then you were telling us to go like bigger, bigger make it more ridiculous.

00:27:37: Well even if your feel is ridiculous just write down.

00:27:40: And so I was writing Like um...I said i wanted To work with a VA to help me With my graphic design.

00:27:46: Got that Had let her go but at some point I'll have to get someone back on board to Help Me!

00:27:54: There are few other things I wrote But one thing I wrote That's so ridiculous and didn't think would come true Was that..I said I will be in this retreat This place again next year and that has happened.

00:28:06: but I also wrote that i'll be there, i'll get there in the private jet.

00:28:11: And then I realized that I don't know how to fly a plane so I need a pilot to fly that private jet right?

00:28:16: So I wrote it down and I thought it would then happen!

00:28:19: Then one month after the retreat I was at networking meeting...I met this guy through him throughout my conversation..I learned he actually had a pilots license And I said, what are the odds that I manifest

00:28:36: him?

00:28:39: But let me explain how it works.

00:28:40: It wasn't

00:28:40: specific.

00:28:42: so he didn't fly me a kangaroo belly this

00:28:44: year.

00:28:45: Well or you didn't ask him to fly you too like You didn't asked him.

00:28:50: So if we don't

00:28:51: have a landing pad at Kangaroo Valley for him to land a plane

00:28:55: That's for him figure out.

00:28:59: But you but you called it in.

00:29:00: so what happens to the letter two future self?

00:29:03: It was an exercise that I learned and a coaching program And I loved it, and I now do it myself.

00:29:07: And I do it for other people.

00:29:08: So yes You talk as if things are already done.

00:29:11: because when we say I can hope I can or want too Or i'm trying to especially when we talked about ourselves If you say oh I'm starting my social media business Oh, I am hoping to help people did like

00:29:24: I'll

00:29:26: be like, okay cool.

00:29:27: Whereas if you're like i'm a social media strategist and look at the data And help people improve there The way they show up online?

00:29:32: I'm like cool Isabel!

00:29:34: I need that.

00:29:35: so If we talk as it's happening literally Hannah Montana Anniversary special this is what happened.

00:29:41: Miley Cyrus did This.

00:29:43: she talked It into existence.

00:29:45: So She didn't Talk about the Twentieth anniversary thing Happening.

00:29:48: nobody Else just going to sit There and wait till Somebody does it.

00:29:51: but because You talked About it People believed it, people said well I want to work on that and the momentum started.

00:29:57: So manifesting means To make real.

00:30:00: so It's to make something real.

00:30:03: And what you did with your letter was You said okay i'm hi its me.

00:30:08: i am here in february twenty-twenty six.

00:30:11: Look at The year i've had and then talked about things as if they have happened.

00:30:15: One of Things is the pilot.

00:30:19: What Happened In That Situation Is Your Awareness Was Turned On.

00:30:22: So you were listening for a pilot.

00:30:25: Now, if... You could have met him anyway!

00:30:28: And he would've just gone, huh?

00:30:30: Okay your are a pilot that's great but because you had asked for a private jet then the universe is listening.

00:30:41: Maybe I say more things out loud.

00:30:44: they will come and so than thats positive feeling and saying okay i can save thing Or I'm focusing on them, you know we wanted to buy a Mazda.

00:30:56: I want us by red Mazda.

00:30:57: the moment i decide I wanna read Mazda What do I see everywhere?

00:31:00: Red Mazdas Everywhere and I have a photo.

00:31:03: And I didn't realize I'd taken this put of photo but in my phone notes.

00:31:07: phone notes are amazing By The way.

00:31:08: obviously I love them.

00:31:11: You store so much stuff in there.

00:31:12: they look so much great history.

00:31:13: But I had put on it manifesting list or wishlist that We'd Have A red Mazder and then like a year after we got our car I found That Photo And it was like, I had said years ago.

00:31:23: I wanted one and then now I have one.

00:31:26: Now did i click my fingers?

00:31:28: And got a red master.

00:31:28: no we Paid for it.

