One Year All In with Aubre Fox

Getting laid off can either shrink your world or crack it wide open. We sit down with returning guest Aubre Fox exactly one year after she gets pushed into full-time entrepreneurship, and the timing is almost too perfect: the day we record, we’re also processing a fresh layoff on our side. What follows is an honest, grounded 365-day look at how confidence actually gets built, one project, one relationship, and one hard decision at a time. 

Aubre walks us through AF Brands and Co, the umbrella that finally makes her work feel clear and bookable: NXT Level Collective, A Fox Interiors, and “Aubre” as a brand for speaking, programming, and creative opportunities. We talk personal branding and business clarity, why “trying things” is not being scattered, and how you know you’ve moved from exploration into alignment. If you’re searching for entrepreneurship advice, solopreneur support, or how to build multiple income streams without confusing your audience, this conversation delivers real examples. 

We also get into the culture shift that matters most: no gatekeeping. From CEO circles and retreats to simple moments of asking a friend for the number you don’t know, we explore how community building helps women in business grow faster. Aubre shares what it’s like to book commercial acting work through relationships, what “proof of life” selfies are, and why she’s comfortable saying, “I usually get paid for this.” 

If this hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s building something new, and leave a review so more founders can find the show.  And if you've been thinking about joining the collective but have been on the fence we're here to say DO IT!

We even have a discount code to save you 10% off your membership: HOMEMADE10

Meet Aubre Fox

Aubre Fox is the founder of AF Brands & Co., where she builds brands that blend creativity, strategy, and community. She also brings her on-camera and creative experience to each company. This includes being featured in commercials, leading brand shoots and promotions, and partnering on events as a creative collaborator from concept through execution.

The NXT Level Collective is Aubre’s community for women in business who want real support, real strategy, and zero gatekeeping. Through memberships, events, and curated experiences, it helps women scale with stronger systems, confidence, and connections.

A.Fox Interiors is her high-end residential interior design firm, focusing on family-friendly, elevated spaces that feel timeless and functional. The team offers full-service design support from concept to completion, allowing clients to enjoy the process and love the result.

If your’re anything like us, you’ll want to be friends with Aubre after this episode! You can follow her journey on:

NXT
www.thenxtlevelcollective.com
ig: @nxt_levelcollective

A.Fox Interiors
www.afoxinteriors.com

ig: @a.fox_interiors

Personal Brand / AF Brands & Co

www.afbrandsco.com

ig: @Aubre_Fox 

Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Transcript

Why This Repeat Interview Matters

Barb 0:15

Episode one hundred and thirty one. Look at us. Look at us. Look at us. Look at us. We're killing it. We're getting it. We're getting it. Um, I'm excited for this one.

SPEAKER_01 0:25

This one is special.

Barb 0:27

We have done something. We did something that we've not ever done before. Yeah. We had a repeat.

SPEAKER_01 0:32

Um, and I think it was perfect. I think this was literally the best story. Um, obviously, we talked about it on our um fired on your day off episode where I talked about being let go, and it was actually the day that we recorded this interview, and that was like a huge topic of like I had to keep that in, right? Because if not, then this interview could have been completely tainted. It could have just gone in a completely different direction, and I didn't want that to happen because this story is so important. She found herself one year ago at this time in the same position that I did, being laid off from that corporate job and finding herself in this thrusted into full entrepreneurship. And this interview that you guys are about to listen to is her talking about the last year, the last 365 days of being a full-time entrepreneur, which I think was exactly what I needed to hear. In that moment, it was just the serendipitousness of this day, of this interview, it's really gonna be special for me.

Barb 1:39

Forever and always. Um, so yeah, we had the wonderful Miss Aubrey Fox back on the pod. We had her on in April of last year, um, episode titled Honey Roast of Aubrey Fox. Because that's what we did, and we did that again, and just to hear how far she's come, how she has taken ownership of her journey and her story and her life. Yeah, I'm excited for everybody to hear it. Yeah, absolutely. All right, go listen.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

She's back! Yes, she is. We're so excited to have you on the mic again. This is gonna be a great conversation. We already know it. So let's start off with introducing yourself to our audience.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, depending on what you're listening. Uh hi, everybody. My name is Aubrey Fox, and I am the founder of the Next Level Collective and a Fox Interiors. And recently we just created a beautiful umbrella in which we all live under for all these brands called AF Brands and Co. Oh so now when it'll like make sense when you when you visit everything. So we're excited about that. So um yeah, I'm so excited to be back. It's been a year. I know a year since our last conversation. It's really crazy. I was like, wait a minute, are we gonna make this a thing?

Meet Aubrey Fox And AF Brands

Barb 2:59

Uh yearly, yes. I love this touch point because so much happens in 365 days. Yeah, I can't wait to get into it because 365 days ago when we sat down to have this conversation. One, we were in a different location. Yes, life looked a lot scarier and kind of free-falling because this new thing kind of ventured into your life. And I think it's important to kind of milestone life and look back, take intentional time to look back and see at all of the things that you've done. And then if I do it with you guys, I don't have to write it down or it's just this audio diary cheat code.

SPEAKER_01 3:40

All right. Well, let's start off with the most important part of this podcast. What is in your cup? Oh, I'm sorry. Marita saw last time. I actually went back and I listened.

Barb 3:49

And it was water. It wasn't water. We were all drinking water. It was a water and mindset podcast. It was very much the water and mindset podcast. No longer is that the case, though. We are the Marks and Mindset podcast, and we're drinking Marks because Aubrey's in her rich bitch era. Oh, Rich Bitch Aubrey. Celebrate you in that. So you are so kind to you. Salute. Yay! Yay! Cheers, cheers, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

That's like homemade deliciousness. Oh, yeah. We literally have the best barista, not barista, bartender. Is that the same thing? Or barista only coffee?

