Year, listening to the gold digger podcast episode number thirty six she day I am, fighting my sweet friend, Caitlin James, an incredible photographer, educate and now a mother onto the podcast to attack all about purpose. Fully slowing down and recognising the need for different seasons in our life in our business and we're going to talk about all things. Marriage parenting, growing, a business and learning how to navigate the new seasons that life offers us without further ado here is my friend Caitlin you're, listening to the gold digger fought cast with Jenna Culture, the life workshops, I'll business pot cast for creative girl bosses, so you can train from me.

How did dig in do the work and tackle your goals along the way. Here's your health photographer educator artist and MAC and Cheese Lover agenda cutcherry. This episode of the gold digger pod guess is sponsored by honey book. Honey book is de managements. After that I used to stay, organise, manage invoices, get paid an give. Every client and elevated unforgettable experience. Honey book is offering twenty percent off exclusively for gold. Digger listeners just go to honey booked outcome. Slash old eager to get started and get your life back today, hey gold diggers, it's done in Qatar and I'm so so happy to talking with my dear friend, Caitlin James, you ve, probably heard, if you haven't, you need to be prepared, as our world is about to be rocked by this Virginia based wedding photographer. She is incorrect,

She has a beautiful new home that I can't wait to go see in a brand new baby girl and, of course, her dog Boca boy, and I just I'm so excited to have a conversation with her to catch up with her and you guys get to tune in so welcome. Caitlin, you I am. This is meant in the works for so long, and I feel like this is like the grand finale it's finally happening. I know we ve been like trying to connect and the funny thing about Caitlin, and I we were just talking about this as we ve only met twice in person, but the weirdest thing is that we are really connected. We keep in touch with each other as well as too busy women can, and I think that There is something within, as I remember, reaching Etienne just I sent an email and as like, it's time we connect like we have been working the same path for away too long. To not be friends was chat, so Kalen tell everyone about you and then we'll just have a wonderful conversation. Together

Kay. Well. Whenever I get in this position, always like ok, what I say person, I adore, you dig it out. I begin I dont like talking about myself, but I do of talking about just what I've been able and and less to do with my life and my career and really the heart of? what we do is my husband, I Michael, where Heisel sweetheart we got married six years ago. We now have a little girl, and but our purpose like this by all the changes that we have experienced in business, our purpose has been like. Ok, how can I use the gifts and abilities that I have to make a difference in bring purposed other people's lives and and right now that through being a wedding photographer and impacting our clients in a really awesome way and then being a wedding photography educator. So I explained to people at a shoot what things, and then I teach people how to shew weddings and that's kind. Of what the heart and soul of what we're doing right now, what that revolves around and so yeah. I just seem so crazy, because

even though that is don't we have been doing for so long now, I'm in the season of I'm ok I do this and I'm going be a mom and I went to figure this out oh, it's still very new concept but- that's kind of where we are like it. There really cool thing to be able to impact people through the internet and to do it with my husband so absent Lastly, and I mean, are we ever going to figure anything out? I think that's like the biggest question. As someone said things lore cavy, which I think she was just doin here, which is awesome lowercase, he said you. I don't think we ever really do fine balance, because once you, freak out about finding balance, he realized like adding balance. You life it just adding more stress, so I think Do you think of our lives as seasons and those seas? funds are coming and going really quickly, and so I've tried it nothing about balance as much as I'm thinking about I'm in a certain season, and I needed just be focused on the season, which has helped me alive release a lot of stress when I think about it. That way, only gosh! Absolutely so tell us

this new season, your in because it has been incredibly watching you transition into motherhood, and you know, and I have so much in common, especially the way that our brains are wired and its, funny when we sit down and talk, because I think people would think we were speaking of foreign language, but you know you ve gone from this photography business too spanning into the education space. In then building a home in going through so much personal stuff while you're preparing for baby, so talk this season, a little bit that change, how your heart is feeling and where you're out, oh man. Well, I feel I can talk about this for about three hours and its Polly, because I've been cooped up in home for three managed not talking to people I have had such just so make over in my mind of what my life look like being more aware of the person than I am when I am working like, I used to know there the things about the way out.