00:31:31: You know We we had to go through forms and things Like that but I kept My eye on the prize until we were in A position where we could get That red master.

00:31:41: and so For you It's like how do I Get this private jet?

00:31:44: what am i going To be?

00:31:45: hanging around airports Or are gonna go places Where people who Have private

00:31:48: jets?

00:31:51: yeah

00:31:52: it's either that you buy the experience of paying to go on a private jet, or you ask.

00:31:57: I know somebody with a private chat too!

00:31:58: I can say hey lady... Can i go in your private jet sometime?

00:32:03: And she could say

00:32:04: no

00:32:04: but I can ask and she might be like yeah sure where do you want to go?

00:32:07: let's get the bonus.

00:32:08: That was her Christmas so we're going.

00:32:10: alright lets go.

00:32:11: But if I don't ask Or If I dont' say what I wanted its not gonna come.

00:32:16: It comes to me Its sitting there because I can't see it, so you again might not have ever met that pilot.

00:32:24: You came to Kangaroo Valley again because... ...you said you wanted too and you said you would!

00:32:29: And everything on the letter came true in some form.. ..and actually when i spoke with other two ladies who came on the previous one they said the same thing.

00:32:40: That's why we were like we need kumbaya this shit!

00:32:49: No,

00:32:50: I love it.

00:32:54: There's nothing more rewarding when you're creating things or sharing things that people are actually using what you have.

00:33:01: You know?

00:33:01: I find this helpful.

00:33:02: so i want you to find a hopeful and To see you receiving the rewards and experiencing The product about And then to see you Shining like there is no greater gift than me.

00:33:16: you know, I haven't done my letter yet either like okay i'm going to do my letter too or.

00:33:21: You're right!

00:33:22: I've fallen off the bandwagon of and I told you...I think I wrote two in text?

00:33:25: I said put that out if you haven't yet put it on a post-it.

00:33:28: um and then reminded me..I hadn't put on a Post-It.

00:33:31: how am I gonna create things that I can't see?

00:33:34: so I've got Post-its....I look behind me on the screen because they're there are in front of me.

00:33:38: so their reminders.

00:33:40: well that's what i'm working towards.

00:33:44: If we don't see it, we can't believe.

00:33:45: And that's why there is so much great buzz around this K-pop movie because people are seeing themselves like... People have seen success and someone liked them having success.

00:33:57: So then they believed in their work towards it.

00:34:00: if you can not see your success You cannot believe It!

00:34:04: Then everything you've experienced reinforces that to keep the momentum.

00:34:10: And you've just created momentum and worked for it, committed to it.

00:34:14: We're not saying manifesting like again is wishing up in your lab.

00:34:18: You paid the retreat but... ...you work towards that goal because you knew would work for you.

00:34:27: So then keep going toward next goal.

00:34:29: Yeah so my next goal I'm announcing on this podcast.

00:34:32: I wrote a full roster of staff working at me house So i'll be like Bridgetton next year

00:34:39: And so it is.

00:34:42: Oh, at some point doesn't matter to fix you or in the future?

00:34:46: Or whenever

00:34:47: we still put a timeline on it though and that's something that I You know because it can feel fantasy full an it can fill.

00:34:52: and i say do lulu Is this a lulu?

00:34:54: um So delu delusional thinking is the solution and i literally my psychologist has said Emma if entrepreneurs weren't A little bit delusial and a Little bit they wouldn't get things done Because If he knew The reality of what It takes To Get There it might not even start.

00:35:09: If I had to know the reality of the process, i'd go through on both my books.

00:35:14: right

00:35:14: now-I am!

00:35:15: I'm hesitant to start again because I know what it takes to do it.

00:35:19: but there's something bigger than motivating me to create those...the same with The Retreat?

00:35:24: I know there are lots of steps involved in creating A Retreat and I also get then a gift or reward for seeing & experiencing What It Can Do And people that brings together.

00:35:37: I'm willing to do that and i'm willing To dream big about what the next one looks like so That, I can Bring.

00:35:43: That into fruition.

