Rebecca Becker
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Marie: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Working Moms of San Antonio podcast. We're your host, Erica Reis and Marie Schultz, a realtor and lender here in San Antonio. But most importantly, we're working moms just like you.
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Marie: now onto today's [00:01:00] episode, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let's get started.
Erika: Welcome to this week's episode of the Working Moms of San Antonio podcast. Today we are here with our guest, Rebecca, um, with Stroll Magazine. And so I'm gonna turn it over to her to just kind of briefly introduce herself and talk about stroll.
Rebecca: Awesome. Well, thank you so much for letting me be a guest on your podcast.
I'm so excited. I was telling my daughter, this is my very first podcast, and she says, oh, wow, mom, are you sure? Yeah. That was really exciting to do.
Marie: It's so much fun. It's so much fun. Yeah, I,
Rebecca: I've, I've always wanted to do something like this. I'm really excited. Um, but yeah, I've been with Stroll now for, oh, over 11 years.
And, um, it has been the most rewarding, um, job for me because I'm actually, I actually own my publication through a [00:02:00] franchise at Intu Company. The company is very solid. It's been around for 20 years. And, um, you know, I had the opportunity when, uh, I left the San Antonio Express News to do something on my own.
And I just embraced this wholeheartedly. It was the hardest thing I've ever done other than breastfeeding. I'll have to admit, maybe yes, my daughter laughs at me. 'cause I say that all the time. Um, but I would really appreciate that. Um, I get to meet the readership. I. Right. And I've been in media for 30 years.
I've never had the opportunity to really know the readership, and we just kind of guess from demographics, okay, this is probably what they want. Right. But I have had the opportunity to, to meet the readership and get to know what they like. They, some of 'em are my, my very best friends. Yes. Now over 10 years, you know, that does happen.
And uh, that's what makes this work so well is that, you know, we get to. We get to know what they want. We find the right businesses for them. We, we get to, you know, vet the businesses and bring them on board and build a relationship with the businesses and the community [00:03:00] that they're gonna be a part of through, you know, different touchpoint.
The, the magazine digital, um, events that we do. So it just all comes together really well and the resources that we get from into company. To support that has been, uh, dynamic. So I, I've, I've been in major media companies, be Below Hearst, freedom. Those are the big ones. Yeah. Yeah. From newspaper. I, I've worked with Hispanic media, loved being, uh, introduced to that.
After living in El Paso for 35 years before I left and married my husband, um, got the opportunity to jump into, uh, uh, media from, from the electric utility industry back in El Paso, Texas, my hometown.
Erika (2): Mm-hmm.
Rebecca: Um, but yeah, so that's kind of a little bit about my background. So
Marie: yeah, it's very rewarding. I mean, when you get to see your product benefit, the people, I mean, getting out and seeing them, actually, them obviously becoming your friends over the years.
Absolutely.
Rebecca: So, yes, it's been, it's been fun. Um, in fact, we, um, have, you know, even partnering with you all, bringing my [00:04:00] friends here. From the community, from both communities, and they see that we're doing something really positive for working moms. I, I wish I had this when I was a working mom, right? Yes, yes.
When, you know, you see some of the moms bring their kids that they're able to do that, you know when they can. Right? I know that there's not a habit, but when they can, they can bring 'em and they don't feel like they have to avoid, um, you know. Moving on with their business and progressing because of their kids, but it's actually, um, a way to help them, you know, compliment what they're doing.
So, yeah, I really appreciate this, this group and, and the women that are here are, you know, I, I worked in Dallas and Dallas can be really competitive. Yeah. And it's cutthroat and, you know, and. It's really hard to, to jump ahead in Dallas because it's just so, it's so competitive there. Sure. I remember wanting to, um, be a broadcaster when I first got there, Dallas Morning News.
I wanna be a broadcaster. Yay. And I went to the, one of the, the very well-known broadcaster and I said, Hey, can, can we go to lunch? Can I just get a, you know, will you be my mentor? And, uh, she [00:05:00] said, you know, she looked at me and she said, yeah, I have, I have some lunch available next year around the fall. Oh.
I'm like, are you kidding me? Next year? Yeah. That's a little harsh. I was like, wow, okay, okay, I'll, I'll pencil you in, you know, whatever. Yeah. But, you know, to her, to, to her, um, uh, defense, you know, she's, it's just a competitive market in Dallas. Yeah. So I, I learned that really quick. It was a great place to live and, and, you know, learn.