So used to be before I got pregnant before I had a healthcare and had have emergency surgery, while was pregnant The way that I used to run my days and run my life was really hurting, My marriage was hurting our business actually, and I was not aware of it until I had to stop doing everything, and I think that has been the most. I openly thing also the best single prepare me for being alarm. So, what's crazy, just long or short, when I got pregnant my hand, the right hand on the index finger was swollen. Some of it and it was swollen from July, I got pregnant and of maize has fallen from late July until October, and doctors were like no big deal, just pregnancy in a really bad at the beginning of December, as are going to a special is, and he was like. Oh no big deal and then come to find out. For weeks later, I had an aggressive tumor growing in my hand and at eight away eighty percent of my knuckle, which meant that

I was now in a situation where there is a very strong possibility that was gonna have my whole index finger and my whole knuckle amputated, and that is that very finger that I need to click my shudder button or my camera, so talk about like going to the shock of all my back my business. This cannot be what I'm looking for. Because I tell people it's not really deep down like I get a lot of my purpose for my business and so here I am thinking when I lose my finger, I'm pregnant. I have to go in emergency surgery and I could work for two months. I couldn't even type with my hands like it was awful. It was also the best thing that ever happened to me. So I'm sitting there in tears and leave room floor with Michael account. I couldn't survive, it is awful and then I realized like that is the very thing that prepared me for the routine in the schedule of being a mom because I'm not getting cept unaware used to, and I'm ok with that, because I'm just really glad that I

of a daughter and then I have my index finger and it still works in the tumors gone. So I think that the miracles crazy, I mean even weight the thing was happening and my good text as to keep us outdated because you taxed It is such a humbling experience because I think that when we think about are worth we love to like projects where are worth is wrapped up, and I know I am not afraid to admit it like there's a piece of our e oh and you know, ego is described to me as edging got out like. Where are you edging got out of your life, and I think so much of that comes from so many external things, and so I can't even imagine the feeling in this. Stress and even before we hopped on here how you're saying like I had all my plans of like what I was going to do before the baby came and like one of those things happened in humbling like crazy. Oh no, it is so

I'm going in it just makes me realize, like I felt so good about myself when I was doing things that I was really good at and really what has happened is that, like the last year, my life I have grown and I've stretch so much because I entered Didn't you seasons, where I wasn't good at things you know I have posted and share to me. Things not that much, but there's a lot more to be shared in the future. About, like I'm, not domestic lay. I don't feel like. I was ever capable being a mom unlike like now I am, and I would never want to go back. You know I just love this little girl so much and then about like as a wedding photographer, I'm good at certain, things and I'm great at marketing and I'm great at teaching people, but all those things can be stripped away from and really the last three months. They were and are really into focus on like acute getting up each morning like if I'm gonna be joyful, it can't come because of what I can for you used today- its literally gotta- come from the Lord and that's it because I can't produce uneven.

And that's a great great season. From its not a great season to through K. I have a question for you yeah so You ve talked a lot about this and I think that you know speaking to women. I think this is such a good conversation to have is we have felt you and I especially like inadequate in so many pieces of the feminine aspect of our lives, in the sense of like our businesses, are Ino worthy breadwinners or the base of the brand were the unlike if we were given the task. If one of us to clean the house and one of us had to work, drew a definitely be the cleaner, the MIKE is there something broken in me, and I remember when we had talked about both of us starting families. We lived with his fear that there is gonna is something wrong, because so, to her. Life had been so full and so blest, and so you know just gifted to our citizens,

and we were so worried that either the it can't be. This easy, like life, can't be this good and so you know: how have those fears either come to fruition or you know been totally proved obsolete in this process of become mom in going through all of your health stuff, you realize you just said, like a books worth of content in that last, like segment like you, slow woods, and it's so true they're, like I have said over and over again like and living my life, for something to go wrong. That is not the way got. Calls me live, and so I have to speak again said to myself every day and you know through my hand tumor in the scary mess of that. You know when I first heard about it, I thought well, this is it this is, it could be cancerous, I could have cancer, and this has been a b. The big struggle you know cause everyone's gotta. Have this made her struggle on their life and that's the way I honestly cell- and I felt like I was just like. No, it's gonna be scary and needs

trust me, but you need the also stop living your life. Thinking that I'm just gonna throw this black cloud at you for no reason just cause you have and had a massive one recently, you know so how it works. So I felt lie in my life was debunked after I lived through surgery, I dont have cancer, but even if I had had cancer, even if I was living right now with a huge medical struggle like I have grown so much from the scary, less of surgery, the scantiness of the tumor, though stress having a harder pregnancy than other women- and I wouldn't change that so you know like dark storms are going to come and our life, the lake. I I'm welcoming them now. I dont say that lightly and know that that is so scary to say, but we lived through summit. The sheer and I'm so thankful for what it did for my life. My marriage, I mean what you said about the fear of like