00:35:45: it's why i ask you as well with where You want to go?

00:35:48: So then i'm Like if they wanna Go i mean i just should Ask The three of you or Just plan whatever you Want?

00:35:52: actually i um.

00:35:54: i just thought something when you were talking About It just now.

00:35:56: i think One other thing i took away from it was to ask for What you want As Well yeah because Yeah Because last year i started asking people just For stuff that i wanted to do.

00:36:04: i said Can i run a workshop in your group can i?

00:36:07: And then if I had people coming at me, because there was someone who like recommended to present in the group.

00:36:13: They came and asked for a master class?

00:36:16: Sure!

00:36:16: I would love too.

00:36:17: is that paid.

00:36:19: Then actually got paid to run all those master classes?

00:36:22: so just make sure you do it.

00:36:24: Yeah they will say no if its not payed.

00:36:27: And i can be the decision whether or

00:36:29: not... Just accept that you did it cause you didn't ask.

00:36:33: but oh never thought about that.

00:36:36: let me pay.

00:36:37: But we get to ask for what we want and we get away from it.

00:36:40: And I just really love Isabel, like the way you shared... You wrote something?

00:36:45: If you have that there if you wanna read... Yes

00:36:47: yes i do!

00:36:48: You did share a reflection.

00:36:51: To be honest sometimes I am guilty of asking you to do feedback but don't make time to read them.

00:36:57: So I sat here last night wanting all testimonials, feedbacks or comments.

00:37:04: It was so nice because I get to see your journey through it as well.

00:37:10: Like, that's not just what we say and saying – What has this done for you?

00:37:18: Okay!

00:37:18: So I read out… Your Bledger Life retreats are truly life-changing.

00:37:24: Because actually these were more like me reviewing the previous year's retreat Because i don't think they asked us about testimonials at

00:37:33: all.

00:37:33: I really did, but was it the

00:37:34: video?

00:37:35: But i probably didn't follow up and think you gave

00:37:37: one to me.

00:37:37: Oh maybe that's fine.

00:37:37: oh yeah i might need another one!

00:37:39: I

00:37:39: think we did the videos so a lot of people didn't do them because they did a very good video testimonial.

00:37:44: Yeah.

00:37:45: So because I said...I went in expecting the usual boring.

00:37:48: let's set our annual goals.

00:37:49: kind of workshop by the way.

00:37:50: You presented it.

00:37:52: It is different with the use of affirmation cards And I think that whole affirmation card use changed things because it's something different.

00:38:00: It's something tangible, i can see the cards.

00:38:02: look read at what they're saying to me.

00:38:04: okay interpret how l like and ever since when on my first retreat My business has had its highest income year might have to take away this year looks like is going be my highest income here!

00:38:15: I am attracting better fit clients and started celebrating small wins which helped keep a positive mind even though things are not so well.

00:38:24: That was my destiny.

00:38:25: Well, you

00:38:27: try not to cry because I can read

00:38:31: the other line that someone else said... I would like to have Keisha at her next retreat!

00:38:38: So

00:38:38: you won't crack it?

00:38:40: No,

00:38:41: Keisha and Marshmallows.

00:38:43: The Keish chocolate and marshmallow.

00:38:44: Like i really failed-I really let the team down on that one.

00:38:47: so if that's the worst feedback I will swallow that one.

00:38:51: But yeah, really let the team down with...I said i would drive to town!

00:38:55: I'd go get the marshmallows if people wanted.

00:38:58: but no it makes me emotional Isabel because um It's everything I want out of The Retreat is what I want and its for you all And then Its very rewarding To have That.

00:39:12: You do this work People benefit from When your doing Your Work.

00:39:15: You Want Your Clients to Have Benefit.

00:39:17: You Want them succeed, you want to see them do better and hear that it's actually increasing.

00:39:24: That is down to the work that your putting in of course!

00:39:28: You can't just be like I went on a retreat and

00:39:32: ta-da!

00:39:34: I'm very clear about that...you know?

00:39:38: Nothing if nothing changes.