Learn more about media, uh, the broadcasting side, the print side, and Yeah. Hispanic media side. Yeah. I worked with an amazing woman, um, that, uh, you know, did turnkey events for the Hispanic community. I learned to love Latin music. Yeah. Love it. So, yeah. Yeah. Well, I, I
Marie: think competition is, is, is great and I think it healthy competition.
Mm-hmm. But here in our group, it's very welcoming. They're very supportive. Yeah. And that was the kind of community that we wanted to build. Yeah. For like, because I think there was a stigma against, you know, being a mom, stay-at-home mom or being a working mom, you're leaving your kids with daycare or whatever.
And you can, you can be both. You can be with [00:06:00] both a great mom and a great business owner.
Erika: Yeah. Like those things don't have to be mutually exclusive. Yeah. And I don't understand why. I didn't understand why that was a thing that was like, out in the world. It was like, okay, well, especially in real estate.
Yeah. Um, it, you know, you don't wanna talk ab if you're really successful. You're not talking about how you have kids at home or like how you have to get home or you're not bringing 'em along with you and that kind of stuff. And it was like, why? Most of my clients have kids. They understand what's going on, you know, and so, um, for me it was really important in this group to make sure that it was welcoming and that it was like more community over competition and that kind of stuff.
Because the longer that, I mean, I've been doing real estate 10 years, the longer that I do what I do, the more I realize that the more myself I am in front of the public, the more I attract the right kind of client for me. Exactly right. And there are totally clients out there that want. Someone that acts like they don't have kids, and it's important for them to look a certain way and drive a certain vehicle and do all of these things, and that's totally fine.
Yeah. But it's just not, you're not gonna be my client probably, you know? [00:07:00] Yeah. And, and that's okay. There is a realtor out there for you. There's a lot of them. Yeah. Oh
Marie: yeah. Well, there's, I always tell people there's enough business for everybody. So the fact that you're brought up that we're, you know, Dallas is a very, I, I lived in near Dallas when I went to school.
It is a very competitive. Market in general, no matter what industry you're in. But I think our community here in San Antonio is very welcoming. And we also have that big Hispanic culture that loves to hugging and bring you in and embrace you
Rebecca: ab Absolutely. Yeah. So it kind of throws people off. But what I really loved about San Antonio is even meeting advertising parties, you get to meet the owners in Dallas, that just doesn't happen, you know?
So I came here, wait, I'm gonna meet with the owner. Are you kidding me? And if now I'm so used to it, if I don't meet with the owner and I, you know, we have the blessing as women entrepreneurs to. Pick and choose who we want to be our clients. And that's a, that's a great place to be and who we wanna bring on board and who we wanna work with.
'cause we have to be able to have a good relationship with them if we're gonna help them in our community. So. Yep.
Erika: Yeah.
Rebecca: Yeah.
Erika: Well, one of the things that I think really sets Stroll [00:08:00] apart, um, there are many wonderful publications here in San Antonio, but what I like about what you guys do is these community events that you hold.
Can you share with our audience a little bit more about kind of what that looks like and what you think the benefit is for your partners?
Rebecca: Absolutely. And you know, that's one of the things that has really brought this whole cohesive community, uh, relationship together between the business and the residents is because they're always trying to get into these high-end neighborhoods and they never get a chance, especially the smaller business owners are trying to find a way to connect and meet with these businesses.
And they know that they have to build that relationship first. These people don't, uh, you know, everyone's trying to get into their pockets one way or the other. And they don't really, um, open up to anybody unless they, unless they know you right, word of mouth, they have to know you. So we knew that if we, if we kind of told their story.
Through the ad, through their, through a, an introductory or what we call a sponsor spotlight article in the magazine. And then the icing on the cake is have these fun events, mixer events. Like they're not going to these events with a clipboard and setting up a table and Sure [00:09:00] having to bring all of their, you know, their um, uh.
Uh, uh, you know, signage for their business, they're just gonna, they're just hanging out with them and getting to know them. Um, and so that's what they like, they like the opportunity that they don't have. They can go straight from work. It's a, we do it on a slow night that doesn't interfere with their weekend activity.
Mm-hmm. Usually it's a Tuesday. Yeah. Or, you know, or Monday or Tuesday for the most part, and it's a couple of hours. We partner with some amazing restaurants that want those people in there too. So they'll usually provide appetizers and things like that if we're doing something like a neighborhood night out.