not being feminine enough and not being a normal woman, because of the way that I love business. The way that I love provide for my family in a role that normally I mean that's a gift, I mean the fact. Somewhere that way is a gift and for so long I view that, as like, I am broken like something His ruin me because people walk in the room with babies and I don't want to lift them up, and I don't want a baby said and I dont want to cook recipes off Pinterest. What is wrong with it. So I just you like in the season. I have learned to have so much grace for myself and did not put myself in a box has really when we think about ourselves that way they are cells in domestic Box of Lake women. Only look this way and that's not true and also in the season I resent my husband, because he is good at those things in life. Oh, my gosh, like we're all backwards. What is wrong with our myriads like? Why can't we be normal and the truth is that the way there

I can't I live our life and the way that our marriage is set up and the gifts that we each been given like. That is a way God planned it, and if I were just let it be, it would be so much easier. And so we ve been marriage housing for two years and its taken us two years to get to a place where can honestly look at Michael, and he can look at me and be like, I think, I'd, that year delay that you are instead of us, trying to change each other in order to fix her own insecurities. If that makes sense, absolutely so yeah gosh it's been a journey and I I feel it I could sit down and talk for six hours about like what has changed our marriage since all, as has happened, but it's it's just so good. It really is. I agree, one did the coolest things I ever heard. The figures on the radio by basically and this is what I want to do some day when I'm a mom is they had ass. Somebody like what was the best. What in gift you ever received and the person said they received a card from the parents

that side. Should you ever feel the need to hire marriage counselor? We will pay or it no questions ass, and so in that gift removed the stigma of marriage counselling. You know people automatically think like. Oh, my gosh are having problems it made it so that there is never that barrier to get help like. That is exactly I want to offer to my children's day because, like water, blessing to say, like you're getting oh through hell at some point, and we would rather equip you with the tools- and you know the professionals you would need to get through that- and I remember when we talked about it to its, I feel, like you, CBS big, that people kind of shied away from right. Even now, people are embracing it and it's kind of like if your preparing for winter winter will never come, cause you're ready. You know, oh it's so to end like honestly doing

Argillite we call it life coaching, slash, marriage counselling, I called life coaching when I dont want admitted it's a marriage, counselor, really that's what it is and with literally really calls, wouldn't even that we and then afterwards, things like. Oh, my gosh. We really needed that, like our entire. I didn't even know it, and there are things Michael I have known each other for litter. The our entire lies, and there are things that we have never said to each other or figured out about each other until we had a third member come into the conversation, and I mean a change everything I can not recommended enough and we were not falling apart at the seams. Like you said, having a marriage. Counselor doesn't mean that you have problems which they don't three major problems, but you Would you agree? I think every marriage has she ice. So I just like discovering each other like there's. Only the hidden things are flawed, like not flaws, but like in securities that are so. Deeply rooted within our wives. Shining like great, even speak them into existence because it

It means a real. He no yeah and are one of the things we ve done is our marriage counselor like what are the judgments you have against each other and am I I don't have any end into, later. I'm sobbing, unlike my ari, because really like address I've, just really so much about myself, and it explains so mean the problems that we have had in the past and and it really explore. The problems that we ve had working together in business because that's been a struggle. I mean it is not easy to work what your spouse and, though having a marriage counselor has been, but I don't think we would still be working together if we hadn't started having like marriage counselling sessions, because it is literally open our eyes and allowed us to see our marriage in a whole new way and beforehand. We were just always pissed at each other, so miss

so much for several matters. We immediately explain the whole transition of inner you both going full time together what you're rules are in kind of what that looks like for you guys here, so we gosh, I think it's been coming up one five years that we ve been working together. My goal was in a full time, job working as a hastily ease pastor, which was also whom we loved it. That was a whole another story of like trying to decide if we wish to walk from that, though we started working together. He left that job and it Finally start working for me and Jody Gray, said Roy. It's gonna. Take you about four years to get the hang of this, and I was like no its not because we're off and why would it take for years? It's gonna be fine. Well, it's almost five. We are still so. The hardest thing has been Michael, doesn't work like me here. And I want to say this in a really respectful way, because it's something that really great about the way he is, but he does not.

