บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ Why Tara Shaw Left Government Work to Build a Community Through Loose Grip Athletics

have benefits and stuff. And I'm like, you still have about 20 years minimum of working time. Like, that's not just a short amount of time to like tough it out for years. Like, that's 20 years. of not filling your cup and doing what you want. And it's like, yes, you have stability, but do you have that excitement every day? And so to hear you do it, it's just, it's, it's, it's, it's amazing. But now looking back, what surprised you the most about making that transition? Tara: how easy it felt, how natural it felt. the fear that wasn't there that I thought was going to like shackle me down. it it never showed up. And that Talia: Yeah. Tara: was I think the most surprising thing. Talia: That's good feeling. Now, do you feel like it was a huge jump? Because you would have worked like whatever, eight to four kind of thing, and now you kinda have to structure your day differently. Was that a hard transition to get into? Or did you feel you had more flexibility with the kids and everything? Tara: Yeah, a little bit of both. So at first I I was very adamant about kind of keeping that same morning routine that I had. I like structure, but I also like flexibility. So it's a weird thing internally to kind of battle with. so for example, like I would wake up and go to the gym at 6 a.m. every day when I was working my nine to five job. When I started the business, I got back into that because I had taken a little bit of a break. I was busy leading up to opening the business and stuff. So I got back into it. And then I realized that it wasn't really feeling the way that I wanted it to. And there was a few other things just in day-to-day life, too, that I noticed my body was physically going and doing this new way of life. I had time in my mornings and space. I, you know, I had control over when I wanted to be at the studio versus when I didn't, you know, be able to take my kids to their appointments or show up at their school for things. But I realized that my mind was still playing the old loop. And That looked like me thinking I had to go to the gym at 6 a.m., or even that I had to go to the gym every day. And so the thing there is that when I was working a job that I wasn't really passionate about, as anyone can relate to, it's hard to get out of bed in the morning and do something that you don't want to do. So going to the gym at six in the morning was my way of getting out of bed excited to do something. So I started my day with that excitement with filling my own cup. and with movement knowing that I would be pretty stagnant for most of the day. Then I found myself, I was like feeling forced, I was forcing myself to go to the gym at 6 a.m. And I realized I don't have to start my day like that anymore. I move all day, I'm rarely stagnant, and I I love my days now. so I'm still, I mean, we're very early on, we're like seven weeks into business right now. So still trying to figure out where that fits in and what that looks like, but stepping back. and giving myself the grace and time to allow this new way of life to settle in because like you said, it's a very different shift from Monday to Friday, 8 to 4, to Sunday to Sunday, 24-7. Talia: absolutely. Now, you know, you just kind of mentioned you're seven weeks into business. As a brand new business owner, what have you learned that no one really warned you about? Tara: Hmm. I would say that kind of what I just alluded to was one of the biggest aha's that I've had yet, that your body can be physically doing the new thing, but the the mind, the expectations and the outlook, can take a little bit of time before it catches up to what it is that you're doing. so I was in the middle of taking a Pilates class and I just, you know, when you give yourself that time to to I say be still, but I'm on my mat, I'm moving, challenging myself, and then you get this little pause. And it came to my mind that you know, I I am, I I've made it to where I worked really hard for a really long time to get to, and my mind hadn't caught up yet. So my body was doing it, but I didn't really realize until I zoomed out that my circle had kind of evolved over time. I'm surrounded by people who get it and who support me. what I do has evolved. I support other people. I've created a space. And in so being so busy leading up to that, all of a sudden it like, it took a couple weeks for me to zoom out and go, whoa, you you did it and you're doing it. so I think again, like it's that flip of the switch that we all just expect everything, you know, take a pill and it fixes everything. Flip the switch and it changes everything. Like, no, things take time. And then even down the line, like I don't expect that to be my first and last aha moment. Like, I'm gonna continue to to notice things, right? And as I change, I'm going to have a different perspective on what may have happened leading up to it or what's happening now in the moment. Talia: Now just I love that, but like from this is where Emily's gonna get really excited, from a new business owner logistical setting things up, was it hard to find an email system or a website or a bookkeeper or anything? Like what was kind of what you discovered as a business owner starting that way from a logical, kind of boring perspective? Tara: Yeah. No, it's not boring though, right? Cause it's it's all part of it. And I started out you know, be having had loose grip athletics in 2022, I went with Square. It was like so easy. Okay, there you go. You've got a system. And now all of a sudden I'm like, okay, well I need a I need a calendar and I need sign-ups and I need all this. So as you know, in January, I started running pop-up classes in the space before we had done any renovations. It was just as it is, the way it is. And I didn't have all of these systems in place the way that the studio does right now. So I was using my Square system, but I was pulling spreadsheets and I was using those spreadsheets for people to check in. I had