00:39:39: Nothing changes, but you made changes.

00:39:42: You use the tools?

00:39:43: You used the resources you.

00:39:45: The other thing that you do really well and I love Isabelle is it you stay connected And so you kept coming into the group and celebrating with us and telling us successes and holding yourself accountable and keeping That connection going and i just...I Really admire that!

00:40:03: Yeah, because you said we have to celebrate the win.

00:40:05: So every time I had a win and were just coming in groups You're very logical right?

00:40:10: The way i do stuff yeah If you tell me it does something...I HAVE TO DO IT!

00:40:16: Not everyone is like that.

00:40:17: I

00:40:18: think its Asian upbringing.

00:40:19: so maybe when you get someone else from Southeast Asia onto your retreat And see if they are the

00:40:25: same We might have to do

00:40:26: it.

00:40:26: Our parents were Kana

00:40:28: Maybe the first child, or second child like me and they tend to be a bit of rebel.

00:40:32: Like... The way to motivate your second child is don't do that!

00:40:36: And you go I'm gonna do it anyway.

00:40:38: Don't write my letter!

00:40:39: I want to write my letters!

00:40:40: Don't follow your dreams!

00:40:41: I am going to follow my dreams!

00:40:43: Actually You might be right.

00:40:44: My sister's a rebel?

00:40:46: Yeah My sister doesn't do what her mom wants her to Do.

00:40:48: So this all i need to do Is are you a First Child Or Second Child or Third Child?

00:40:51: Okay let me talk to you about this.

00:40:54: Totally, child psychology.

00:40:57: order one-on-one.

00:40:58: Anyway I just want to really wanted you come on Isabel To celebrate your journey.

00:41:06: um i love it is such an honor.

00:41:09: It's why when into coaching its why went in two different type of work?

00:41:12: because uh it used to do done for You all the time and now to work with people And get see them progress.

00:41:19: Here's your website copy.

00:41:21: Next, here's the website copy.

00:41:22: next like you know when you work with a client ongoing?

00:41:25: You see the growth in their business is so much more fulfilling than just delivery and I'm really So honored to be part of your journey And will continue to surprise and delight me.

00:41:43: What I also would love to offer you and ask is please tell us, how can we support you?

00:41:49: I asked somebody yesterday said How Can We Help You.

00:41:52: She spent time talking on the phone with just friends but it's like what can i do?

00:41:56: so...how can we help or connect with you right now Isabel?

00:42:01: Okay So Right Now..I'm actually kind of like you because I've done a lot before work.

00:42:09: people who are coming to me and maybe they kind of thought I'd done for you retainer yet.

00:42:14: So, this still needs someone come on by help them with the content strategy.

00:42:17: so what i've created is actually sort like a coaching offer but it's one-to-one intimate coaching experience where we can guide them on their strategy to repurposing their contents.

00:42:30: if they have got blog or youtube channel or podcast To repurpose it better so that they actually get results from the content They are putting out and there will actually catch people's attention And their content would guide like, People's way of offer.

00:42:46: Because The thing with repurposed content which I see So many people doing wrongly Is that they assume It should just be copy pasting stuff And thats not it Right?

00:42:57: because you know That...it won't perform as well Like say if take a talking video From YouTube Then put on to Instagram.

00:43:03: It just flops because that's not optimized to the Instagram platform where people have such a short attention span.

00:43:10: So ideally in a world, if you are repurposing... If you have time and your system is in place which I can help with, subtle pictures here there!

00:43:21: Don't

00:43:21: subtle?

00:43:21: I'm gonna promote this shit out of it.

00:43:23: go for it.

00:43:24: We're here.

00:43:25: we should be an audience.

00:43:27: You should be optimising your content for people's different scrolling habits.

00:43:31: Because on social media, they are very easily distracted.

00:43:33: They're going to watch cat videos but not listen because you also... Not that you're boring But a cat video is way more interesting.

00:43:41: Yeah so..you need change it in a different format.

00:43:44: Say talking video into something written Something with maybe a powerful quote graphic.