Have work all tendencies like idea. That's one of my greatest flaws and one of his greatest gifts is the ability to relax, and that is why we're together, like it's a great combination, but because I ran the business. It's in my name, it's my baby when he would just cut work off at five p m and there were still stuff to do I would resent member that I would work along within him and I give him attitude when I came downstairs from my office lightened numerous healthy and then those like resentments and judgments against one another like he was ended. The fact that I worked too much so we never talked about it. We just have this underlying tension and that tension who for years and it exploded one year where we're just like you know what this is not working? I dont care of I'll, see you because you are schedules Unita go get a ninety five. I wouldn't key word in this business and run myself into the ground anything will be better than the way life is working together right now,

so we are meeting with a marriage counselor. It has been so rewarding to see like if I would just respond. It's an honor, the way God made Michael then maybe that would act They allow him to live into the gifts in our business that he was supposed to live in two in the beginning. What I one is that I like, because the whales my business and letting my heart get out of control with what my passions I want my priorities were literally making it impossible for Michael to actually thrive in his role in the business, because I was so controlling so cod, mean it's just amazing like now now Michael has specific role, in our business, and I don't mess with those roles. That's not my world. I need to let it go, and so he does so much better working with my sister, the need as working with me, and so the business is set up now. To where I create and I produce content and I'm the faceless

business, but Michael and Emily they literally run the show like a whole back into everything. Is them and the front end his knee and NASA that's why it works, and I never would have gotten there. If someone hadn't sat me down and said Caitlin, let your husband be who he is and stop trying to change him, because you're really just putting yourself in a day call that you're never gonna get out. If you don't stop Now- and that was a long when it responds, but that it literally what we have seen come full circle in the last five years. Do that's incredible in there so many parallels even to wear drew and I are like he is now- working from home and my biggest gifting, is that I am an action. Take her so I have an idea executed, it's done like way faster than sometimes it should be, and he is very, artful and it was driving me crazy, is unlike ok, you need to do

yesterday and then you know he would be very thoughtful in research and do all this stuff in a magnetic just like just do it like you. What are you thinking you so early seriously? Still working on that, you know, it is just this test of your troopers but he is and even the first EU working from home. We started vacuuming at nine, a m, and I like this is not going to work like I actually work from home like I need to do work either. It's been such an interesting road to walk, and I feel that we have separate businesses because you, when you're growing something like we ve grown, I mean we have put in hours about hours and days and weeks and hears into it and then to just let somebody step in and start assuming positions like hard to let go of. It is hard and, like I don't think, like Michael like when you said vacuuming like when drew his vacuuming

My colleague totally do that need does do that, but I had to recognise like that. Is him he sees that is being productive and it is like our house has. To be clean, but I'm on the domestic. So, like I wake up with a business to do as an might always up with How do I need to maintain and sustain our life at home and I'd and now I'm like. Okay, I respect that when before us like what the hell are you Do you know I totally I wish you closer, we would just hang out all the time rightly moist. Please make it an athlete conversations about which cleaning products Sorgen Buzz things we get down to business now. What does that look like now. I would love to hear about your roles in parenting and, as is starting to get back into work, coming off of your leave How are you grace navigating this, because I you know, I think it'll be honour horizon in the next year too, and I'm really interested,

do you not drew as a heart for wanting to be more of a stay at home dad, and I still have a heart for business, and I know that will change, but what does it look like for you guys rate? No, that is such a good question and I I feel like while one we're six weeks ends or Stoka figuring it but because of what I ve learned through like Earth Life coaching emerge, marriage counselling, stuff like I entered. Early find with the fact that Michael is gonna be more involved and most dad would be. Firstly, a ringing every home and this is super vulnerable, but I'm just gonna share, because I think it will help people, but my heart, we're all out of whack and Michael is so good with kids any so comfortable with babies like when Edward, a cry and screamer head off the first week like Michael, would come in swoop in and and take her and soothe her and change the d?

paper and I wish is falling in my room cause. I was just a hormonal wreck and I quickly found that like. I was letting myself believe that, like I'm a bad man, because he just fix the problem- and I couldn't fixer in and then like always we had a marriage counselling go and what I realize wise like. I need to be thing, all the role that my husband can play in our life. Let it led the insecurity, my own life, and since I recognise that, like now oh Michael's role is not doesn't mean feel inferior, I see it as a supplement to being just great parents like every need, Michael to be really strong in his gifting in every needs me to be really strong mine. She doesn't need one parent to fix everything like Being a good mom doesn't mean that I always have to change diapers. I always have to be the one to rock her to sleep like praise. The Lord, I have a husband that loves to do that, because some men don't so I'm just respect Michael and am choosing to be thankful because of those things in his life.