SPEAKER_00 4:31

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

Yeah, that's a good question. I know. Let's Google it. We're gonna ask Adrian. Yeah, there you go. She makes the delicious Martha. Never fails us. Um, I I want to hear more about this AF brand. I know, I know, I think the the journey of entrepreneurship, you know, it's it's uh it's never a dull one. Yeah. Um, and so again, I think on top of you know, all these things and the way that just life flows, I think it's so cool to check in with an entrepreneur a year later and see how how things are happening.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

Yeah, I so I've had both of those businesses, AFOX and Cheerism next level for a while. And I feel like right when you introduce yourself to somebody, people are like, what do you do? And you're like, well, I do this and I do this. And sometimes I feel like it's it's convoluted, yeah, confusing. So um I was like, well, they all fall fall under the the Aubrey umbrella, if you will. Um, and I've had some very interesting and fun opportunities that I also didn't have on my bingo card for 2025 that happened. So um I was like, let's make it make sense. Yeah. So like when you you know what you're looking for. Um so AF Brands and Co. is basically the umbrella in which next level A Fox Interiors and Aubrey the brand falls under. Um so it kind of just gives everybody an idea of like what are you looking for? And you know, pick your path. I love that. What's the true Jordan Adventure? I know. Um, so yeah, I've been blessed in this last year. I have done some modeling, some acting, a commercial. The commercial excited.

unknown 6:07

I know her.

SPEAKER_00 6:09

It was fun. It was definitely different. I loved it. Um, so I've just been blessed with creating relationships that have been able to give me amazing opportunities. And so um, I wanted to also know, like, oh, Aubrey can do that. You know, so if you were looking at next level, but you're like, oh, maybe I need a speaker, maybe I need um somebody to help with some programming for an event or you know, things that I just naturally do. Um, so now there's a place for that. Yeah.

Building A Clear Brand Umbrella

Barb 6:37

So that's so this is the first time that we have kind of really talked about this umbrella and all of the branches underneath. And I love, love, love the way that you laid it out. And I love how clear it is to you now. Yeah. Last year we sat down and it was very much like uh it felt like a discovery period for you where Aubrey is just gonna try all of these things that you had mentioned, and whatever 2025 has to bring, like bring it on. Yeah. And now, after all of those experiences, all of the fun ups, downs, all the things, you can sit here and say, no, this is exactly what I want to do.

SPEAKER_01 7:18

There's certainty and clarity that wasn't there 365 days ago, and it's because you tried new things and you explored different paths, and you were able to truly like try this and try that and say, Yes, I like this, no, I don't like that. And now you're so fully aligned that you were able to build a brand and say, No, this is so clear, and this is who I am.

Lyssa 7:40

What?

SPEAKER_01 7:42

And that's awesome. I did that, you did it.

SPEAKER_00 7:46

That's the moral of our day today.

Barb 7:48

It's like, I did that, you did that, you did that. It's so easy to just kind of skirt by, right? And we 2026 for us is the year of celebration because we are really good at doing and accomplishing and checking off goals, and we're not so good at celebrating, which is I think the most in part important part of reaching a goal is to celebrate that you've done that.

SPEAKER_00 8:16

So I admire that about you guys, and I just I just want to fangirl for a little bit. I love what you guys are doing. I am so proud and so impressed, and I just love being on the journey. And thank you for taking me on the journey with you.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

You're so sweet, honestly. The the next level collective was really huge for us, and still is it still is, and I think that's really what you know what it was when we were building uh the the retreat and kind of like going through all of these things, and it really was that that reflection and that whole package where we were like this collective has done so much for our business, and like now we get to be involved in that and we get to almost build and create the spaces with you that other businesses are gonna be able to have what we had and build their business and grow and scale and meet these women that are going to be exactly what they need for their next level. And I don't know, I just I love being a part of that with you, and I want to thank you for for having us, you know, be a part of that because it's it's what we set out to do. And I we had no idea how we were gonna do that, right? This whole building of community, it was always a goal, and we just were like, I don't know how to do that. We're just gonna be friends with people and we're gonna network and we're gonna do all this stuff, and really building that retreat with you and and then attending it, uh, being on the panel, like all the things. It was this whole full circle moment where I was like, wow, look at this is community. This we did it, we wanted it, we set out to to do it, and we didn't necessarily know how it was gonna happen, but it happened. And I want to just I want to live in that, I want to bask in that, and now I want to be able to do that for other businesses as well.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

Yeah. Oh my gosh, it's been a wreck. I was while you were talking, I was just like, oh my God, remember the first thing we did together? Yes, it was balloons and and the and then that very first little retreat in the labs.

Barb 10:14

It has grown and blossomed.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

And that was just three years, yeah, and we didn't even really know each other. I was like, okay, and then I was like, Oh, I really want to work with these girls. And I'm like, I don't know if I can afford them. I hope, I hope they're here for the journey. And you're like, yeah. And I was like, oh God, thank you.

Barb 10:35

And that we were kind of talking off mic about shooting your shot. You that must be the basketball player in you. You will always take the shot. It doesn't matter to a fault. Yeah, do a fault.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

I'm real good with rejection.

SPEAKER_01 10:51

The actual disalignment, though. We don't fear it, and that is something to admire for sure.

Barb 10:57

Thank you. So, like, yeah, you you shot your shot, and that was three years ago. And look at three years later, our relationship, our businesses. We we've truly grown alongside of each other in a way that I don't think we were realizing until now because there's so much data now to look back at and see how far we've come. That it we attribute a lot of our success to your collective, and I I don't feel bad for saying like I'm proud of that. I'm proud of the fact that we shot our shot and we stepped out of our comfort zone to do a thing that we thought was scary, but was so right for us. And I want to talk about that. So yeah, the collective, we talked about it last time, right? It is one of your branches of your umbrella, your tree, and it has grown. And it's so beautiful. So, like, talk to us about that.

