Solopreneur Without Going Broke

Money fear can freeze the biggest dreams. We talk candidly about what it looks like to want a solopreneur life while still needing stability, and how to move forward without blowing up your finances. Our guiding idea is simple and doable: don’t force a dramatic “quit and pray” moment. Instead, build in a straddle season where you keep your current income, carve out focused time, and stack small wins until the next step is obvious.

Allison Coleman

• Website: http://www.acespayments.com/
• Email: hello@northstarsanctuary.net
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/allisoncoleman1

Then we zoom out to something bigger than business: service. When you’re stressed or in a dark place, volunteering and supporting a nonprofit can pull your attention outward and help you reset. That’s why we spotlight the Mallory Gaston Foundation in Sausalito, California, a community gym and wellness nonprofit where affordable memberships help fund youth and young adults earning fitness instructor certifications. 

Join us as we support the Mallory Gaston Foundation this month!

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Transcript

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Welcome To Friends From Wild Places

Voiceover 0:03

Tales from the Wild. Stories from the Heart. A journey into the mind and soul of FIDE business professionals where they share their vision for the future. And hear from a different non-profit organization every month as they create awareness of their goals and their needs. Dive into a world of untamed passion. As we join our host, Shireen Botha, for this month's episode of Friends from Wild Places.

Tanya Scotece 0:35

Yeah,

Facing Financial Fear Before Going Solo

Tanya Scotece 0:36

well, let me ask you though, Alison. So we have like a lot of our listeners are maybe some of them that described like on the brink of like being becoming a solopreneur, like wanting to take that leap, but have resistance with financial, financial abundance. So do you have any words of wisdom to say maybe it's fear for some folks taking the leap into doing something different? And or you know, how does one navigate? I hear, like, you know, maybe leaning back as far as lifestyle and things like that, but how does one balance starting something new with maybe limited resources? Or would you suggest saving first and then taking the leap? Like what's the best, you know, because sometimes people don't do what they want to do because of logistics, aka finances.

Shireen Botha 1:27

Good question.

Tanya Scotece 1:28

Absolutely.

Allison Coleman 1:28

Uh I was as someone who's tapping into retirement savings, I I completely understand that. I think it's a balancing act. I think if you look at a lot of the communities that I I'm in, it's it's people straddling both, which is a lot, especially if you're a parent or you're juggling many things, right? And that's I don't advise like quick cold turkey and run off unless you really have that will. But I think there's a way you can straddle and you know, instead of Netflixing at night or scrolling, that you are learning and trying to build, right? Build something that I mean, you could do something boring that, you know, I see all these clips around, you know, start a car wash service or, you know, bookkeeping or this or that. But like for me, I think just personally, it I think it has to be something for me that I really love. Um, but I think there's a way that you can keep some security right that you're but that you're educating that maybe you're putting in, you're getting up a half an hour early and you're putting a few hours in at night. And

Building Skills With Free Online Learning

Allison Coleman 2:39

I think there's enough communities, coaches, and programs, right? And if you don't have the resources to invest in that, I do think there's so much content on the internet, on YouTube, Instagram, all the platforms, right? That you can you can get these skills, right? If we just take AI every day on LinkedIn, there's a lot of courses that some of the leading companies are offering for free, right? I was just hearing that someone could get certification in AI and be paid, right, as a full-time job to learn, right? So these are options, I think, regardless of your age. Some have age restrictions. But I I don't think we've ever lived in a world that you have more access to information if you choose to pursue a path.

Tanya Scotece 3:26

Yeah, awesome, awesome. Thank you for sharing.

Shireen Botha 3:29

Yeah, thank you, Alison. That's such great answers you're giving today and so inspiring. Um

Why Volunteering Helps In Dark Times

Shireen Botha 3:36

talking about inspiring, let's talk about the non-profit we want to support for the month. Because again, you've heard me talk about this before. It's so important to pay back, it's so important to give back. Um, you know, life's not always about getting. In fact, life is more about giving than it is getting. Um, and you know, we hear about it, you we hear these kinds of things in B and I, and you know, us BNIs, we we we know the whole give is gain, but it's more than that. It's in the little things in life where if you're stressed, if you're going through a really dark time, do yourself a favor, go and find a non-profit, an organization in your community, go volunteer, tell you something, go help someone. I promise you it'll take your mind off yourself. Mind off yourself and do something that that matters. Um I promise you you'll feel a whole lot better. I'm not saying it's gonna take you out of that dark spot, I'm not saying it's going to perform miracles and and take away all the problems that you currently have in your life. What I'm saying is it'll take the focus off yourself for a while on somebody else that really, really just needs your time and your attention. So do that, go volunteer at an organization in your community, um, go donate, do something. Uh,

