The Morning Upgrade Podcast with Ryan Cote

#74 - Being Honest to Build Trust With Gabby Ianniello

January 02, 2022 Ryan Cote Episode 74
The Morning Upgrade Podcast with Ryan Cote
#74 - Being Honest to Build Trust With Gabby Ianniello
Show Notes Transcript

In this episode of the Morning Upgrade podcast I talk with Gabby Ianniello about her morning routine, thought organization strategies, building trust, taking breaks and more. 

Ryan 

Hey guys, it's Ryan real quick. So my mission with the Morning Upgrade blog and podcast is to raise the awareness of morning routines and personal development. And I now have two products that are also helped me with this mission. The first product helps you start a 20 minute morning routine. And the second product is a book that outlines how to use personal development upgrade your life and business. You can get full details on both products over at morningupgrade.com. Thanks for letting me share. And now on to the show.


Announcer  

Welcome to the Morning Upgrade podcast with Ryan Cote where we feature casual conversations with entrepreneurs about personal development and growth.


Ryan  

Hey, Gabby, welcome to the Morning Upgrade podcast. How are you?


Gabby  

Hi, good. How are you?


Ryan  

I'm doing great. Really great. I'm excited to speak to you about personal development, morning routines. Maybe we'll weave some business questions in. But first, for my audience of morning upgraders Why don't you tell everyone who you are, what you do for a living and then maybe one or two of your hobbies?


Gabby 

Yeah, sure. So I'm Gabby Ianniello. I am a corporate quitter, I left my corporate job after five or six years to pursue online business. And that was a few months ago. And since then, I've now grown a business out of it. So I have the Corporate Quitter podcast and have just recently released the Corporate Quitter Club, which is essentially a platform for millennials to kind of get you know the basics of learning a business or starting to fight the side hustle without actually losing the time losing the money getting scammed out of 5k by some online guru who is full of you know, BS, and who's not going to actually teach you the things you need to know.


Ryan 

So this is a new thing three months, you quit your job three months ago,


Gabby  

In February of 2021. So a few months ago.


Ryan 

So, what's it been like so far? Like what were you were you scared at first or excited are


Gabby 

Definitely a combination. It's always scary to take a leap like that. But I'm I love challenge. I love change. I'm not afraid to take risks. So for me, it was just like, Okay, I you know, I do really well with like pivoting you know, as things go on, I'm really good at resolving challenges and doing all that. So it's been really, really fun, super fulfilling. And that's amazing, because that's kind of the main reason why I left corporate but it does suck. Sometimes it is not easy. People are mean, they're rude, they waste your time, money is obviously tight. There's a lot of upfront investment in the way of time and money that goes into making something you know, and taking it off the ground. But it's been really, really awesome to see all of my efforts, right, the long nights and the weekends and the you know, all of that stuff, how it's starting to transpire, like into something greater than I thought it would ever be.


Ryan  

Yeah, that's exciting. That sounds like a really cool adventure. What's your goals for next year? Like where do you want to take the take the business? Have you thought about it?


Gabby  

Yeah, a little bit. Yeah, I just I'd like to get into a place where it's a little more automated. Because right now there's something that I read in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad is there's a difference between being self employed and having a small business. So when you're self employed, right, you run the show yourself, the business is entirely dependent on you. But when you're a small business, you have plans in place and people in place and automated systems so that you can kind of take a bit of a backseat, and it doesn't completely depend on you. So automating it would be great. But then obviously, we're getting to a place that there may be I'm breaking even in business versus the you know, the payout, being kind of more so than the actual coming in that money coming in. But I think we just like to expand as well, like we're starting to get traction in the media, we just did a CNBC article, we're gaining a lot of traction in the way of downloads and listeners and we're starting to go viral across social media. So I think just keeping that momentum going and helping more starting entrepreneurs is really the driving force behind this.


Ryan 

Yeah, it sounds like you're planting a lot of seeds, you know, and just it's sometimes hard to know when they're gonna sprout but it sounds like you're planting seeds. Yeah, that's great. So like come back to business but let's let's go let's go to your morning routine. What are your mornings look like? How do you start today?