Next Level Collective Events And Retreats

SPEAKER_00 11:56

So, this year I feel like we became a lot more purposeful in our events, our structure, how we offered things, um, which has been great. And, you know, now we're we're set up, we do two round tables and a workshop a quarter. This is how we do it. We're planning on a retreat every year. And I mean, let's talk about the retreat was the best one. Yeah. I mean, it really was. And this was so I feel like, I mean, oh, well, you guys have been doing it since the beginning, I guess, the beginning of time. Um, so the three years that we've done it, but this time you guys were really, really involved. Yeah. And that was just like the best relief for me. I'm getting off topic, I guess, but it's great. So um, of just I sometimes to my own detriment, have a very high standard in which I hold myself. Yeah. Um, and I like to surround myself with people that also have high standards because then you feel like you can lean on them and be like, you know what? If I give something to the two of you, whether it's a half-baked idea, quarter-baked idea, or just the idea, and you're like, yep. And like, oh, thank God that was gonna take me 20 hours to execute and way too much brain power. Um, so that has just truly been a blessing of just knowing that I can come to you guys with like, this is what I want. I mean, my expectations are high, but also realistic and also like it got done. Yes, there's this.

Barb 13:27

So I will take it. You you trust us, yeah. Right. We trust you. None of this, none of it would work if there was not a foundation of trust. Yeah. And that's important in any business relationship, any friendship. And that's kind of where we've gotten to. So we we kind of started off in the collective, right? And we are in the collective, and I consider you a friend, right? So it's not just about the next level collective, and it's you know, we haven't used you for interior design stuff yet. Oh, it's coming up. We now get to fall under the other bucket of Aubrey as a friend, and that is so special. Knowing butterfly. Yeah, I'm gonna see you at least once a month, or yeah, you know, we're gonna send some texts back and forth, some funny jokes are gonna happen. Yeah, that feeds the soul in a completely different way.

SPEAKER_00 14:22

Well, right back at you because I feel like looking back to like a year, two years ago, you didn't even have a space, right? We're three years now, we're in this beautiful space that is like booming, yeah, and it's gorgeous, and everybody wants to have an event here, and people are just like, Yes, how do I get in? Um, like what a transformation, you know.

SPEAKER_01 14:45

It's it was really cool. And we held the CEO circle at HQ. Um, but there is something about the CEO circles happening here at Slate and like the consistency of that. It feels it feels good to know that I'm like I'm giving stability to this collective. It does make me feel like I am contributing to the way that I want to, right? I want to hold space for the collective, and we get to do that once a month, and like that really it means a lot to us. It's not just using our space, like I don't know, there's just something else that energy, having all of these CEOs, all of these women in this room at one time, it really does fuel us. Like we leave every CEO circle, like, damn, I love that. Yeah, every single time, and and it is it's a mixture of the things that we talk about, the conversations that we have, all the the amazing takeaways that we get every single time, um, but also just knowing that we were able to provide that space. We were able to put a permanent roof over the the head of this event, and that is exactly what we wanted. Like it's all these things that we wanted, we didn't know we wanted, we didn't have it written down specifically. It was never like I want to make sure that I'm the CEO Circle Hub. Right. Like that wasn't on the goal list, but like when we got it, when we got it, yeah, no, I wanted to. Yep, yep. So now I'm gonna write it down with the goal and I'm gonna check it right after because like that's fucking awesome. And and I I do, it's something that really fills us up. And it just always, every time it just takes me back to the very beginning. It takes me back to the very first one that we did, and the little balloons and all the pillows on the floor, and just to see what it has grown into to know that now we have like a consistent circle here every single month. Like that's really awesome. We feel so blessed to be here.

SPEAKER_00 16:33

Also, something that takes that off my list when you guys are like, so we're planning on the notch right here. And I'm like, Yep, okay, so we're and I was like, Oh, I never asked them that we just assumed now that's now this. And I was like, Oh, okay. Great, we're gonna do that.

Barb 16:49

But it's all nice too, right? You are a solopreneur with you know extensions out because you do have a team of people, yeah, but this has your name on it, yeah. So really, this is you, yeah. We have always had each other, and these last couple weeks we've kind of been apart, we've had vacations and stuff, yeah, and running the solopreneur schedule, I had to do it. Yeah, it blows.

SPEAKER_01 17:17

It's not that great. I'm done. I was like, wait, so she's gone, and I have to answer the emails and clean slate and do chairs. I was like, this is boring.

SPEAKER_00 17:27

It's boring, it's annoying. You're like, right? I'm sure I can only imagine what you guys are like when you're cleaning the space, right? I'm sure there's like music on the music, yeah. So we'll like we'll use this next month, you know, like it's a vibe. Yeah, yeah. And the vibe is I was working in my office alone the other day, guys.

Barb 17:46

So I'm here alone. She's out on this beautiful boat in the Bahamas. I don't wish my friend here in the Bahamas. So rude. But also, I went the whole day without like saying a word out loud. Yeah. Because like, who the fuck am I talking to?

Lyssa 18:03

Yeah.

Barb 18:03

So I can't, right? Again, soulpreneurs get so much props. Yeah. And to know that I have somebody that if I forget something, she's not gonna forget it. She's gonna pick it up. So to be able to provide that to a soulpreneur, no, babe, I got you. Yeah, that I know, right? Friend aside, but business-wise, that is a load that's like that's huge.

Trust, Community, And Holding Space

SPEAKER_01 18:26

Yeah, yeah. That level of support is it's it is, it makes a big, it makes a big difference. We do not take for granted the support that we know we have because we do. We sit in these CO circles and we are the only partners every time we go into and I separate you every time. I know, right?

SPEAKER_00 18:41

And I just find out that they get mad. We didn't put on the meme.

Barb 18:46

I'm dead. It came so funny. We had right that bunny won the Grammy, and the memes were going crazy, and we were like, well, we know we have to jump on this trend. Um, and I looked at her and I was like, oh, when Aubrey separates us at CEO circle, that well, that is definitely worthy of it.

SPEAKER_01 19:03

You know, that was funny. It was because it's honestly something that's been happening to us since we were kids. You know what I mean? Like we hate it when the I break you up because of power.

SPEAKER_00 19:15

I need to disperse the power. I need you to both talk to different groups of and tell and say what you're doing. Yeah. And you can influence more people when you're separated.