Mallory Gaston Foundation And Its Mission

Shireen Botha 5:03

and that said, this month's organization that we want to support is called Mallory Gaston Foundation. That's it, Mallory Gaston Foundation. This is located in Sol Salito in the Bay Area, California. We will have all the links in the show notes for you listeners to go and check out and um to go learn more about. But we're gonna hear from Allison now. Allison, just mention to us and the listeners what is Mallory Gaston Foundation all about? What do they do for the community and how can we help them?

Allison Coleman 5:40

Thank you. Um so I love what you shared about. You know, the quickest way for us to get out of our own way is to really just look around and be in service. And so I think we see that in BI. But um I've been missing something since I left Toronto where I was a teacher and working so closely with youth. And I've found pockets of that in New York and in Chicago, but I stumbled upon a couple of leaders at a farmer's market in Sausalito on a Sunday. They had a tent, Mallory Gaston Foundation, and they basically have a local gym. They have a few of them. Mallory has run 20 plus gyms, you know, with his partner. They created this gym, and the whole idea is building community around health and fitness. The idea, if you become a member, well, the cool thing about this gym, you're staring at the water. There's an outside lab. So if the three of us want to box on the hillside looking at the boats, we could open up the container and we could pull out boxing gloves, we could pull out kettlebells, we could be doing rowing, right? And I could have north right by my side. So it's a 24-7 gym in Sausalito. They are looking to expand. They have a whole container that allows you to train outdoors. They do yoga on the deck outside. They have a couple of professionals that literally it's like a boxing gym. And I surprisingly fell in love with this boxing a couple weeks ago, and now I have boxing gloves to stay strong, Tanya, just like you know, with the Plotties and other things. What I love about this community, all ages, 24-7, right? So if you're in a dark place at 9 p.m. and you don't want to watch a rerun of Dexter, get your butt in the gym, turn on the lights, put on your favorite music. Dogs are welcome. People of all ages. Um, with North, I'm biased that if I go to a gym, it's hard. Um, I leave North at home. So North is welcome there. He's not always best behaved, so that may mean it's a short gym visit. But um this community, they keep the membership at a very low rate. And with your membership, you are paying into supporting a young adult or youth, get the certification so that they can become a fitness instructor. This is game-changing for a student that maybe they're looking at minimum wage, which in California is higher than other places, but it will allow them a different path, again, instilling those habits of health and well-being from an early age. And so your membership, you're opening up these doors to this inclusive community. Um, we're doing this whole strength building in July, watching World Cup out on the lawn. Um we had a movie viewing of a piece around one of the first uh female boxers um that you know won at the world stage. Um, I love the community. It's not about profit, um, it's the their mission. And it's just been something nagging at me for years, and I knew it was a fit. And so I just started showing up. I tried to help them in terms of some of their technology choices. Um, I want to be teaching there, but it it's just a feel good. It feels unlike any other gym I've been in. And to know that your membership dollars could be changing the lives of adults and youth in terms of putting them on a path as a wellness professional, that lights me up. And uh I can't speak more highly, Mallory and Alana, who kind of are the at the helm. Um, they're at this tirelessly, around the clock, training and setting an example for the community. And um I just feel incredibly blessed that I found this group and want to be a huge contribution and would love people to any kind of support would be game-changing. It means another student, another adult could find a whole new career path that you know could be life-changing for them.

Shireen Botha 9:55

Right.

Tanya Scotece 9:56

Thank you.

Allison Coleman 9:56

Yeah, maybe we need them to expand into Miami and so that's right, yeah, Florida.

Tanya Scotece 10:00

I got a Florida over here. So thank you.

Shireen Botha 10:03

Yeah, thank you, Alison. Yeah, you heard it, listeners. Go and check it out. We have the links in the show notes. Uh, see if you're in the area, go check it, see what you can do for them. But if you're not, there is a place to donate, there is a place where you can support. Um, with that said, we're gonna get into a little bit of a lighthearted section of the podcast.