And they, and they, you know, I, they always tell me, wow, I've built some really great, made some really great connections from this event that I can take with me. And now they feel like they have an in. Right? It's like being in the, in the box, you know, the, the, the, um, uh, being in the, in the front row. Right.
In an event you feel like you're there among the group that, you know, that's important to you. Yeah. So. That's what they really like about the events is they get the opportunity to meet them, even if it's briefly, even if it's just a couple of times. They don't go to all of them. [00:10:00] We have enough that they can pick and choose from.
So that's what makes it really valuable. Oh, that's, well, I
Marie: think they start to realize you're buying from people. Yeah. Like it's not a, yes, it's a business, but it's not a business. It's a person behind the business. Yeah. That you're buying or whatever the product is, or the service. There's a person behind that.
And I think people like to buy from people. Right. Not a company. Yeah. You know? Absolutely. So I think the events that you have introduce. The people obviously. And then the, the magazine kind of carries it forward. Absolutely. And it tells their story. Yeah.
Rebecca: And that's why I like, and building partnerships like this with you all, we have the opportunity to help each other as well.
Right. Because you guys have an amazing network of women. Mm-hmm. Um, that truly. Are genuinely wanting to help each other, and they're very smart. I've already had meetings with several of them and just, you know, they, they've become, a few of them have become my partners already, and they're just very smart women.
They're very together. Um, but they're also, uh, willing to, to mentor and help other women. So. I commend you for that in your networking group. Thank you. Because it's been a value to [00:11:00] me and I know it's a value to a lot of other women. Yes. And bringing residents here, they love it and they, you know, they're always asking me about it.
And it's funny how I found you guys 'cause I was trying, I was visiting with a resident that's next door to you all and I said, oh my God, get that big beautiful sign. It's women work as women of, I have got to go check it out. So, and you guys were just so warm and open when you were here, so it's really nice, that big old sign of ours.
Yeah,
Erika: signage works, right? It's a big old sign. I like a big old sign, so, um, well that's great and can you share, 'cause it's not just in the magazine ads, obviously. Mm-hmm. Um, because I think that would get tired quite quickly. Mm-hmm. Um, but you do also share, I believe, like resident stories mm-hmm. And that kind of thing.
Can you talk on that a little bit?
Rebecca: Yeah. That's what makes the, that's what makes the magazine so valuable, right? Because you can send anything to anybody, but if they're not reading it and they're not reading it consistently, then it doesn't, it loses its value. So our publications are. Keep their value because the stories in there come from the residents who live there about their families or [00:12:00] kids or events, their, their pets.
Sometimes the pet stories are better than the family and the kids' stories because the pet's telling the story from their perspec perspective. Oh my gosh, this is cute. That's funny. This is how I met my mom. This is what I love about my, my mom and that kid that lives in the room. They're always giving, feeding me even though I'm not supposed to eat this food.
The stories are so genuine.
Erika (2): Yeah,
Rebecca: and you know, if they thought the magazine was junk, they wouldn't even take the time to send. As many pictures as we get, or, or the Sure. The, you know, telling us about, uh, their backgrounds, their career paths, you know, where they like to hang out with their family. Vacation pictures.
Sometimes we have to narrow those down. Right. 'cause we get a ton of those. Um, but, uh, but they are, you know, they believe in the product. They read it every month. They love to see who's gonna be the next family Yeah. Featured in the magazine. And so for our business partners, they love that because they know their ads are being seen.
Yeah. And, um, you know, they always ask us, how do you get that content? You know, how do, how do you. How do you get that every month? Well, you know, the events are a big part of that. Uh, residents, uh, introduce and, and recommend other residents and, [00:13:00] um, you know, we have connections through the, through different avenues that, that they're sharing with us.
So that's been really valuable.
Erika: Yeah, I love that. I mean, honestly, if we had something in our neighborhood, like just for the cheese may, right? Like I say, I was gonna say that, wanna know? Who's living here? Where did they get that dog from? Yeah. Who's living here and like, what do they do? I, I mean, I would just wanna know to wanna know.
So I think that's genius. Well, it's a
Marie: different way of getting to know your neighbors. Yeah. You know, you get a little ment. Yeah. But I, I think it's genius because it, it gives an opportunity to get to know your neighbors a different way. Right. Right. A little bit more intimacy there versus that. Maybe you won't, you wouldn't say, you know, in just passing or.