SPEAKER_01 19:25

Yes, that is something that's why we are wonderful, no, we know. Our wonderful coach, you know, Ray Ann Lacasina, she's our business coach. And that was something that very early on, it was like when we first met her before we even jumped into coaching with her, um, she had suggested that we divide and conquer.

SPEAKER_00 19:43

And we were like, we hated it.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

We got off that call with her and we were like, how dare she? She knows nothing about us. And um, we this year, you know, going through all of that, having that in the back of our minds this whole time, and then having moments where we are separated. Um, it has, especially these last two weeks where we were on vacation and we both had to run the businesses ourselves, where it was like, okay, I think I understand. I get it now. I understand the divide and conquer. I understand that I can do more and I can take on more. Um, and we don't have to do everything together. I guess not everything has to be a two-person job.

Lyssa 20:24

You guys are so good.

SPEAKER_01 20:26

Um, but yeah, it it really is. There, there is power in it. We are we are learning now this year to to harness that power of separation, even if we don't like it.

SPEAKER_00 20:36

And you guys are so good and so smart, and I just want every group to be able to have a piece of you.

Barb 20:41

And I I appreciate that, yeah, right, because again, it is so easy for us to kind of nestle in this nucleus that is so comfortable and so warm. And in order to grow, you can't be comfortable and warm all the time. So, like we have that, and then the balance comes. Sometimes you can't have that, sometimes you have to go sit in the back room with a different group and share things. And the way that you explained it kind of cracked open the it did, right? We we can share together, and it's like one message, or we can share the same message two different times and people can hear it. And how awesome is that to bring to the community, yeah, to bring to the collective so that everyone can get what they need, or just hear a different perspective. Yeah, so thank you. Thank you for challenging us and uh forcefully making us do something that's uncomfortable because it is for the good of the collective, of ourselves.

Lyssa 21:42

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:42

There is growth there, growth that we would not have given to ourselves because we will always choose the warm, cozy nukes. Right. Um, so we do. We need people like you to challenge us and to separate us and show us our own individual power because we will always want to, you know, wonder twice. Yeah. So thank you.

SPEAKER_00 22:03

Of course. I just I want everybody else to feel um the support that you guys do. And I and I feel like I'm imagining like the systems you guys have in place and how you run things. And like even myself, sometimes I'm like, oh, I gotta ask, I gotta ask Barb because somehow I wake up my group two times in a row, I think. And then I was like, oops. But um, but I was like, but I want to know how you guys are doing this, and I want to know how you guys are doing this, and how you went from no location, a location, bigger location. Like, and I think a lot of people in our community want to know that too. And so I think that you guys just have so much to share. And I love how willing you are to share. And I think that's you know, obviously why we get along so well is this collaboration of like, you know, if you know something and I know something, now we know more. There's no gatekeeping around here. Yeah, we don't do that, and it's it's the best. Yeah, and I'm like, oh, right, because I'm like, I'm sitting here, I'm like, I want to know how you guys did this. Like, look at where you are, like, look at this room, it's beautiful.

Divide And Conquer As Partners

Barb 23:09

What I love about you, so I shared, I listened to our previous episode this just this morning, right? So it's very fresh, and the thread line is so there. You shared last time that you experienced the gatekeeping, but like you weren't gatekeeping, it was being gatekeeped from keeping it. And that didn't feel good. Yeah, so what did you do? You started your own thing. You're like, okay, I'm gonna build my own table where this table doesn't gatekeep. That's the rule. The rule is that we are here as a collective, yeah. And 365 days later, while so much has changed, that is a constant. That is the threadline to you. You want to raise the tide for all women. Yeah, it is not just like, nope, just this one, just this one. I kind of like this one, but it is truly an everybody. Let's do this, let's figure out, ask the question because I might have the same question. And if we can answer it together, then boom, we just got both further along. Yeah. And I thank you. Yeah. Because we, you're a role model, yeah. You're a role model to the community, to the collective, and that has allowed us to step into no, I want to be like one of you. Yeah, I want to be like you.

SPEAKER_00 24:28

I want to be like that is pretty, but like, you know, oh my gosh, you're fast. Oh my gosh. Yeah, I just I've noticed it a lot more in like in the design industry too, of sharing. And I think it's um especially like on a nationwide stage of like people just sharing, being on panels. I go to all these interior design events. And I am also of the mindset of like, if I'm showing up to listen, like there, we better begin. Like takeaways. Like, I don't want to hear fluff. Yeah, I need actionable steps. I want to know how did you get here to that? How much money did you save? I literally asked Barb, I was like, I have no idea how much any of this equipment costs. Could you just like I'm not judging, I'm just asking, like, how much does a microphone cost? I don't know. Like, you know, you guys would ask me the same question about a kitchen mate, right? And to be able to like go to your friends and your trusted sources, and I was explaining this morning too. I have a couple friends, I've got one in New Hampshire, one in Florida. And I was looking at something, and they're like, Aware, what kind of projects you got going on? I was like, Well, I got this and I've got this, and this is really fun. And I was like, I have to do this thing that I've I don't have a lot of experience in. I was like, why didn't it dawn on me to just call one of you and say, how do I do this? Yeah, yeah, because especially in the design industry, working for yourself, um, in a small city that wasn't as um forthcoming with design support, it's really hard to figure out these systems. Now it's like everybody on the internet is throwing information at you. Price it this way, do this, do this. There was none of that when I came out of college. Yeah. Oh my god, how many years ago? I don't know. 16. Enough. Enough years ago. There was no, there was no Instagram when we left, I feel like, right? There was no Instagram, there was Facebook, but nobody was telling you. Everybody was like, oh, I got this far on my own. I'm not gonna tell you, I'm not gonna share masculine energy and just like, no, you gotta just look out for you. Yeah, and I hate that. Yeah, I'm literally like, if you see me at an event, or like sometimes if you guys have sat next to me, like, oh, at Kimberly's event that was just if you watch me, I am like looking at my friend's paper all the time. Like, first of all, I'm not a great speller, and we're just gonna embrace that. So she'll say, somebody, whoever's speaking, will say something, and I'll be like, oh, I didn't catch that. And I'm like, hope was next to me this time, right? I was like, hope, what did she say? What did you write down? I don't have a thought on that yet. You know, like I am like, I'm like, let's let's do the thing together because I'm or I just sit here and I'm just like, oh, I don't know what she said, or I don't know, you know, and I'm just like second guessing myself. No, I'm just gonna ask my friend the question. You don't stay stuck. Yeah, yeah, right. I try not to. Well, thank you for making it appear that I appreciate you.

