Intro: [00:00:01] And I remember trying to get out of the house and go to the dinner for my 30th birthday and telling John, this sucks! It was just like one of those days that was burning my brain because I had all of these visions of what 30 would look like. And it absolutely wasn't that. So I decided that 35 was going to be much better. And so I'm going to share 35 things that I know for sure.

Madeleine Raiford-Holland [00:00:27] Hey there, I'm Madeleine and welcome to The Luxe and The Short of It podcast. I'm a military wife, mom, and entrepreneur that went from a stressed out nine-to-fiver to now a present-minded seven-figure business owner and investor, all through the power of short-term rentals. Here we believe the Luxe life means having the time and financial freedom to be present for the moments that matter most. And I'm here to teach you the exact mindset shifts, insider expertise, and business strategy to make that a reality for you today. So are you ready to actively create the life you want? I'm Madeleine and this is The Luxe and The Short of It podcast.

[00:01:11] So guys, I am recording this podcast on my 35th birthday, which also means we are celebrating one year of the Luxe and The Short of It because it launched last year on my 34th birthday. I did not plan for my birthday to be symbolic around this podcast, but it became that. So now, one year later, I'm turning 35 and this feels like the right episode. I'm going to share 35 things that I know for sure. But I did want to like have a little bit of nostalgia over the last year of the Lux and the short of it, because I have learned a lot of things about showing up consistently for a year on this podcast. A year of conversations with some of the people that are hugely influential in my life who are experts in the field. I'm thinking specifically going back to our very first episode where I had Amy Pierce on here and industry experts with Brianna Michelle and I think just so many people who have had profound impact on my life and my business and I'm just so thankful. But it's also been a year of evolving publicly, which is a fun and not fun sometimes thing because when you fail, you fail for everyone to see. And that's something that I've had to get comfortable with. But we have had some major milestones. We broke into the top 75 of business podcasts and have had an immense success with that as well. But it's learning how to learn from the perceived failures and also celebrate the successes. But I think I'm just going to dive right on in to my 35 things that I know because it feels just like a full circle moment.

[00:03:20] I will say that I am spending my 35th birthday a little bit differently than I spent my 30th birthday. Not that all milestone birthdays have to be off the chart things. But if I look back specifically over the last five years, my 30th birthday I deem as like one of the worst birthdays of my life. If I'm looking at it solely through the lens of me, personally, I was one month, almost to the day postpartum with Rhett, my first son. And I remember thinking to myself like I love this baby, but I am essentially just up around the clock and I love my sleep. If you listened to my last episode about my morning routine, I get a lot of sleep and I wasn't getting a lot of sleep. I was breastfeeding him so it felt like a milk cow. And I remember trying to get out of the house and go to dinner for my 30th birthday and telling John, this sucks! It was just like one of those days that was burning my brain because I had all of these visions of what 30 would look like and it absolutely wasn't that. I decided that 35 was going to be much better, and so we're going to get on a plane to go back to Mexico with the boys. So there's that. I said I want to be warm and in the sun for my 35th, so you better trust we're going to have a solid 35th birthday with my favorite little dudes. But 35 things, number one, you do not need to be louder to be heard. Two, showing up consistently builds more trust than being perfect. Three, some conversations change more than you would expect. And those are hard conversations and easy conversations, but sometimes conversations change more than you expect. Four, the internet rewards honesty more than it does polish. Five, you're allowed to evolve in public. You don't have to have it all figured out. You can evolve in pubic.

[00:05:37] Six, not everyone will get you and that is okay. Number seven, calm confidence is magnetic. Number eight, depth beats frequency. Number nine, you don't need a viral moment to build something meaningful. Number 10, probably one of my favorites, saying the truth simply is more powerful. Number 11, the right people will lean in and the wrong ones will drift out and let them. Number 12, energy shows up in your voice before your words. 13, you will learn more by talking things out than keeping them in your head and stewing over them. Number 14, some seasons are for building, some are for integrating. 15. Growth does not always look exciting-- and oftentimes it does. 16. You can change your mind without betraying your past self. 17. Being consistent when no one is watching matters. 18. Your voice gets clearer the more you use it. 19. You don't need to explain every pivot. 20. Connection compounds. 21. Trust your curiosity. It's usually pointing you somewhere great. 22. Creating something just because you want to is enough. 24. Peace and ambition can coexist. 25. This chapter of life feels lighter than the last. 26. Slow progress is still progress. 27. Confidence comes from keeping promises to yourself. 28. Energy is a resource, spend it intentionally. 29. Joy is allowed now, not just later. 30. Your future self is watching what you tolerate now. 31. The work doesn't get easier; you just get clearer. 32. You already know more than you think you do. 33. Comparison steals clarity. 34. You can love your business without centering your life around it. 35. I'm excited for what's next and I know that the best is still yet to come. It's been a ride, you guys. I can't wait for the next 35 years and beyond.

[00:08:57] Thank you guys for being part of this journey with me for the last year with Alexa and the short of it. Thank you for my mom who birthed me 35 years ago. I realize now as a mother that day is really we should be tipping our hats to her every single time. This is about celebrating her. I just was there passively. I hope that you guys have a fabulous day and we'll see you on the next episode.

[00:09:33] Hey y'all, if you're loving the show, be sure to hit the follow button or the plus sign on your podcast app to subscribe. This will ensure you don't miss a single episode and I'll see you next week.