I'm not letting it attack my insecurity that I've had my whole life, Just recognising that has been a game changer, so we're working again, and I know it's only six weeks and by like I told you before the call because of my surgery like everything we would you beforehand. I basically took maternity leave before she was born, and now I've had six weeks off, but we're getting back into it because I didn't get everything does so. We have had like two to three days this week, where my mama his mom, will come We have some grand baby time and Michael. I can work and we work so efficiently. Like I asked I can't imagine, oh my god, it's like. Ok, we have three hours of childcare, we're going yet the stuff done and we do and it's amazing and it makes me feel so good and then Weird thing happened to me: we're like sometimes I just have this desire to like ok, I'm done I don't wanna. Do it anymore. I just wanna go holder with her and I have never had anything in my life and it makes me want to cry.

Like never ever waiting for that like what is what, if I ever gonna have in my life like that, will make me not desire to work as much in it's. And like all like, I'm sure it makes him man cause he's been trying to make me stop work to do marriage things for the last six years old you like, but you didn't you but off when you have the freedom and when she's napping you in your child care, because when you're done working like your reward, is getting the go, hang out with your baby, and that is so far it's been a really cool system in its working. And when she's napping you in your child care, because we, You're done working like your reward is getting the go, hang out with your baby, and that is so far. It's been a really cool system, it's working really well so yeah I don't know that answer that question or not, but it is something that I think is often that we talked about in. I would love to hear your thoughts on this too, is for us

who had to I for the month Irish, like really afraid of actually taking time off. You know you're like yes, I know I can do this. I need this, but then I like much my brain. You know I've convince myself for so long. My brain functions at a higher level and I can't shut off like no I've. Never given myself the opportunity to select quiet it raise. We were there realizing like nothing, is urgent in, I think to like you said when you have something so incredible in your life. You look like, oh, that Emily our posting on Instagram or whenever any just feel so insignificant. So don't you and see at all when you were like on maternity leave her. How did your group, how did you feel about everything. While you were actually taking time to rest, especially in your season prior to halving of e, where I think the hardest for me was like when you do

a new baby. You have a lot of time to nurse and feeder, especially the first like two weeks would like every two hours you know So what that means is like I, I've committed to the first time she nurses a day like I have a list of people and praying for my phone like that time of the Lord, but I don't do that every time she nurses, and so you look her phone a lot more and the hard they about that. Is it I'm sitting you're doing nothing. What I'm doing, nothing, I'm keeping a human being alive, which I have to remind myself a bad. But I scroll my phone and I said- what I used to be doing and other people and I get release Erin overwhelmed and anxious about that Latin America. Not doing that. I need to be doing that. My business is going to crumble, I'm falling behind I'm not a leader anymore at those are all the things I think about, and then I have to think about investigating and

quote that I've gotten from our you, don't think I just worship my marriage counselor, but really it is really beneficial. She says like Kalen, you can investigate your thoughts, can suffer from an securities, so you think about. What's going on in your head and decide? Is that truth? Because if it is truth, then you would see Also that in other ways like you would have a bank account was zero in it. If you were really losing your business, if it is true that your a leader you wouldn T, have people there. Still follow you and still ask you, questions in your inbox, like those aren't true, like I'm just will leaving lies, and so I had to remind myself the first weeks have been a mom like I am in the season and the Lord has given me this precious gift and how dare I sit here on my phone and start thinking that I should be doing anything besides feeding her right now? That is the only thing I'm supposed to be.

Doing and I'm not gonna lie like I still struggle with it, but it's gone so much better now and I can think Ok Kalen investigate your thoughts. What the heck is true, what is it and don't act out of insecurity, because it always burns me so yeah that's been hard, its reality. Everyone goes through that and I think to especially when you go from such as seas, in of her soul. Unlike you're. So exactly like, I look at hustle, in this sense of I, like love, what I'm doing like it's hard to get me away from it, because I actually enjoy playing by then switching from that into totally changing gears and mean like ok, it's time to slow down and unlike pause and take this new season, Are we giving eyes like a so challenging and a joke about it, but a little I thank the Lord gave me a hand tumor to show me how to do it, because I couldn t do it. You know I had to be forced to do. Almost and Michael, has