Barb 27:22

There is a a certain, and I think it's just life, right? You're kind of in your own silo. Um I could ask, but like I don't want to inconvenience, probably doing something, cooking dinner, kids. Yeah, but then you sit in the stuck for too long and you don't go anywhere because you're stuck. So you're like, well, no, I didn't hear it, but I wanted to hear it. So like let me turn and it's just all of these things, just it explains exactly who you are and exactly why the collective exists and what it's for. To get unstuck, to feel less alone, to do it together, even if you're in design in the home industry, but we're in design in the events industry, there's gotta be things we're struggling on together. Let's figure it out.

SPEAKER_00 28:12

Yeah. Great words.

Barb 28:15

Yeah, you're so funny. But now I kind of want to shift. Right. So we kind of talked about next level. You are sliding into AFOX interiors. How is that going? So this has been a full year of self-employment. Yes. And I want you to give us all the things that you should have celebrated. Like give everything that has happened a story to come back to. Because 365 days of self-employment is a wild roller coaster that made worthy of celebration.

No Gatekeeping And Asking For Help

SPEAKER_00 28:53

So yeah, this year, so I had um a couple different um project lines, so just um kitchen and bathroom model jobs. And then I also had some just design only clients. And so I was just at the last point we spoke, I was just like, all right, somebody hire me. I'm here, I'm ready to work. Um and I think it's very true that when you open yourself up to either your time, your schedule, your mind of like, I will take what comes at me um and embrace it, whether you want to say yes to it or not, right? Like some of the, I'm not saying we say yes to everything, but um last year I definitely I probably had a lot more projects than I had anticipated. Celebrate that. Um so you didn't probably did. I did. I did have more projects than what I had anticipated. Yes. Um, so that was great. A lot more connections in the industry, um, learning a lot more about products. Um, as a designer, you know, you have to be like on top of all the tech that's coming, things that are adjusting. Really uh dialed into the actual like avatar. Like I always knew my avatar, but now she's dialed in tight. Yes. Like, you know, when you're turning a knob and it's like now it's it's getting tighter, right? Like, oh yeah, now we're we're real close. So um figuring that out and having that align is so sweet. And I feel like you hear that all the time, but um, I have a couple clients right now that I love to talk to, I love to design for, they trust me, they understand me and our team, and they um they make it more enjoyable. And these are not small projects, these are expensive projects. And for somebody to trust you with 60,000, 175,000,$200,000 jobs, that's a lot of pressure.

Lyssa 31:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:05

And when, and we're never saying that it's all gonna go smoothly. I'm sure that's something you guys feel too, right? Oh, yeah. Well, there's gonna shit's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_01 31:14

Yeah, yeah, we definitely have to preface, especially with weddings. Our our big ticket, you know, events are big weddings like that. And it's the same thing. Like, don't think that this is gonna go smoothly. Right. We're just gonna wait.

SPEAKER_00 31:23

We're gonna figure it out. Well, we're not gonna wait. When it comes, we're gonna be prepared, right? Exactly. And to prepare your clients for this is remodels. We take down walls. Who even knows what behind is actually in the wall? Yeah, right. Like you could find the game stuff, you could find actually, you know, building materials, you could find things that are building material. You don't know. And so um just dialing in on our clientele that trust us, and um, from a design perspective and a personal perspective, um, and just finding that alignment was to be honest, something I didn't know that I was gonna find. Like I knew we were gonna get clients and it was gonna be great, but like to find the clients that like are not here and you have a key to their home to go in and do something for them because they're like, Oh yeah, are we? Yeah, go ahead and shoot your after photos, you know, like that's a that's a trust that none of us take lightly, you know. I mean, for you guys, be like, oh, here's the here's the code.

Barb 32:24

Yeah, we'll see you in there, you know, like and people have, and it does. It makes it makes what is a quote unquote job feel like you're on cloud nine, yeah, right? Because it's no longer a job. I know that I am I am so secure in what I'm doing, you trust me with what I'm doing. The project is just gonna turn out beautifully, beautifully, and I just get to have fun doing it. It's a different feeling than having to go because I gotta clock in at nine o'clock, and then I get to clock in at five, and I cannot wait. I'm looking at the time and I'm counting it down. This this is not that. Yeah, now I'm like, give me more. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:02

Before I was like, it's 3 30, where's my coffee? Now I'm like 3 30. Yeah, there's like where did the day go? Right. Maybe I could squeeze out to like 5 15. Yeah. Maybe I can just work tonight, but boundaries. I think the boundaries are so hard.

One Year Self-Employed In Design

SPEAKER_01 33:18

That was that was also one of the things, like with us going on uh on vacation. Oh, I I said it like three times in different conversations, but the the the thread that was going through was that if you love what you do, like it's not working. Right. Like at one point they're like, Oh, that sucks. That like you have to jump right back into work as soon as you get home. And I was like, it doesn't it doesn't suck. I'm actually eager to get home and to jump back into work because I love this, I love doing this, and I knew the events that were coming up, and I was like, and I'm excited to celebrate these clients, you know, like there's there's so much joy in what we do that it it doesn't suck. I actually need to keep doing it, it's fulfilling, yeah.

Barb 34:01

And maybe maybe 365 days ago, Aubrey was scared because she knows.

SPEAKER_00 34:10

Or like if I talk to you in a year and you're like, Aubrey lives in the closet, like it's fine, that's her pillow.