drop-down, drop-down list, yes, no, if they arrived, right? And then I was able to use that to to reach back out and say thank you after class or you know, pre-class, I was able to contact them and say, okay, you know, you're signed up for this class, here's what to expect. So it was simple in a sense, but it was hands-on. So I knew that I had to be automated and I knew that I had to save some time. I went with Flowdesk because I had asked some some other local business owners and and girls that I know online. Flowdesk seemed like a good idea. So I have done that and that's my email, but there was there was a lot to learn about that too. You have to warm up your mailing list. What? You mean I can't just send one email to 400 people? Like why? so still lots of learning, right? I think the the biggest thing is being comfortable knowing that you're not always going to know everything today and that You you're gonna get it wrong, but you're gonna learn things as you go. so in terms of finding a system for members to sign up and attend class, there's so many choices out there. And I would meet with these service providers and honestly I was going off of vibes for the first little bit, like don't like you, you're douchebag, no thank you, your rates are too high. And then I found this one that I loved and they were like, well, you need to be incorporated. To use us. Okay, hit the pause button again for like the 75th time. Go to the lawyer's office. Can I incorporate? Should I incorporate? I was very underwhelmed. I was expecting to be like sold on this whole you should incorporate thing. And that's not how the meeting went. And I was like, well, I'm not incorporating. That's not for me right now. so you know, back to the drawing board. This company is not going to be a good service provider for me. Then I found a company that I really liked and in true terror fashion got really excited and I don't have a poker face and they were like, How excited are you about this? I'm like, 10 out of 10. And I see her look over and I'm sure she was like, 10 out of 10, let's go to the highest pay scale. So So I guess my number one tip is like don't show how excited you are about things. Play cool. but But I another challenge is that not all the systems talk to each other. And so you know, I I have Flowdesk for my emails and I have Glowfox for members to sign up and and memberships and all of that, but there's rules around communicating with people and yeah, so it feels a little bit piecemeal still. but having the automation for members to sign up has been absolutely like crucial. And I knew that from the get-go. I signed up to have this app and to have this platform for members for the business that I wanted to become. I couldn't think about who I am today. I had to think about who do I want to be in one year, in three years, in five years. And that's how I'm setting this business up for longevity, not for today. Talia: It's I thought Emily would come in right now. Emily Harrington: there's so much to unpack. There's so much to unpack with that. First of all, how important it is to have those initial struggles of okay, we're just making it work with a Google Sheet or whatever case may be, to like you said, piecemeal it all together. It's totally manual and you have to go through those struggles to really see the value in the automation. And even now, as you're trying to figure out systems, you need that long-term thinking of, well, am I going to need to change systems in a year from now as the business grows and evolves and as my role grows and evolves? So that way of thinking and also factoring in those initial struggles of like, my gosh, there's so much manual, like check this person off, check that person off, is necessary to really have that long-term vision. Tara: Yeah, and when you think about like, you know, dollars per hour, it really came down to how much time am I spending doing XYZ that I don't have to do because time is money right now. And if I want to be able to step away, I need to make sure that this is going to run on its own or somebody else is going to be very easily able to take over, right? so those were two factors as well. And the other thing was, you know, I I'm interviewing these service providers and And I don't really know what it is from A to Z that I need. I I know surface level what I need, right? And now I'm into it and I'm seeing all the ways that the system actually doesn't work the way I would love it to. And, you know, I'm not a I don't write programs, so that's not my thing. But it it's unbelievable to me that it's 2026 and and some things aren't just very easily talking to itself in in the back end. Talia: What I love about you just said, Tara, is that you're already planning to have a life outside of the business. So many entrepreneurs get such tunnel vision when they start that they're like, I am prepared to work 100 hour weeks and this is it. You're like, I need to know that I can step away. Like that's why so many people become entrepreneurs is so that they have