Ben wanting me to learn how to slow down for six years, and I couldn't do it until the season and so I feel like, If I had any like magic words of wisdom for slowing down I'll of what you said before Balikh slowing down it. It does. It looks different for you and I think it looks different for everybody slowing down for me, is not. Doing things with work which either snuggling with our baby or its doing personal things that fire me up. Like I agree with you like, I can't sit on the couch for animals in a whole series of Netflix, but I can't and on the couch and make a photo both from a vacation, and that is not work, that's fun for me and its personal and something that is really happy or I've noticed like. Ok, I want to slow down. Have it renewed, have no working, but I will decorate,

the whole wallner bedroom and it makes me come alive like what fires me up is what I feel relax doing. So I think it's different for everybody. He friends are you enjoying today's episode. Awesome, I thought so I wanted to remind you about our free training coming up. You can sign up and join at photo of an ar dot com. There are five free live training all about how I doubled my starter fee income in two years. While working less go to photo weapon, our dotcom snake, your seat show up enjoy me so that we can hang out live together, and I can answer all of your biggest questions. Absolutely I always and sometimes, if I just go on Pinterest and see what I'm being pulled towards it gives me like something else. To put my energy and to sell a great now we're DEC, getting the Hawaii condo and it's like so far

to be switching gears and thinking about it in such a different way like looking at benches, are surfboards or you know things like that, were you like, I do have other passions and I think to we're very good at convincing ourselves, especially women like us, You are really like strong businesswoman, we're like no. This is my purpose, This- is what I'm good at what I like being good at things: the key being tackling in bits ourselves that that's all we have like. That is the goal of who we are that, Sir true in ivory as the last several years that, like I almost worship the fact that I'm so good at certain things, men, because I'm so good at them. I just want to keep doing them and I don't want to do other things, because what? If I'm not good at those things, you know, I don't want to switch gears because I'm way, at this rate now also was just stay on that Minos train of thought. But I d I till I get an if I could like hawaiian condo to decorate like that makes me want to just go out and buy something tropical because

everywhere if everybody we win by recently is baby orientation, so guys you're. What is that Things like I've always wondered you know and people are like. I don't even shot formation. If anymore I shot for the baby. Is that true, Well, we did just gonna target the other day and I didn't even go to the clothing section. Four women I just went to the baby girl section, unlike oh my god, what has happened to me? How do I did buyers and really cute little coral caprice? like some verses her when she goes, the elections is a completely different train of thought, like I used to think when I first got pregnant. Unlike people are telling me about all this crap, I need to buy like what they act as a bamboo see, ram, and now I know what all those things are so, but it is just the best and it is a weird new season, but it's the best season and I just am thankful for, but I also know that I am still very new to its I'm trying to figure it out as I go. You have to do.

On play, how far you ve already come, you know, like others, we always have that tendency to like compare ourselves the people to or like either we have it so easy. So you know you said we are preparing for the storm that may or may not warm constantly, and so you early killing it. What did you do for your business this like so you find that your pregnant so amazing, how do you know recommend preparing your butt? and again? This is all new territory, you're still figuring it out. One hundred things did you guys do in order to prepare for this new season of life. I think, honestly, we we're pregnant in the midst of wedding season, and so we do have an assistant. But it's almost like kicks man but in gear and like allow me to release my control on a lot of things that I was still hanging onto could I knew like there are things that I want to get done, so my business will work for me, wins I dont want to be working, and so

I handed over. A lot a task to my sister, so you know little things like she. Orders are wedding albums for us, and so I used to look over all design. I dont does I'm a wedding albums by you, so look over the design that are designer did before we would order it just make sure I was comfortable with it Why was I doing that? I have no idea, so I gave it up now. I don't do that, my client, so they like it. So I'm just gonna trusted my sister now orders it. I got that thing off monthly, so others will do everything. It was consuming time, and I got rid of all the little things that I was saying as too, because in my control issues and I release control, could I trust my sister and I trust, Michael, I trust their team, so yeah. I handed over all the unnecessary tasks and that freed up a lot of time and a lot of mental space, and I think the middle face, is really more beneficial and even the free time, because when your brain is packed full of all this stuff that you have to do, you really start a functional that, and it is not pretty soon.