Barb 34:19

And now you have all of that confidence deposit, right? The feeling to go along with it, and it's truly becoming integrated. Like your spiral is winding upward. Um, would you ever go back? No. Yeah, I knew the answer, I just still wanted to ask.

SPEAKER_00 34:40

It's it's something else. Like, and I knew when this adjustment was happening too. Um, a couple years ago, actually, when I worked for another company, somebody said something like, Oh, Aubrey, why are you she said, Why are you doing this next level collective thing like for a resume? And I was like, I will not write another resume. I was like, either somebody will recruit me or I will be working for myself. Like, I'm not writing another resume. And I felt like even maybe I didn't feel that way 100% at the time, but I like said it, I was like, oh yeah, you're right. No. Like by now, I have so many connections that, like, if I had none of this tomorrow, I would make some phone calls and say, Do you need me for this? And they're like, Yeah, sure, Aubrey, why don't you come to this? And I'm like, Great, I'll be great at that. Um, but there is, there's something freeing about working for yourself. It's enjoyable. I'm like, I remember I think I said this last year on the podcast, and I was like, what is my life like? Does it look like a photo shoot on Monday and a podcast on a Friday? Yeah. And then I was like, oh my God, did we do a Friday last year too? We did. And we're like, yes, Aubrey, your life does look like that. Photo shoot on a Monday and a podcast on a Friday. And it still looks like that. Thank God. The same people. Right. And like, so, and the uh like the evolution of this year of like design projects, next level, and then these opportunities just based on you know relationships that I have made, you know. Next thing you know, I have an opportunity to be in a commercial. Let's talk about that. Okay, I'm because maybe I want to find an opportunity to be in a commercial one day. How else tell you how? One do that. Well, first you find the people in the commercials. Well, actually, to be honest with you, this there was a woman that I had made a connection with um through somebody else, I'm sure years ago through Next Level Collective. And the funniest thing is we we actually never met, but she for the last couple years, she has had um, she works for like an ad agency or yeah, an ad agency. And um she would message me when she has something come up. She's like, I have an opportunity, it's on this day, this is the pay. Da-da-da-da-da. Are you available? And sometimes I wasn't. So I have to turn it down. Now I my schedule is my schedule, unless I already have a client booked. Like I can, you want me to hold Monday? I'll hold Monday. Um, so she reached out to me. She's like, I have this opportunity, wondering if you're interested. Here's a couple details. I said, sure, keep me in mind. And then she's like, okay, we're to the next stage with the client. Sure, keep me in mind. And um then I got booked, right? So then it's like, send your picture, send this. Like and I maybe people are like, well, with AI, right? Like, you don't know what anybody looks like anymore. So like um, it was funny because I had to send like headshots, which now I have accumulated some headshots, right? And I then it was like, send a selfie. Right? Because you're like right now in this moment. It was like a newspaper, yeah, their name date. Proof of life, yeah. Proof of life, send your proof of life. And it was um, it was funny, but I was like, thank god I got dressed today. I mean, I wouldn't have like quickened, at least on my makeup. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Um, so that was funny. But um, yeah, so I basically I got booked for this opportunity, and I um I've done actually some commercial work before, not to this level though. And it's very interesting because it's like, you know, from coming from somebody like ourselves that's used to being in charge, and now you are the talent. I see that talent, come up here in five minutes. Talent, stand over here. And it's funny because I'm like, so we were in this scene, right? We were cooking. Yeah. And I'm like, everything in my being is like, stand and follow directions. Aubrey, just stand here and follow directions. That is what you are supposed to do. Nobody's asking for your opinion. Even though I feel like I have a lot of experience. I mean, not as much, not as much as the actual people who do the thing, right? And um, so it was funny, it's like stand here, pour the rice this way into the thing. That's too much, Aubrey. Let's don't do that. Smile less, do this. Um, eating movie. Yeah, I don't think I'm gonna say a series. Smile less. I'm like, act like you're having a conversation, also don't say any words. Well, you so they do tell you to say words, but this is funny because um somebody actually said on set, um, don't because sometimes like I've done photo shoots and it's like laugh or say something funny or whatever in a photo shoot. Fine. If you're on video, and especially if you are in Rochester, New York, we have a very large deaf community here and they can read lips, people can read lips. Oh and so don't be swearing. Yeah, don't say anything you shouldn't. So it all had to be like topic appropriate. Yeah, so you're like passing the glass and you're like, oh my God, so good to see you. How's work? You know, like saying actual things. Yeah. Um, it was a lot harder on my body than I had anticipated. We shot from, I mean, I was there probably from eight to five or six. Oh my god. So a full day. Um, we did two different types of scenes. So there was outfit changes, hair changes, things like that. And not that I was working during all of that time, but it's like, okay, stop close to death. Yeah, yeah. And it's a different energy. Oh, yeah. It's a different energy. So it was great. I met some amazing people. Both the companies that we worked with were amazing. Um, the actual client, we were in their personal home. They were so kind. They catered and lunch for us. Like it was so sweet. And then the other um actors with that I was with, um, also very kind, ended up running into another the woman that was with me. Um, she has a whole business of her own. She does all these fabulous things. We serendipitously run into each other at another event and we would have never even known each other. And now it's like, hey, what are you booking? Are you doing this? You know, like, oh, if you need a if you need help, Aubrey doing this, let me know and I'll help you. And I'm like, like those, like when a woman says that to me, I'm like, I know you're my person. Yeah. And so it was just, it was a great experience. And I was like, I could get used to this. I could get used to this, especially like showing up for one day and being like, this is your task for the day. You have nothing else to worry about.

SPEAKER_01 41:04

I think I I think I like that. The one day area. Yeah.