the flexibility, but then they don't create the systems beforehand to be able to do that. So it's so important that you're thinking long term that this is how I'm going to be successful. It's not just about the numbers about the business. This is this is how my life is going to be successful. So I love that you talked about that. Tara: Yeah. Talia: Now, what's been your biggest win so far, big or small? I understand, like, you know, you've gotten some balance in your life and everything, but as a business owner, strictly from the business, what has been like the biggest win? Was it so many people? Because you had Well you did too was like you had a a special for those who signed up at the start for a launch kind of thing. Like was that your biggest win or? Tara: I you know, while it's an amazing win selling out of the founding memberships, it it wasn't the first thing that came to mind when you asked what the

biggest win was. it's a small win, but like I'm getting really excited about the small things these days. And it's that in seven weeks of business, I've not had a class with zero people in it. And for me, that that's success. Like we are here, we are showing up, and the people are here. And they are showing up too. And as long as you know, we keep showing up, I believe that they will keep showing up. And so that feels like the biggest win. Another thing that has been really like personally huge for me is when members reach out and they say, Hey, I just want to say like your story really resonates with me. I appreciate so much that you've opened the space. I love it. I have needed it in my life for a long time. And that just is mind blowing to me because that's exactly why I did this. And for a while I was feeling like, I think I'm just kind of in this pond by myself. And you know, what are the odds that anyone really understands kind of like what I've gone through or who I am? And I was even going to update my website and kind of like clear out what I had on there. And people are coming up to me like, I read your I read your website and I really get it. And I was like, I thinking about changing that. No, don't change it. Don't change it. It's great. People need to know. I'm like, okay, thanks. Good to know. So just feeling seen and being able to see others has been exactly what I wanted to open the business for and makes me so proud. Emily Harrington: Now, Talia: It's amazing. Emily Harrington: can we dive into like the power of that leadership style for a second? So that ability to kind of take that bottoms-up approach to your leadership of you are setting the example for what you want your members and what you want your clients to feel when they walk in because you're not just saying, hey, have come have a good time. You're like, no, I'm here on the ground floor with you. Like I'm seeing those interactions. You're building that relationship. And that is such a powerful leadership style because community is so important. Tara: Community is so important. And I don't know if you guys have ever dug into human design. but I am a four-six generator with emotional authority and community is is my is my number one. Like I am everything because of my community and I'm really leaning into that. And I had a girlfriend introduce me to human design back in 2022, and that was really pivotal for loose grip athletics as a whole. Because it made me realize that what I was feeling and longing for and how I wanted to kind of take pain that I experienced and turn it into purpose was exactly what I was supposed to do. And it, you know, human design doesn't tell you steps one, two, three to take, but it tells you how to honor yourself. And in doing that, I've I've made it here. So yeah, I just think that it's really important for people to be authentic and have discernment in their life. And from there you kind of can be curious and play around, but there's there's

no failing. You're you're simply collecting data and learning as you go. Talia: Now, you know, we talked about the biggest wins that you've had. What has been the biggest challenge in those early stages? You know, I know it's been growth and it's exciting we learn from everything, but there are some hard things. So, you know, what would you tell to other entrepreneurs who are starting out being like this might be a challenge you face and this is how I dealt with it? Tara: Yeah, that's a great question. I'm not even sure that I have like something that pops up on the, you know, at the top of my head. I would say I was very eager with my timelines when I started. And so the just the kind of the the normal challenges of opening a business, you know, kind of a a reality check in the timelines. dealing with the bank. you know, Taking two steps forward and then having to take one step back. it's it's renovations, it's insurance. Like, like project manage. I did all the project management for everything, right? So, and I was working my full-time job at the same time. So, really trying to balance all of that. I I don't feel like there was not good anything that was, you know, kind of do or die situation. Everything felt like, yeah, this obviously there's gonna be some. Challenges or speed bumps or unexpected things happen, but so far, yeah, I would just say like lean into the community, ask questions, network with people. You guys have been great when I say, like, I'm looking to do this, boom, information comes in and I have a couple leads. Again, it's not always a clear one, two, three-step process. Sometimes you don't know if the chicken comes before the