Gabby  

Yeah, so I depending on the week, if it's super crazy, I might wake up at five but typically I like to wake up at seven. I am super creative in the morning is when I get my most you know, my best work done. So I will you know have a cup of coffee and sit and just work from like seven to 12 like uninterrupted and then after my my afternoons are more gracious while it gets like journal and hangout outside have read my book and like take a break and then the evenings I do for like last minute, you know, catch ups or calls just last minute tweaks for the day as well as like exercising so I used to do the whole like wake up in the morning, go to the gym, then come home and do this and get ready and do all that stuff. But I felt that I was losing my creative steamed switched.


Ryan 

So then how do you I said we would come back to business later but I'm gonna come back, come back to business now. So. So you said you work hard from 7-12? How do you know what to work on for the day? How do you set your priority list? Do you have a framework around that?


Gabby  

Sort of I mean, listen, I'm still in the weeds and still figuring this business stuff out. I kind of just go In the way of like what feels right in that moment, because right, what's yesterday's priority then becomes Maybe today's second priority, like, it just depends on what happens in the business. And if there's like, an issue or a fire to put out, but something that I found really, really helpful is I use a Trello board just to keep me organized. So for me, I have so many creative ideas and thoughts and to the point that it almost overwhelms me. So I actually have in my Trello, board, my specific card or like, strip of cards that are just ideas, any sort of idea that I have, in the morning, I do a brain dump on there, of all the different things that I want to do, whether even touching them or not, they're just there to like, empty the computer out, so to speak. So I start the day fresh, and then based on that, and the existing tasks that I have at hand, I will then determine what the next step is for the business.


Ryan  

Yeah, we use Trello at our agency, Ballentine. And so I'm very familiar with it. And I think it's really, I think it's really important to get the to do list out, I use this, I do the same thing to do lists, I've always had a revelation of their day that, for me, at least, like open loops kill me. Like if I have too many things happening at once that are unfinished. It just drives me crazy. It puts me in a funk, honestly. And sometimes you like, especially if the things you're working on are bigger in scale, it's hard to like, quickly close that loop. But I've just had that realization recently that I've too many open loops really messes with my head.


Gabby  

Yeah, I'm trying to get better at that. It's just one of the things when you're starting a business like full time, like you are so many different hats. I mean, you know, you do budgeting, and then you're doing graphic design, and then you're doing this and that, and then doing podcasts and media stuff. So it's, you know, I have to pivot on a dime. And, you know, that presents its own challenges. But at the same time, it's exciting, because my day is always different. And I never doing the same routine things. It's just kind of whatever pops up what things happen, who I'm talking to. And also like where, what I'm driven with, because sometimes there are days where I'm totally fine doing podcast, show notes and like, feel driven to update my business. And then you know, on the website, but then there are some days where I feel more called to have like one on one calls or do like engagement via social media. So it just it I go back and forth. I know that's not really tangible to go by a feeling but that's what works best for me.


Ryan  

Yeah, that's the best thing is to do what's best for you. And that best thing might change as you as you find new ways to do things. Yeah, question. Yeah, you quit your job. And now you got you get your business that you're growing. And so every day is kind of like, it's like, not a clean slate, you're working on things, but you can work when you want and work where you want, etc. Has that. I know it's only been since February. But has that changed your perspective on like the meaning of life, or like your happiness meaning, has anything changed in that in those regards?


Gabby 

For sure, I am still purging corporate like in the hustle to death type of mentality the like, always being productive, because when I'm finding when you're on the show yourself, or just in general from productivity, like, sometimes productivity looks like taking a nap. And sometimes productivity looks like shutting the computer and watching Netflix like sometimes it doesn't always have to be working yourself to death. And it's actually counterproductive when you do that. So if I'd had to very slowly, you know, train my brain to think differently. But it is really great, right? Because I am in the weeds, I'm still figuring out what my routine is and how I want to lay things out. But ultimately, when I went into doing all this, I wanted to have the freedom of choosing when I do things and how I do things and where I do things. So like, the last three weeks, I was really fortunate I spent the three weeks in Florida in Vero Beach Fishing for like a week with my boyfriend. And we were like, you know, we went on the boat, and then I come home and do some work. And then we go out for dinner. And then you know, all these different things. I was working out on a deck. And now I'm back in New York for a few weeks probably going to go to Texas. So it gives me flexibility to kind of go wherever I want and choose what I work on. And when I work on it.