Two Truths And A Lie

Shireen Botha 10:24

We're gonna play a game. We're gonna play a game called Two Truths and a Lie. And I know Allison's played this with me, Tanya's played this with me. Um, this is a great way just to get to know each other a little bit better. So, um, shall we begin? Who wants to go first?

Tanya Scotece 10:45

Let's see. I gotta hold, give me a second here. Let's two two truths and a lie. Okay, let's see. Two truths. Alright, shall I go first? You should go first. You should go first.

Shireen Botha 10:56

Yes, you should go first, Shereen. First statement out of the three is I have never broken a bone. Second statement is I have almost stepped on a over three meter long python. Third statement. I um I was very athletic in school, which is the lie. Can you repeat it once more? So my three statements were I have never broken a bone. I have almost stepped on a python over three meters long, and I was very athletic in school.

Allison Coleman 11:54

Do I go first, Tanya?

Tanya Scotece 11:58

Yes, so I'm gonna omit the the Python and let's go with the athletic one.

Shireen Botha 12:07

That's are you saying that's the lie, Tanya? Yeah, that's the lie though. Okay, Alison, what do you think is the lie?

Allison Coleman 12:17

Between the athletic and your first statement around uh broken the bone. Um okay, I'm gonna mix it up and say the broken bone.

Shireen Botha 12:30

Yes, the lie is I have never broken a bone. Of course I've broken bones. I'm a little bit of a yeah, I've been quite athletic in school. I've almost stepped on an over three-meter long python when I was in the bush. Um, I've broken my nose um multiple times. I've had to have a nose job because of it. I've broken my toes. So wow.

Tanya Scotece 12:58

I learned so much about Shireen when we played this game. All right, who's next? You want to go, Allison, or do you want me to go? What's your preference? I want you to go. You want me to go? Okay. So let's begin. I danced from the age of two to twenty two years old. I love to do headstands. I love to do handstands. I'll repeat it. I danced from two to twenty two years of age. I love to do headstands. I love to do handstands.

Shireen Botha 13:42

Okay, I think I know the lie. I believe you do not love to do headstands, because that's really hard and it's uncomfortable. So that's my one.

Allison Coleman 13:54

Okay, how about you, Allison? I think it's the headstands because you haven't really been deep in yoga. So I'm gonna go with headstands. Uh yes.

Tanya Scotece 14:09

Okay, so actually, I love to do headstands, but I'm master, I cannot get myself into a handstand on myself by myself yet. So yeah, headstands I can do two seconds. Yeah, upside down, up, no problem. But handstands still a struggle.

Shireen Botha 14:29

Yeah.

Tanya Scotece 14:29

Yeah. How about you, Allison? How about you? Let's hear. I want to hear, let's let's dive deeper into your world.

Allison Coleman 14:40

Okay, uh, um I am one of those dark-haired Irish women based on my mom's ancestry as a Fitzpatrick, born in Gaspe, Quebec. Two, a key reason for my move to San Francisco was my desire to surf locally. Three, I ran as a member of the charity water team for the Hood to Coast relay race in Oregon and spoke with the CEO Scott Harrison for support during our 24-hour leg.

Tanya Scotece 15:20

I'm just gonna go with the surfing. I haven't heard you mention surfing at all, so I'm just gonna go with that one being the lie.

Shireen Botha 15:27

I think number two is the lie.

Allison Coleman 15:33

You guys are on it, so silently I have this love and desire to surf, but I have not surfed, probably because of my fractured wrist accident trail. And um so I'm jealous. I'm around surfers, I see them at the ocean, but that is one scary thing that I haven't done. So you guys are on it.

Tanya Scotece 15:58

Wow, all right, all right. Well, maybe there's a way to gently ease into that uh into that sport, right?

Allison Coleman 16:04

To uh I just throw North in the water to body surf for me. If I could go back and be like a teen again, I would be in surf camp. But wow, cool.

How North Inspired North Star

Tanya Scotece 16:19

Yeah, so I have I have one follow-up question regarding North. So I see the name of your company is North Star Sanctuary, correct? Did North Yeah, launching? Yes, go ahead. Okay, so my question is the your four-legged baby here, is he named after the North Star, or you have an affinity for the word north, or is the company named after the dog? Or like how do we fit North Star and North all in the same family?