egg, but you just have have to take that step. And I would say that just personally, my challenge is like battling that perfectionism and taking that first step instead of ruminating about it forever and then finally doing it and going, that wasn't so bad after all. Talia: Now, you know, we talked about how there wasn't any huge challenges and you've seemed very confident in it, but in general, when self-doubt s or overwhelm starts to show up, is there something you do to deal with that? Whether it's take a hot yoga class or rely on people, like what tips would you tell people when you're like, the construction isn't going really well. This is how I'm gonna deal with it. Tara: Yeah, so first and foremost, like notice it, right? Because that voice in the head can be very powerful and it can be a a major stop sign. So if you notice it, then you can kind of take a step back, take a breath, and then do what you need to do. So for me, you know, I would say there was a couple weeks where I was feeling like frenetic, like my mind was going, I couldn't slow it down. It's n it's walks outside for me. So Ferguson Forest is amazing. And I remember one day I I went for a walk and I was really proud of myself because there was things that had to get done, but I said, nope, I'm going to, you know, walk through the forest and and take a time out. But as I'm walking, I'm like walking, speed walking, because my mind is going so fast and I'm like booking Emily Harrington: Mm-hmm. Tara: it through the forest. And then so I notice. So I slow down my steps, I slow down my breath. The mind is still busy. I'm like, okay, what are we gonna do here? So I look down and there's a pine cone and like things that have fallen off of the pine tree, and I pick up these little pieces of nature. And I'm like, I need to physically touch something. Like I need to calm myself down. So I have them in my hand and I start moving them around and I'm just noticing like the sensations. It was very like, what do we call this with children? Talia: yeah, there's like a method to it where it's like see the things you can feel, what can you hear, what can you touch. It's like it's to calm down the anxiety. Tara: Yeah, yeah, like so it's like super Super mindfulness, but I yeah, I just I just needed something in my hand and honestly it helped. And then I noticed by the time I got back to my vehicle, I could just I could just feel the sensations like melting off of me. I was grounded, I felt more level-headed, and then I could go about my day better. because just feeling that that busy energy inside of the body is not helpful. And I don't think people realize how much day to day that we're going about our lives absolutely buzzing inside, like the next thing, the next thing, the next thing. And it's not healthy for us. We need to take a time out. And that's exactly why I opened the studio. Because as a mother, I know how hard it is to take time out for yourself. But I want to empower. Everybody, not just women and not just mothers, but everybody deserves an hour to themselves a day. And when you take that time and you slow the mind down and you mindfully move the body, you feel amazing after. So I had a student in last week and we were doing our deep reset class. So this is like a restorative style class. There's bolsters and blocks, and we'll go into a pose that's super relaxing and hold it for five minutes or maybe a little bit more, and then we switch poses and we start all over again. We do this for an hour. So you can imagine that if you have a very busy mind, this could be a very difficult class, right? But we work on our breath and we work on being present. and we allow what is happening to just be. So so she came to that class and she was like, ooh, this is gonna be a tough one and and left and was like, that was great, thank you. Well, when she returned a few days later, She informed me that before she showed up for that class, she had drafted a message to all of her clients for the next day to say, I'm sorry, but I have to work from home tomorrow. I won't be able to see you. We'll reconnect or, you know, let me know if it's urgent. So she said after she left class, she went back to the office, pulled up the draft emails, deleted them all. She felt amazing and she carried on her day

and she finished the next day without a problem. And she thanked me for that. And that was the most powerful feedback that I could hear because it works. Like that's why we do it, because it works. And if you don't take time out, to notice what's going on inside of you, to acknowledge it with compassion and to let it be. You're just stacking bricks on top of bricks and building a wall around yourself that you're eventually not going to be able to get out of and people are not going to be able to get in either. And that's not why we're here. We've said it before already we're here for community. We're here for connection. But when you're Got you've got a brick wall around you. Like it's it just can't happen. Talia: You You know what's interesting? when we started this podcast, I had such a vision in my mind what a lot of the entrepreneurs would say, you know, build your network, get organized, so many things, you know, be a powerful woman, walk with confidence and stuff. And it's really interesting that one of the main things that entrepreneurs have said was be curious. That comes up all the time, be curious, and go for a walk. The amount of people who have said on this, go for a walk to clear your mind is absolutely unbelievable. And it's true. And it's something