Ryan 

Yeah, that flexibility speak from my own experience to like we made our whole office remote. And we got to we have we still we downsize to a smaller co working space because we need a big office anymore because everyone's remote now. But we have small office, and but just having the flexibility to work from home one day and then go into the office that I wanted the next day, then, you know that flexibility. I mean, it's almost been like a rebirth. For me at least you know, like how I feel, you know, how I went to the office every single day, for 2020 years it was and I still know how I did that. For some people, they need that like, that's fine. But for for me, I always want that flexibility, like I have now and it's it just feels really nice. And so it sounds like it's in line with what you're saying.


Gabby 

Yeah, I mean, listen, there's nothing like wrong with the other model of going to a job every single day. But I think we were all conditioned to think that was the one way and the only way and I think we're now transitioning not only just in the way that we work but also the mentality around work right. Mental health is important. Like actually living your life instead of just like existing is important, right? That's funny like you think that we just have to go through the motions and everyday show up to a job and you supposed to hate it and like these things are supposed to be challenging. But I think people are realizing, with the birth of the Internet and all these amazing opportunities that our fingertips, we can do so much more, and still enjoy life and still have a very full successful buyer on terms what you think successes, but like, have a very successful life based on what you perceive as successful.


Ryan 

Yeah, I think you're right. I think like, you know, the last, well, what, almost two years now that everything has been happening? 


Gabby

I think you're right. I think it's made everyone kind of reevaluate their life like what am I really doing with my life? What am I what am I here for? How do I want my days to look? Yeah, what impact Am I having? Who's around me? I think it's made everyone inside. I know, it definitely has for me. And I've always been into personal development. But like the last two years, it's been like, just, it's been an accelerated because of everything. Yeah, and I feel like because of that, I've always I've sort of kind of taken on this spiritual approach of like, there's someone used this term called Earth school. And I was like, oh, that sounds interesting, right? Everyone says, Oh, you're here for a reason. I'm like, Yeah, whatever. But then with everything that's been happening, and just like the series of events, from the whole work from home thing, and whatever, I just end even doing business myself. Like, it's such a game, right? Everything's a game, there's something more to learn about yourself. There's something more that you can create for yourself. And so when you approach it from the place of like, okay, I was brought here for a reason I have a certain set of gifts, like, why don't I experiment? Why don't I have fun instead of feeling like I'm suffering in every single thing that I do?


Ryan  

Yeah, I imagine the ripple effect, more and more people started doing that, like what you're doing? Yeah, it's pretty awesome. Think about that. So in terms of habits, do you have any habits that you rely on? And it could be like your personal habits? Or it could be it could be like business business habits? Do you have any that you rely on that you can share with us?


Gabby  

I would say I maybe I guess it's a habit is keeping your word. So I learned very early on, I think around like my 20s because I was in taking self development courses. And they kept on saying, just always keep your word no matter what you say. Like, if you're not going to do it, don't say it but you the more so that you keep your word not only does that you become more accountable to other people, and you become a respectable source, but you also start putting more accountability on yourself. So get into the habit of actually pushing yourself to do things, when you say you're actually going to do them. So that's one thing. But then also communication, like if you say you're going to show up somewhere. And this kind of goes with like keeping your word. But if you say you're going to be somewhere 2pm. And you know, you're going to be late, like there's no way that you're going to get there on time, communicate beforehand, because you will burn a bridge, and that could ruin your entire career. It could burn a trajectory of where you're headed like it could it could be the pivotal thing that can undermine your success if you don't communicate, which I know it sounds stupid, but I know people who like, I know this one guy I know who's a pianist, and he was supposed to show up at a wedding and he was running 15 minutes behind, instead of calling, you know, his manager and saying, Hey, I'm going to be 15 minutes late, I'll still be there. They assumed he wasn't going to show up. And they fired him on the spot when he got there. And he had a completely inhibit his Yeah. So I mean, listen, that's a extreme scenario. But if you just communicate, you know, hey, I'm going to be late to the podcast, hey, I'm going to be late to the meeting, like, Hey, I'm going to be late to the phone call, again, you're keeping your word and you're still communicating. So people can be more understanding versus you being late. And then saying, You're already late. You're like, You're already late. I already know you're late. You don't need to tell me that you're late. I've already lost respect for you. So yeah, maybe that's a little hard. But I just that those are two of my own pet peeves that I learned when I was younger and have switched. And it's made a difference. So for other people, I think that's really important.