So yeah mentally. I clear some had space and I really something about like ok, I really need to get ahead no on what my expectations are and I am so glad I did because now that I am apparent like an example would be I decided before moving. How's that I knew there was and biota decorated. The way I decorator last house, I decorator, left thousand literally two months the whole thing was decorated. That's not the cases time and I'm really grateful- I set that expectation cause I don't freak out about. It is like I'm a photographer, and now I'm responsible for documenting my own babies, life wall people have been sending US baby books. Day. One and I decided, like you, know what I'm not can do all this. I'm gonna pick the best thing that fit what I want. I am willing to do one thing so every does have a mass and baby booklet you fill in all little things. She has a promptly journal. Was it's like a childhood history journal and because, what's important to me as well,

a few great pictures in writing letters to her. So now, that's all I do like once a month. I am committed to that. I'm not gonna. Do all the things like I didn't do the whole one picture a month of my bump. Every day. Is that some rights? So I just said o d, like all normal pregnancy, things that everyone else is doing, and it was so freeing and it also we do not forget over business stuff, so I think that happens it our business to wear again. I think it's so so much in so much of this conversation is about like falling it's the lies and the fears, and even when we are talking in business, it's a great now We're looking out like where is our time being spent and one is? It influences other people in a positive way and to is moving the bottom line, because at the end of the day, we need to be thinking as sea oaths and if we're working in our business were not actually working, honor business, and so it so much of like letting go of

all these little things that we ve convinced ourselves that only we can do, and I think that even as you said, like letting go of approving an album like you, I think it comes from confidence of knowing that you raised of leaders that can now do that, for you do greedy. Yet I totally agree that it allows them to rise up and still, the role or asking them to feel like it gives my sister a confidence when, unlike hey, you but I know, I'm the one with the design background, but I want you to make this graphic because I dont need to make it and you're good at this. You know have salute way, is releasing control like I don't need to be making graphics she's great. As you know, it's- and I think to I mean we're- did you start hiring your team because for us it was like a year ago and we actually started having like contractors that were steady with us in that kind of thing we so I hire our editor five years ago, which is crazy, it's

been a long time. She feels like she's apart the family name. We have worked with her exclusively for five, years, and then we got you know we outsource our design the next year, and then we had our actual team start forming almost were working on two years who in June and will be two years and as we heard my sister as like: hey I'm gonna pay a couple hours a week to do. This is in this monitor social media proof of my blog posts. Things like that and now that Emily is literally running the whole back end of our business like if you are a part of our courses, she knows who you are like in the EU are like she just she does all the customer support she's raising and so yeah. And then we hired my mom and my mom does amazing things, but she now that we have a baby like she has taken over a lot of life roles and making sure that our house is running in helping us with that. So that, Michael, I can do it only weaken. Do you know it so funny is that I think are mobs, be friends because

to all my mom about you and like what you ve done with your mom and so now my mom has in her head moment here. Listening so I'll, get you to retire and do it, Caitlin smiling listening, but what it blessing to be able to use your business in a way to help support your family too. I mean that's insane it did. You ever think I could get that in a law and no unlike- oh, I guess- I'm not gonna Craig is unwanted have you any blame on hormones, but we are kind of feminine that we cry like. I know you can see. We are feminine. Generally, MRS Fine, I just when I think of oh how miserable my mom was in her job before and my mom like. Doesn't she is I get my work ethic from her like she was there too I'm getting the job done like she's, so working, but she also doesn't have it real mindset that I do so like she felt stuck in the job that she had. Unlike the business at the Lord gave me one

twenty years old. As a college student is now the same business, it allowed my mom to basically have a dream job she's, getting to help her daughter and her son in law run their life and its giving us so much peace in our it's just a win win an. I never thought this would happen ever and it's that is my greatest success. Honestly, like we ve been in magazines with, open. It conferences around the world, but like the greatest success in my business, is it my mom got to go. The job she hated and now she is so much join your life like that, and my baby sister has a baby of her own. She doesn't ITALY for work every day. She gives a bit moment. A baby, because I created a successful business. That's crazy! It means that is kind of heavy, but like in a really cool way. Yeah. I may I acted not focus on like that, risk of Alec. Oh my gosh, if I don't do something, we can't believe that, although they can't pay their bills, but that, like you, can't think

like that and be an entrepreneur at the same time right, that's so cool! What is the rest of the year look like for you? Did you guys take on less weddings? Did you play unless education, or are you kind of just letting things and fold as they will? Well, we have half the amount of weddings that we ve done in the past, so we're doing like fourteen weddings and that's gonna be awesome I've never had my summer, you know said Polly I've never had a free summer. So we have, going on, and there are heavy months than light months good. We, have another big educational thing in the works for this summer, but until then we have some little things going and we actually sorry hosting workshops again so we in our new house, which is so exciting using now the first two or sold out, and they will release the second too, as we get closer to those dates but yeah in some ways it's like ours down, but really what I think is happening is that I'm just learning how to have contentment,