so basic that we take for granted. And it's just moving your body. And you know, I can tell when I haven't moved my body since Disney. There's a lot of churros still in this body. But I do feel better when I go for a walk. And like you said, an hour a day, even 20 minutes a day, I am less snappy. I make better decisions and it's something that we do push to the side because we're moms and because we're women or whatever it is and we need to stop and we start need to start making ourselves a priority. So I really appreciate you saying that. Tara: Yeah, absolutely. And and thank you for sharing that. And I see you, Talia. I see you walking. You're on it. I love it. And Talia: Yeah. She was like, I was gonna catcall you, but I was like, please do next time. Emily Harrington: What? Tara: so that it's so funny because, you know, working my government job when I think about, you know, who who I was and and having that lifestyle, all I ever wanted to do was just go for a walk. I'd be working from home and I'd be like, my God, I just want to go outside and go for a walk. And I would do the thing where I say, one more email after I get this done, you know, and and then all of a sudden the day goes by and I haven't done that. And then I would feel so like Wonder Woman if I can. Control alt delete and just walked outside. You know, I'll be back in 20 minutes and the world is not gonna end. That's the thing. We think that we are holding the entire world together. And sometimes it's just not that. Serious. Like it's just not. You can go for a walk. And the person you're gonna be when you get back, everyone's gonna be happier because of it. And the things that they're going to experience while you're

gone, they need to experience that. They need to go, hey mom, get me the grapes. mom's not here. Okay, I'll get my own grapes. Like, you know, or hey dad, do you wanna do this for me instead? Like everybody needs that experience, but I from my experience, it's like when you're there and you're doing all the things all the time, it's not really serving anyone, right? But my love language is like acts of service and time. So it's tough. but but yeah, like like I said, going back to that six weeks off that I took in summer of twenty twenty five, my goal every day was like start your day slow, go for a walk without feeling rushed to get back to the computer. And and that was something that was a challenge when I no longer had my computer in my house. You know, April 8th, I walk in and I'm like, Okay, well, what do I do now? I don't sit down on my orange chair at my desk and wiggle my mouse and chat with people on MS Teens. but now when I walk the dog in the morning, I said to him yesterday, buddy, our walks feel so long. We'll often take the same route, but there's not that undercurrent of hurriedness, right? And it's like, I'm sure that I'm adding years knockwood to the end of my life because of it. So yeah, walks, and especially in this town, it's gorgeous. The paths The people. Nothing makes me happier than when I'm walking down the street and I get a honk and a wave. Hey, how are ya? Yay. And I count them. three waves today. Like I love it. My dog tried to go into Richardson hair design this morning. He just walked up the steps. I was like, Phoenix, they're not open. You can't go. Talia: It's also funny when you're like, I saw you walking. Like, just to clarify, this wasn't to like clear my mind. I was heading to the chip truck to get Emily Harrington: Mm. Talia: my fries in Ron's wrap. But like, and that's why I had the bounce in my step. I was like, I'm gonna get my fries. Emily Harrington: when you're talking about all of this, like the importance of taking that time and the way that it makes you a better person, like you show up for your business better, you show up for your kids better, it's so it resonated so deeply with me because especially back in the early days of COVID, like I started running. I would literally, I would stress myself out so much if I ran for more than 10 to 15 minutes. And I would time myself. I would check my time, be like, it's seven minutes. I got to turn around for no reason other than my own like mental duress over, but what if I'm not there? It's like my husband's totally capable. My children are totally fine to turn on the TV for like three minutes and be self-sufficient. Like they're not gonna starve, they're not gonna wither away to nothing. But now in that time, like as you said, it takes time and practice. To get better at those things and be able to let go. I did two and a half kilometers this morning. Like that's huge. And it's recognizing that all of these things do take time, but there is such incredible

value, not only for your physical health, but for your mental health to do these things. So thank you. Tara: Yeah, and you hit the nail on the head with practice. That's the thing. It's practice. You need to keep practicing it. It's not just going to be the flip of the switch or the take of a pill. You need to keep showing up for yourself and practice. Talia: Awesome. Now moving forward, we know you're still in the baby step, but what's your vision for the next six to twelve months or even the next few years? Do you have a vision of goals? You are you setting goals for yourself or are you just kind of going with vibes? Tell us a bit about that. Tara: Always vibes, Talia. Talia: Always vibes. Emily Harrington: Yeah. Tara: so funny. yeah, when I went to the bank the first time, I remember being like, so can I sell this on vibes or like what are we doing here? yeah, yeah, yeah. Even