Allison Coleman 16:49

Very good question. Uh, so one, it's he's white or very white. He's got some cream, but he's a beast. I say he should play in the NHL, as as uh Shereen knows. Um the Toronto Raptor NBA team, their slogan is we the north. He reminds me of the snow that I'm not missing. So um I called them North. Also, it's a cool name. It's not to do with Kanye West's child or anything like that. Um, and just like my yoga mat, he's kind of been my compass. The lessons I've learned in the last five years being his mama um have been life-changing. So it's kind of all of those. How do we know that he was gonna get another nickname of Northy or Nordia's uh sharing? That days around. Yeah, yeah.

Tanya Scotece 17:44

And and and I am familiar, my my daughter, um, her husband's uh parents actually have a golden cream.

Shireen Botha 17:53

Okay. Beautiful dogs.

Tanya Scotece 17:55

Yes, yes, its name is Cannoli. Is it again? Cannoli. And they have another a golden retriever that's named latte, so they have cannoli and latte.

Allison Coleman 18:05

Oh my gosh. So cute. All right, that family that eats well, I believe.

Tanya Scotece 18:11

Yes, yes, all Italian. Yes, all Italian.

How To Reach Us And Get Involved

Shireen Botha 18:16

Okay, listeners, we're sorry to do this. This is the end. We're so excited that you could be here for us and with us and join us. And so I know the listeners many times want to reach out if they get inspired by us or one of us and would really like to ask a few further questions that they might have. Is there a place that they can reach you and where? Uh Alison, go ahead.

Allison Coleman 18:40

Yeah, so my website is in construction, but uh hello at Northstarsanctuary.net, you can put that in the notes. And you can also find me on LinkedIn and hope to have the website up and running soon. If you're in Northern California, you can come see me at Meta Yoga. Um, and if there's any women that are in Northern California or visiting and want a day in the Redwoods, uh July 11th, we've got a couple spots left. Uh, wish the two of you could be joining. But um yeah, uh I'm just an advocate for everyone finding the mat, being out in nature, and uh resetting the nervous system, using that breath. Tanya, you've motivated me around the meditation practice, all of these pieces.

Tanya Scotece 19:29

Awesome, awesome, beautiful. All right, so if anybody is interested in maybe a career change in funeral service, if any of our listeners considered being a funeral director, embalmer, aka mortician, as a lot of our lay people like to say, you can contact me through Miami Dade College. I am the program coordinator. We currently have over a hundred students studying this degree. Yes, it is a degree, it's an associate degree of science. I also serve quite regularly as an expert witness for funeral home and cemetery litigation cases. And my blessed work with BI is I match people with assisted living communities who can no longer live alone. My area specifically is the Alzheimer's dementia population. So that is specifically Florida-based. So if anyone knows anyone that has a loved one with dementia and is trying to understand or navigate the quote-unquote system as far as keeping somebody at home versus a nursing home, what's the option? Definitely would love and welcome that conversation. We are a free placement agency. There is no charge to use us. We get paid by the community if we make a match. So, and LinkedIn is my hub. Many of our listeners know I don't have a TV. So I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn, and uh sometimes I think my administration wonders if I actually work because I'm so frequently on LinkedIn. So that's about all from me. And how about you, Shireen?

Shireen Botha 20:57

Oh, thank you, uh Tanya. Thank you, Alison. So, yes, uh, you can find Shireen's bookkeeping services on all socials from LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Shireen Botha. If you want to see and follow me on my adventures, you can do that too. More importantly, Friends from Wild Places, uh, you can see us on or and find us on all the live streaming platforms. Just search Friends from Wild Places. We do have a website, friends from wildplaces.buzzsprout.com. That's friends from wildplaces.buzzsprout.com. Please leave a review. Let us know what you think. Go and check out our other uh content, it's really great and interesting. Uh subscribe if you want to, and remember, thank you so much for joining us. And remember, you got this, and stay wild. Bye, guys. Thank you, guys. Bye bye.

Voiceover 21:53

You've

Final Goodbye And Subscribe Reminder

Voiceover 21:54

been listening to Friends from Wild Places with Shireen Botha. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast from the links to catch every episode and unleash your passion.