How A Commercial Booking Happens

SPEAKER_00 41:07

One day trying to like go in, get a job, get out. As opposed to like shooting a soap opera. Right. Like every day I have to. With lines. I just had to smile and to memorize and make stuff up about food. I'm like, yum, ooh. And it was funny because I had like a fake husband. And um it was like it would, it was just very funny. The dynamics of like you're sitting with, we were like two couples at a table. And it's like, okay, like, I mean, you leave there, like these are your best friends, like you've known them since second grade, you've known them since eight o'clock, right? Like we have divoted, we have dove deep in the connection pool because we have been talking to each other about the craziest things and also life while you're just like sitting on the sofa waiting for your next shot. Yeah. So it was it was an experience, and I love it. I love meeting people, I love meeting good people, you know. So, would you do it again? Oh, for sure. Yeah, anything about that. Um I've got a couple on the dock. Look at you. We'll see. But so coincidentally, um, this is so funny. So I was at a kitchen and bath show and the builder show last week, and I was at a vanity company, and um, I'm talking to the rep and I'm like, okay, how much is this? Where does this come from? All the things. And I noticed this guy walking around starting to take my picture and talking to the um to the sales guy. And I was like, well, that gives me a laugh. I was like, it's the hair guy. This hair gets me in a lot of the hair gets me in a lot of doors. I'm not gonna lie. I but I was like, maybe I'll cut it. No, I can't. This is the hair. But um I get it. So literally, this guy, this guy with the camera comes up to me while I'm working, talking to this gentleman about how I need to buy this vanity. And he's like, Can I borrow you for a minute? I was like, after I am done conducting business, yes, I'm conducting. Like, I'm trying to run a business. I lost my business. Yes, thank you. So the guy, the sales guy was like, Oh wow. I was like, I know, I don't want to sound crazy, but to be honest, this kind of happens to me. I'm just saying. So um, so I finish up, I get the guy's card, right? Whatever. And then I go over and he's like, I was wondering if you could help us with um some footage. We're shooting a commercial. And I was like, I will. I said, however, I do want you to know that I usually get paid for this. And he laughed. I was like, I am glad. So this are not laughing. I was like, I'm serious. Yeah. Um, so you want to see the pace up? I know. I was like, so I will do this. I said, but um, you know, I'm gonna need a copy of that. I was like, I need you to go get me whoever's in charge here. I need their card and I need footage of that. And they were like, oh, okay, yes, ma'am.

unknown 43:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 43:43

So then like they walked me through what they want me to do. I was like, so I told somebody else the story and they're like, oh, they thought they were flattering you and you came at like you're like, no, I do this.

SPEAKER_01 43:53

I love that. I love that.

SPEAKER_00 43:55

That is a fun. I mean, I kind of felt funny when I said it, but it was true. It's true, but it

SPEAKER_01 44:00

True, exactly. You do you do get paid for that? So you shouldn't just like go lightly. But I I agree. I think he was like, oh, this girl is really pretty, and I can get her to come over here and do some food. I thought he was gonna discover you.

SPEAKER_00 44:12

Like, no, honey, I've been discovered. So yeah, it's and just like people asking me to do um like these creative things, like, oh Aubrey, I noticed you do this for yourself. I noticed you do that. And I'm like, yeah. Like, oh, could you come help us with this? Sure can, you know, and just to be like, these are the three funnels of which um we're operating under now. So yeah, there's a service for that. Yeah. And being able to say that and it makes sense for people, um, has really it's been a fun journey of like, even now. I'm like, there's the overall brand voice, yeah, right. And then there's each individual brand voice.

Lyssa 44:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:55

And to even just develop myself kind of in that realm of like, this is Aubrey. This is how you know what you're gonna get.

Lyssa 45:05

Right.

SPEAKER_00 45:05

So now it's like, okay, great. Um, here's the Aubrey part of the website. You know, what does she do? How could we book her? Let's, oh, she's been on Market Mindset podcasts, let's listen to her here. Click, you know, and just all these ways to promote obviously the wonderful things that all of my friends have invited me to do, in addition to being able to feature myself. Right. Um, so I was trying to figure out what is the best way to do that that makes sense. People are gonna understand. Oh, I get it now. Not like, well, she's a serial entrepreneur and she's all over the place. Like, no, this is structured.

Lyssa 45:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 45:39

That is sexy.

Barb 45:40

That is like because again, I listened this morning and this wasn't it wasn't it wasn't there yet. It was in the works, right? It had been in the works for years and years, but you have claimed it. You have there is a knowing, there is an uh a certainty, and you're in it. It's you have figured out, you kind of moved, cut the weeds, right? Yeah, you're you're there now, you know the path, you see it, and now you're walking it. Yeah, that is sexy.

SPEAKER_01 46:09

Oh, it's not to be admired. Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 46:13

I've been trying very hard, and it's been like it's been like an evolution of a lot of um identity work, a lot of I believe, and I literally said this to my business coach the other day, I was like, I believe I have mindset myself to death. Like, I feel like my mindset is there. The things I need are time, help, and skill in certain areas that I'm not accustomed to. Um, and saying that out loud almost like gave me permission to be like, you don't need one more workshop operation. Like, not now. You know what I mean? Like, I'm not saying never, but I'm saying like in this moment, like let's focus on the things you do need. And just to be able to think about that and be like, oh, that's fine. Yeah, you know, like that's okay for right now. Yeah, it's been very powerful.

Barb 47:05

So much growth, so much intentional work, right? Because you can't come to this alignment if you don't do the work to move the things that need to be moved and get to the space where nope, this is what I need. And you had a team behind you, right? You you don't do this alone while you are a solopreneur, you have a team, you have the collective, you have support, you have people behind you. And we were talking before, you're integrated. You just said that you took a work trip, but it wasn't just a work trip, it was a fun trip that you mixed in a little bit of work and mixed in a little bit of fun, and that's what life is. We're not just business owners, we're not just mothers, we're not just partners. We are people and we need our own experiences, and you have just given that to yourself.