Talia: Yeah, obviously it's about the bike. Never mind. Tara: my business plan was like, I'm like explaining everything in detail. And then I was like, it's really the vibe, like vibe sells. but no, Talia: Have you seen the thing where it's just like tell us what you do but make it illegal? It's like I put a bunch of people Tara: Okay. Talia: in a room and make them sweat. Tara: Yeah, no, so I actually did that. It's funny, I did that, I started it and it was really good. But coming from the government and being in HR in a period of my life, I'm very aware of trauma. Talia: Mm-hmm. Tara: And I read it and I was like, I could set somebody off with this because Talia: Mm. Tara: it sounds very illegal. It sounds very criminal what Talia: Yeah. Tara: I do if I describe it that way. So, anyways, I can't have fun with that one, but I did to myself. So Talia: There you go. Tara: yeah, so short term I would say like this year. consistency is is my big word. So be consistent, be there. and by doing so, you know, marketing and connection and experiences, kind of leaning into all of that to establish the business, to make sure that people in town know that I exist. it would help if I had some signs. So we're getting there. So slowly but surely. Talia: Slowly but surely you're moving, you're grooving. Tara: so yeah, so there's a few like physical things that I still want to do to the space that I'm excited about. And then simply being here and growing the membership base and you know seeing new faces throughout the year. I did launch the Loose Grip Collective, which is going to be the foundation of kind of monthly or seasonal experiences that happen at the studio that are organized by us. So, of course, the space is available for rent certain days of the week for other people to host events or run their business, whether you know you're a Reiki or a massage. Therapist, photographer, it's a beautiful spot for pictures. So I do have the space available for rent for other things. but I would like to host events on kind of a fairly regular basis. And that loose grip collective is like you don't need to be a member to come to these events, but when you show up once, you get a sense of the vibe and you have made a connection with somebody else in the space, and you that's a piece of you now. get to take that home with you. And I have had this experience at a lot of different venues. You know, Pure Lotus is amazing. And my girlfriend and I have gone there for several sound baths and Reiki sessions. And it's, you know, you always leave with something. And I love that. So I would love to be able to offer that to people too in whatever that might look like. So the Loose Grip Collective is one thing that I'm working to establish and build. The other thing I would say obviously, like Pilates, we have starting up very slowly right now. So looking to get that on the schedule more regularly. And personally, I would like to get my Pilates and bar certification so that I am equipped to be able to offer those classes myself. Long term, I have a five-year plan and vision. But what I've learned about these things is like notice it, dream it, and then put it down and see what happens. Like we really have to keep a loose grip on life because whoever saw COVID coming, probably some people, but I was not one of them. I think I manifested it because all I wanted was to be home with my kids. And I got that. But what happened when I had that time and space is exactly the catalyst that launched me into all of this. So I have a vision, I put it down on paper, and now we'll see what happens over the next five years. Talia: It's amazing. And it's true. And that's the thing that entrepreneurs have to get really comfortable with is not everything is going to go to plan and things are going to change. And they can change for the good. You may have this small vision and then all of a sudden this grand thing gets put on you. And like I I preach that all the time. I moved to Kempfill expecting one way of life and it's completely different. Do I love it? Absolutely. But thank God it was able to go with the flow because if not, it was it would have been lot. Now Tara: Mm-hmm. Talia: you kind of mentioned your kiddos. how has being a mom shaped the way you run your business? Because, you know, we've spoken many times, your kids are heavily involved in sports and it's busy. So how do you kind of run your run your run your business as a mom? Tara: Yeah, and that was one of the things that held me back for a long time was I'm a mom and my kids come first. And my whole thing is to be available for them. How can I do that if I'm running a business? Then as you know, that energy, that really positive belief started to build up in me, I looked at it from a different perspective. And I looked around at all the amazing women in this community that run businesses that are moms. And we have a lot of them. And they are excellent moms and their kids are in organized sports and they make it happen. Why? Because firstborn daughters are incredible. And because entrepreneurs