the season when I'm in so yeah I can still do I want to do and only work through days a week when, before I was really working seven days a week and covering enough and time you boy wasn't, so that's it as a true transparency. There Herschel oh it's funny to you that I think about so often is it's like we hours like as much when you have an educators, heart Nino your eyes, coming out things from a place of service and we were serving the idea of busy like we were serving the eye of hustle. We now actually understanding that It's funny now, because I can see it in other people it's like, I know that their working around the clock in like me last night, I went out to dinner with my parents, like I'm working from my brother's house right now, my neck, You are playing upstairs and it's just such a beautiful thing to actually see what it looks like on the other side and, though the rest, is now is greener, and so while it might feel like you're

slowing down, I dont think you are, I think you ve prepared to handle the bill. In a new way. You know, no, I can totally I'd that's a great line. I wouldn't put that on my mirror, turn me of its ivy league you're, always with me. Are you prepared, for I mean that's why you ve worked so hard for and its I mean really you're, probably not going to do things all that differently, but now you are able to handle it in a totally new way in force to in a beautiful way with having a sweet baby. You know right now and in it so handling the think about like what, if you were given this, I go. If you were given those seasons of hard work in the success it I have now like, and it was for the purpose of being able to slow down, but because I my insecurity, I never slow down like I never got to live in the joyful season and the peaceful season that I worked so hard for it. Like that would be devastating telegram I'm eighty years old and be like? I just never took time to

enjoy what I had worked so hard for. You know, oh my gosh, absolutely so. Where can ever? but he find you because you have to see all of your accounts because eyes all of them and I need everyone else, do so. First work and everybody fine do well. I think the easiest place to make sure that you say up to date is obviously through Instagram, so at Caitlin, Jane Instagram. But if you are, tag referring you want to learn? You want to grow even gotTa Caitlin James Education, dot com, but what I would actually recommend now, I'm using the link tree option one. My bio, profound interim. We have all of Our most important and most up to date links there and allows you to have three downloads allows you to sign up for women. Are that we're doing? We were helping photographers with marketing, there's all the links there, just all the way. In their underneath. My interim profiles, that's a great place to send people absolutely. I just want to say like thank you, For being you, I won't have the most incredible

Everyone needs to know about. You is from day one. We had this such an honor, relationship. I remember we are sitting down together for the first time meeting a burden and we're like tat, each other things or like I've, never told anyone that, like my mom, is the only one that knows that we can build friendships like that and that all start Something is silly, is Instagram or you know watching each other finally saying like we need to be friends, a genuinely praying very each other and supporting each other, and you know asking each other hard questions. I just think it such a blessing in such Root estimate that community over competition can exist, shorn can greed beautiful things and can create just like positive influences in your life. Now it's. A true- and I just want to say like for those that are listening- that don't you haven't had the privilege the meetings in person like she's, the real deal and I think it's just such a blessing. Like to me,

someone who knew just so open with me and, like so honest with me, and I think that that was vulnerability and friendship is that's how you gain intimacy That's how you getting really long, lasting, deeply rooted friendships, and I'm just thankful for that. So speaking, on a pile of gas again to talk to you as such, like highlighted, a week, but with you in person would be even better if we might want to make that happen. Yeah I'm gonna come and you have to go to go Kate Linz home account homemade for hosting her house is total goals, and it's been such a beautiful thing to see how you guys have gotten to that point- and you have has been so honest throughout that process as well, and I think that is just such enemy. May I always feel so uncomfortable in people comment like hashtag goals, Keziah like while, ok, it's picture, I make it look like that, but in reality it's probably hashtag, not gulls thing to be able to watch a transformation in really see your heart of service in that, and also just how incorrect

or is it to watch people actually achieve things that they ve been dreaming about, like? How can you know get behind that? You know right, and an obviously like that. It was all the Lord and I look at it now and, unlike we are living in a house on land that with never foresail. How did this happen? Railway, don't worry you just gotta share it. You know absolute, Oh, my gosh will. Thank you so much for coming on. You are one of my dearest friends and I'm just so happy that the gold digger audience gets to hear from your heart. So thank you, my love, you so welcome. It was an honour thanks for listening to gold, digger dive into show those for this episode and all past episodes at W W W Tat gold, digger, podcast dotcom. Thanks for listening and you'll, see a next time you gold, digging dream chaser. You.