Ryan 

You made me think of a book or I'm about to read My Mastermind, I think what you're really talking about is trust, trust with yourself, and trust with and instilling trust in others where they trust you. Yeah, and call the Speed of Trust. So I think that's what you're what you're talking about, right?


Gabby  

Yeah, trust is a huge thing. I mean, trust is just, it's the feeling point of your business. It's the feeling point of your relationship. So, you know, the sooner you can establish that and with yourself, let's be honest, like, if you say you're going to go to the gym, and then you actually go, you trust your own judgment more than you would before. So I just, I love those two things. And I would say maybe it's not so much a habit. But another thing is, um, especially for people who are maybe a little bit younger, get into the habit of being okay with change. As soon as you can, like, do as much change take as much risk as you can when you're younger. Because as you get older, it becomes more and more difficult to change because you have more responsibilities. But if you take risk and make big changes when you're younger, and you have evidence of saying hey, I made a big risk, or I made a big change, and I survived, it will fuel you in the future when you're doing bigger things.


Ryan 

Absolutely. I always like to say it builds up a callus. Like I think about it as you go through a problem and you overcome it. It's like you're building a callus because not like the next problem will be annoying. But you know, you got through the last one. So it's just a matter of working through the next challenge. But that as cows fills it just gets it gets a little easier and easier. Yeah, agreed. One thing I want to go back to real quickly and then I have one last question for you. You mentioned you took a cell phone A woman class in your 20s. So have you always been into personal growth going back to young age?


Gabby 

No, actually, I mean, I always liked, like learning things like I was back in on social media when MySpace was around. So like, you know, it wasn't self development. But I taught myself to code because back then, right, you have the fancy MySpace page with like, the HTML to like, put the music video on. So like, I was still curious about learning when I was younger, and in my teens, but it didn't, it didn't really happen until someone I was dating really, really encouraged me for a year to get involved with some, some course. And it took me him about four years to convince me. So at the ripe age of 22, I finally started doing personal development work. And since then I just like I can't live without it. It's my favorite thing. And it's the easiest and quickest way to uplevel quicker.


Ryan  

Excellent. I agree. You're preaching to the choir right now, obviously. Okay, one last question. And then we'll wrap up with you sharing your website or whatever, whatever you want to share. You quit your job and started your business back in February. I assume you've had some challenges challenges since then, can you think of one challenge that you've had to tackle? And how did you how did you do so?


Gabby  

Yeah, I'd say it's a, it's a big man money thing, like I have been pretty good at my like managing my money back when I was in corporate rikes, I got a steady job. And I was really diligent with saving and spending accordingly. But now, right, it's my son running the show myself, I control how much money I make when I make that money, how I spend it. And so some of the things I've had to do to build the businesses use credit cards, like if I'm just being honest, I'm spending a ton to get this up and running. And now I'm starting to get some sort of payment. But in the in the beginning, it's a frickin lot of money. And so for me, the challenge is looking at the balance every day, knowing that me putting in the effort I did six months ago, or at any effort, let's say today, any effort that I put in today will transpire in six months. So right six months ago is when I really started this, so now I'm starting to reap the rewards because of the six months ago. So it's just a mental thing to get over that money is energy. And me putting that investment in just like what I would have put an investment in like a self development course, I will reap the rewards, it will just take a little while. So that's for most people, that's a really hard thing to deal with.


Ryan  

And it sounds like you're working hard every day. And so it's just a matter of getting that tipping point when the momentum kicks in. You know, I know a lot of the a lot of the members of My Mastermind I don't do it but a lot do it is profit first. It's a book. It's a program for just managing your business, business finances. So you might want to take a look at that. It's called profit.


Gabby 

Well, yeah, definitely need this.


Ryan 

Well, this is great. Appreciate it. Gabby, thanks for being on. If people want to learn more about you, connect with you, etc where should we send them?


Gabby 

You can go to acorporatequitter.com To learn about the podcast as well as the corporatequitterclub.com to learn about the membership, and then you can also follow me on social on Tik Tok or Instagram. I'm @shelikestogab because I naturally like to talk and my name is gab. I'm also on LinkedIn. You can just look up Gabby Ianniello.


Ryan  

Oh, great. Thanks, Gabby. Nice speaking with you. 


Gabby

You too. Thanks.


Ryan 

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