Talia: We are. Tara: are just entrepreneurs are just a different breed. And I decided that it was more important that my kids see me try and execute this dream than for me to play small and stay where I was. So, you know. I always hear stories of people that grew up playing hockey because I didn't, and how they would carpool with other families and they would all go spend the night or the weekend at somebody's house, and like that's not been my experience so far. We all very much drive ourselves, even to Toronto. You know, I I might carpool like once a year out of town. Otherwise, like driving my kids and myself everywhere. and so I just thought, wow, there's space there. There's space for me to ask for help. And that is one of My big challenges is letting it go, asking for help. So I just decided that it would be okay. My kids are always on wonderful teams with wonderful families. And in terms of sports, I'd be able to make sure that they got where they needed to be. And really the setting up of my schedule. So I I played with this schedule. I can't tell you how much and for how long. And it shifted, but in the end. I created the schedule to work around my life. And maybe that's a pipe dream, but maybe it's not. And I would like to inspire everybody to build their business around their life instead of their life around their business. Because that's just for me, that's not why I'm here. I'm here to experience all of it, right? so so far it has been really good. However, track and field is next week, and it was supposed to be on Wednesday, which is a day that I don't teach at all, and they've moved it to Thursday, which is a day that I teach. and I'm only gonna get to see one of my kids' events. And you know what? This this is what it is. Like for years I tried my best to be at all the things and I still will show up for one event, but I'm gonna miss a bunch. But I know that a bunch of other amazing moms are gonna send me videos of my kid and I won't miss it. Talia: You know, it's really interesting. So I was talking to Mayor Peckford about this this weekend because she's the mayor of this very f gr quickly growing community. And she has three kids in activities and sports and everything. And she was saying, Thank God for other families, because they really do rely on one another. And for so long, we were taught to just do it ourselves, do it ourselves. We can do it all. If we can't do it all, then we're failing miserably, kind of stuff. And it's like, no, no, no. The village, it used to be it takes a village, and then that Village disappeared based on our own decisions. And now we're bringing that village back and it's so important. How many like when a parent messages me being like, Can you pick up my kid for girl guides? Absolutely. It's on my way. Right. Tara: That's so exciting. Yes. Talia: And like I would never think to do that. And then even like I would when I went to Disney, the t shirts, my cricket broke. I was just gonna like wallow in self pity. And then I was like, you know what? I'm gonna do a call to action. Does anyone have a cricket who can help me? A dozen people messaged me and be girl, come on over, Tara: There you go. Talia: come help. And and it and it was amazing. And if I hadn't asked for that, I never would have been able to get that help. You know what I mean? So we need to learn how to ask. And then, second of all, with the track and field, it's so funny. So, like, I couldn't go to the first round of track and field because I just got back from Disney. I was like, I'm so sorry I can't go. You know, mommy, when I can go to things, like that's why I have this job, is that is so I have the flexibility. And they understood, they were like a little annoyed or whatever. Doesn't my oldest make it for track and field? And like to be clear, I didn't think any of my children would make it for track and field when they have my like athletic abilities. But anyway, so I'll be there Thursday. So I'll be able to take a video for you. So it's just yeah, having these conversations. Tara: Yay. thank you. Talia: Now, just kind of moving on when we talk about support and community. And I'm really excited to get into this one because we had Allison Johnson on from CrossFit when you were just opening up this business. It was kind of in the talks. And she was. So excited for you. Like she was again radiating. She's like, she's gonna do great things. And this is someone who is like technically sort of a competitor. You're in the same field kind of thing. And it didn't matter. All she saw was another woman following her dream and she was so pumped. So who or what has been your biggest support system through this transition? And you talk about Richardson, like Steph was there, you know, supporting you the day of. Like you've built such a great community already. Tara: Yeah, I mean community has been my number one. And I had this aha moment. I think it was last year. It was like out walking, of course. That's when all the aha moments happened. and I was like, wow, I I worked at Richardson Hair Design. I worked at Bodhi Tree. I worked at CrossFit Kemphill. It's like I have been so embedded in this community and I didn't even realize that it was happening. and It absolutely is the reason why I've been able to to do this. the support from everybody has been incredible. And my dad has been a huge supporter. He's just he's been incredible. He's often there. you'll see him around the studio or around town. so yeah, that's been that's been really great. the thing about competition is funny though, because I've really come to like I think there's power in seeing yourself as like the absolute only one that can do what you're doing. You know, we have a lot of restaurants in town. We have a lot of a lot, right? But there's always that personal touch that makes what you do special to what you do and how you do it. And so I think at the end of the day, like, are any of us really competing against