Mindset Versus Time Help Skills

SPEAKER_00 48:02

Yeah, it was it was a magical trip. I mean, obviously the mouse was involved. I mean the Mickey of the Mouse, but um, but right, to know that, like, okay, I set myself up, I like prep my clients, like, I will not be in the office these days. I mean, if something hit the fan, like, of course I'm gonna answer my phone, but I also knew what I was walking into. And so to be able to have those two days, have some fun, and then I was like, shoot, I gotta work. Yeah, which I was like not upset about, but I was like, oh, it's just a different switch, right? It's like, okay, now we prep to go to the show to meet the people. And like, like, I didn't do as much homework as I should have beforehand. I had a list of who I wanted to see, but I was like, after the first day, I was like, shoot, like, I need to really prepare myself tonight for tomorrow because I flew down here with my money. Like a lot of times when I was going to shows before, I had companies that were paying me to go. Yeah. So now it's like when it's coming out of your pocketbook, right? You're like, wow, I need to do homework, I need to do research. All right, you better button that shit up. So, like, and I was always like on task for my job, but like that wasn't the missions were different, right? So now it's like the mission is find as many of these suppliers that you need. They are in front of you, and you need to take advantage of that. And that is why you need to be quiet and walk 16,000 steps and talk to all these people that maybe half of them you don't want to talk to. But so that night I went home, I like got in bed and I was like, okay, I need to do more research. I need to do this, this, and this. Like, you, you are the owner, you are the boss. Like, would you be upset if somebody else came and kind of half-assed it on your dime, right? And you're like, this is your dime. So go make the most of it. And then I was like, Oh, I wish I still had one more day, but I probably would have been exhausted in that. I need it. But it was it was a good realization too of just like, yep, flip the switch. Now we're an interior designer, we gotta go, we gotta talk to people, we gotta do the things.

Barb 49:59

Yeah, and that's I think that is real life entrepreneurship. It's real life. Yeah, it's not always pretty and it's not always like I got my shit together. There are moments where we we look at each other, like, uh oh, we did not, right? But now we have to make it work because that is what being an entrepreneur is just knowing that shit's gonna hit the fan and being confident in your skills, and like we're gonna redirect, we're gonna refocus, and we're gonna move forward with the the best plan. And you did that while having fun in the sun with your best friend, and that's really cool.

SPEAKER_00 50:37

It was great. I was like, that was much needed. I came back, I mentioned I was like, I feel refreshed. Yeah, like let's go. We're only two months into the year. Still, crazy!

SPEAKER_01 50:48

I think it's crazy that we're still in February, and this episode's not gonna air until probably April, but still, like the fact that we have had all this experience, there's so many things happening. We are only four days removed from going on our fun in the sun. Like, and again, this is just the beginning of the year. The year of the horse.

Barb 51:07

It it is the fire horse is literally.

SPEAKER_00 51:10

This is what the people tell me because coming in strong. Yeah, I just really is. I'll have people tell me about this stuff because I'm like, I don't know what's happening with the horse.

Barb 51:17

And that's okay. It's not I'm just gonna select it telling you about you.

SPEAKER_00 51:22

Tell me the news part.

Barb 51:23

This is in fact the year of the fire horse, and it is so it it feels that way for everybody that's in our circle that's we kind of connect with. Big things are happening, and people have truly shed pieces of themselves that no longer serve, right? I don't have to think about well, am I gonna get another client if I can do no, it's gonna happen. I'm just gonna flow to it, and I know that I'm gonna keep doing what I need to do, and it's it's a knowing.

SPEAKER_00 51:53

Yeah, it is annoying.

Barb 51:54

Thank you, fire horse.

SPEAKER_00 51:55

Yeah, I know. I feel like um, like last year in general, right? I guess the snake and shedding of all that, I right, I feel like very similarly a lot of people that we know have been through something similar, and it's like, wow, yeah, here we go. Yeah, yeah. And the economy is, I also don't like to talk about the economy, but um, in a sense of like this isn't the most certain time we're in. And that's frustrating. But also we're here, we're in it, we gotta keep going. We got what we got, and uh keep chugging along, just knowing that the right things are gonna come up, the right opportunities, uh, the right people. And right, who knows where we're gonna be in six months? And that's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 52:38

So much can happen in just one day. I know, right? So I think that this for me solidifies that I think this does need to be a yearly. No, I think I shouldn't write anything dumb. Yeah, this is our time capsule. Check in. Like, yeah, this should be a little time capsule. This could be something that we pull in, and like every year we're just like, all right, where are we at now? Yeah, because I it's important being reflective is one of the things that pushes us forward. And you you talked about it being an evolution. You can't evolve if you're not looking in the past and figuring out how to move forward. So, yeah, I think we should keep doing that. Yeah, I think it's been pretty awesome. Oh my gosh.

Barb 53:15

And it's something, one less thing for you to write down.

SPEAKER_00 53:17

I mean how I feel about writing things down. I want to know where you guys write them down. I want to know where do they live in your notebook? Is it in a notebook? Is it in a photo? How long do you look at it? What day? What day? What time? They're pretty pictures. Is there regional pictures? I really just want to know what you guys are doing at all moments of the day.

Where To Find Everyone

Barb 53:38

And I think that fosters a big friendship, right? Because they're I know that you're doing amazing things over there. I know that we're doing amazing things over here. The collective is doing amazing things. So, like, truly, let's come, let's share. Maybe something I'm doing is gonna crack the code for you in a way that like you need.

SPEAKER_01 53:57

And I love it. Oh my gosh. All right, this feels like a good place to love and leave, my friends. Would you like to tell everyone where they can find you?

SPEAKER_00 54:05

Yeah, so you can find me on the gram. It's probably the best place. Yeah, because then you can find the umbrella. Uh, just at Aubrey Fox, A-U-B-R-E-F-O-X. And then uh the next level collective, also on Instagram and AFox Interiors. And we are also on the World Wide Web. Yes. Who isn't? I love it.

SPEAKER_01 54:25

All right. Well, this is the part where you're gonna do all the things you're gonna like and follow and subscribe. You can follow us on Instagram and YouTube at Marks and Mindset Podcast. And if you're local to the ROC and you want to party with us at Home Made Events ROC. Until next time. Bye.

unknown 54:39

Bye.

SPEAKER_00 54:41

How fun. Oh my god. Oh my god. Let me drink all the party.