00:43:50: And thats what I do.

00:43:53: Yes!

00:43:54: I mean, like you're selling me right now.

00:43:55: So perfect because i'm that type of client That i've got so much content.

00:43:59: I've got some so many stuff But it's not in the right format or?

00:44:05: Just don't have Because i'm trying to do all my other work i don't Have The bandwidth To go and then take All that content And Do what It needs to do.

00:44:13: uh...I Don't know Those platforms as well.

00:44:16: yeah to be honest sometimes We just have so Much Other Things That we're Lazy and i pump Stuff out on linkedin.

00:44:21: that is very instagram And it could be a slight tweak that can make you perform better.

00:44:29: People like me are the perfect client and maybe once they know, or I spend time with Isabel do this stuff and give us months.

00:44:42: Absolutely!

00:44:44: The only thing I change is call your strategic consultant because You're a consultant and you... I'm

00:44:50: pretty sure that's why i call myself content strategist.

00:44:54: Yeah,

00:44:54: no perfect because you are doing work with people like seeing it And some people won't.

00:45:03: they'll still want the done for you But we have to meet where there.

00:45:14: at So hand on heart totally recommend Isabel.

00:45:18: I see her work, um...I'd say the way she shows up i see the results that she gets for others as well.

00:45:24: and yeah you're very much on my list of people to bring into the business as well.

00:45:29: so let's-

00:45:30: And it manifests that!

00:45:31: I'll give you the link for this.

00:45:34: Please!

00:45:35: You can edit a show or not?

00:45:36: So it's called The

00:45:37: Refreshing Reset.

00:45:38: basically its like coaching one through one coaching over a week or if you think your week is too short then extend it to a month.

00:45:46: Perfect.

00:45:47: Well look, yeah.

00:45:47: Isabel's gonna send us all her links.

00:45:49: we're going to have a podcast episode.

00:45:51: We'll have YouTube podcasts and repurpose this So you can find them.

00:45:57: Isabel tell us how?

00:46:00: Okay

00:46:01: so I am mostly on Instagram at LinkedIn.

00:46:03: Instagram is Ferry Fox Digital.

00:46:06: so that's Ferry as in like mythical fairy not ship.

00:46:11: We'll

00:46:17: put that in the show notes and on LinkedIn you are Isabelle Chen.

00:46:20: Yes but, You might not find me because my first name is really common.

00:46:23: My surname's really common.

00:46:24: That's a problem.

00:46:26: So alright Just go

00:46:27: to my website.

00:46:28: Every single social thing is at the bottom.

00:46:30: so I will give you my websites as well as pop-in the show though.

00:46:32: FerryFoxDigital.com.

00:46:35: No there no .au it just ferryfoxdigital.

00:46:37: com.

00:46:38: Perfect.

00:46:38: Isabel, thank you so much for your delight!

00:46:40: You tell me where to host the retreat?

00:46:42: We'll agree with Leanne and Tanya when we're off... So if you guys want come join us in a party then it's going be great time.

00:46:47: The four of us no matter what.

00:46:50: I've got my friend next year.

00:46:51: I can't wait.

00:46:54: Thank-you Isabel.

00:46:55: I appreciate that.

00:46:56: And I will continue to celebrate with you as well.

00:47:04: Thank you for listening, lovely one.

00:47:06: I hope this has inspired you to dream big and start creating a life that you love today!

00:47:11: If you love what your hearing don't forget to follow and rate on Spotify And rate review & subscribe

00:47:17: on iTunes.

00:47:18: It helps

00:47:18: other awesome people find

00:47:20: their podcast

00:47:21: and get motivated as well.

00:47:25: Wanna stay connected?

00:47:26: Come join the Live Alive for Love group on Facebook Or connect with me on Instagram mlovel.au.

00:47:32: The same as my website, but all the details are in this show and it's lovely.

00:47:37: I'll see you next episode for more inspiration motivation and freedom.

00:47:41: sequence.

00:47:41: now go out there and live a life he loved.