each other? Or are we all Just doing the same thing and it looks a little bit different, right? And so that that helps me to kind of take a step back and be like, we're we're all in this together here. there's so many businesses, and and I love and support all of them. and and they've been so great to support me too. So I'm super happy about that. I love this community, everybody is really great. Social media has been amazing because I've been able to make connections a little bit outside. Of Kempville too. And those have been incredible and fundamental to my growth and my ability to kind of dream and go big. Connections from the past that have kind of come forward, and that has also been really supportive and helpful. And you guys, I mean, you know, I remember getting the message hey, we'd like you to be a speaker, so here's the date. And I was like, I think that you have. The wrong email address. And you guys are like, no, no, sorry, just you know, the other message maybe didn't get to you yet, but we want you to speak. And I was like, whoa, like that's incredible. So just being here and you know, it it takes nothing to smile at someone, takes nothing to say hello or to like a post or share a post, and that stuff really does go a long way. Talia: Absolutely. And I say that to people too. Financially, we can't, you know, help every business, but there's so much we can do behind the scenes, liking, sharing, talking about it, being like, hey, this owner is really great or I really like their windows or stuff like that. Like there's so much we can do to support businesses, recommendations, all of that. So I love that you said that. Now, just to kind of like finish it all off, what advice would you give to someone sitting on the edge of leaving their job to start something on their own? Did you did you prepare, not even just like the good vibes, like did you kind of prepare leading up, being like, I'm gonna save this amount of money so that I'm ready to go kind of thing? Like how did you prepare to make that leap? Tara: Yeah, I think first and foremost, don't expect it to happen overnight. Like if you're just starting to feel like, ugh, I need to make a change, drop that expectation that you're gonna be able to do it overnight. And I don't say that in trying to like squash your dreams. I say that in that will allow you to build something that is very authentic and meaningful. The more that you get to know yourself and you get to, you know, be clear on your purpose and your passion and your why, then that is what's going to set you up for the most success. You can put money in a bank, you can, you know, have time off of work or step away or whatever that is. But if you're gonna hard launch something that, you know, you're really just in it to make a couple bucks or whatever the case is, probably not really gonna go. Take your time. Invest in yourself, work with a coach, somewhat be willing to check your ego and have somebody call you out on your stuff. in a comfortable way. Build a relationship with someone that you're comfortable if they call you out on something, you're gonna go, okay, yeah. And you're gonna go back to the drawing board and work on that or consider that. because it that is just I think the the authenticity through it all and the intention is what is going to drive success in the long run. Talia: Well, awesome. Thank you so much for this conversation. You're like our freshest business owner. Well, and you've had it for a long time, but just like the new the new portion of it. Tara: It's fresh. Talia: Yeah, it's still fresh a little bit. So it's really lovely to hear your perspective and still hear so much excitement. And I'm so excited to continue watching your on your journey. You're gonna do such amazing things. Tara: Thanks ladies. I appreciate you so much. Emily Harrington: Now before we let you go, can you tell our audience where to find you online? Tara: Yes, absolutely. So online you can find us at loosegripathletics.ca. You can email at theloft at loosegripathletics.ca. You can find us on Instagram at the.loosegrip.loft and at loosegrip.coaching. And on Facebook, theloose grip loft. If you want to find us for directions, go on Google Maps and type in the loose grip loft, and that will bring you right to us. Talia: She's also in the den downtown Kempfel Corps, so just like a selfish input. Tara: Shout out to BIA, shout out to the downtown Kempfill BIA. And for Emily Harrington: Yeah. Tara: anybody looking to attend a class, you can download the Glowfox app and create a profile for the studio, the Loose Grip Loft, and then everything will pop up, the schedule, the calendar, classes, memberships. Talia: that's amazing. That's really great n information because you don't so you don't have to be a member, you can just show up at classes. Tara: You can show up. there's some classes that are a little f more full than others. And eventually my dream is that if you were to just walk in, I wouldn't have space for you. But right Talia: Mm-hmm. Tara: now you can show up. I just ask that you arrive at least five minutes before class because we do lock the door when class starts and we start promptly. Talia: It's awesome. Emily Harrington: That's amazing. This, like, I love these podcasts so much because I find I learn so much. And like Telia said, there's so many common themes that come up in the interview, and they're not what we expected when we started this. So thank you. We are so excited to watch you grow and watch this next phase evolve. for everybody who's listening, thank you for joining us today, and we will catch you on the next episode of Let's Network the Podcast.