Hey neighbor. Yeah. And maybe
Erika: you'll like recognize them like walking their dog and then you might be like, Hey, how are you so and so? Whatever, you know, if you're a friendly person Yeah. You'd be, I'm friendly.
Rebecca: You'd be surprised. They'll go to the event, right? It's like Facebook on paper. They go to the event and they meet their nev, their neighbor that they haven't talked to in years that lives across the street.
They'll go to an event and meet their neighbor, and then they start immediately hanging out with them.
Erika (2): Yeah.
Rebecca: And so that's. Great. When they tell us, and they'll tell us that. And we always know when [00:14:00] they get their magazine because they said, oh my God, we look great on the cover. Can we get 10 or 20 extra copies and we have to order extra.
I always get the text. It just makes my day, you know, whenever I'm having a bad day, a resident always visit with the resident, have coffee with the resident. They always make your day. So it's been really awesome.
Marie: Well, I think for a little while a lot of people thought the, the printing material was out, out the window.
We're not, we're not printing nothing no more. That's a waste of time. It was, it really isn't. I mean, I read magazines. Still, I still, I go through my mail and I look through things and I read the a advertisements I do, and it's important. And I, and people kind of thought only, oh, Facebook or social media is the way to go.
No, I wanna hold something tangible still. Mm-hmm. Sometimes it's
Erika: a nice break. It is to read, physically read. In fact, it's a reason that I will not read an ebook. I have such a hard time with an ebook because I want a real book in my hand. Yeah. I need a break from this. Computer and my phone that we're looking at all day.
I need to like, it's almost like a rest of your eyes while you're not resting your eyes. I
Marie: know, yeah. Like a detox, like to be from social media. But I think for the longest time we were kind of, when you're advertising your business, it [00:15:00] was all about social media only. Yeah. And, but the printed word is still very important.
Sure. And I, I mean, I would, I would. If I was in a magazine, have it up in my hall. Right. You know, and show people and share it with my friends and Yeah, definitely.
Rebecca: It's awesome. It's awesome that you know that they can, they can do that and share their stories with each other and just build more community and that's really what we're up, you know, when we first had our magazines, uh, about just even.
Five 10. Well, actually five years ago, everyone named their own magazine franchise owners named their own magazine. Oh, really? Yeah. You had, mine was Life in, uh, Sonoma Ranch and AU with Au Living, and everybody had their name. And then we, we sold this marketing person from Hearst Media Uhhuh, um, director.
And they said, Hey, I, I, I see all these magazines and how come I've never heard of you. You know, you, you, I've never heard of you. So there's no national brand. So she came up with stroll and you know, everyone fought it at first 'cause they took a lot of time coming up with their names for their magazine.
Right. And now we absolutely love it because [00:16:00] when you see stroll, people know, oh, okay, that's the stroll brand. And they really, um, penetrated that brand. Through, uh, through the company nationwide. Yeah. Because there's, you know, we have about 600 of these nationwide and, and 13 here in San Antonio. So now that when they see the strobe brand, they don't get as confused with any other media.
They, they know right away they're part of a reputable brand. Um, totally magazine. That's, you know, that's. That's prominent and it's done really well and is seeing growth through all economic, uh, environments. So it's really good to see that and I'm, I'm so grateful that she, that we got her. So, um, yeah,
Erika: I mean that brand continuity for all manner of things is important.
I think it is very important. And so, but sometimes as business owners we get a little bit in the weeds of like what we like and what we need to do and, you know, all of that stuff. And so it probably just took this person one second to like. Look from the outside who's not so embedded to be like, Hey, what are you guys doing?
I know. Isn't that great? I've had that conversation before, like where people have looked at me and been like, what are you doing, Fran? Like, like, you know, sometimes it takes somebody, [00:17:00] like from the outside to see something that is so clearly evident, you know,
Marie: in the long run. It makes, it makes it where the, the show name brand is, is recognized.
And then obviously the people who are advertising in the magazine become a trusted. Brand as well. Absolutely. 'cause they're with the trusted name. Sure. You know, they,
Rebecca: they become a, a trusted partner versus a solicitor, right? Yeah. It's more of a, a community partner and so it's been really good for our businesses.
So we found that, you know, our packages, um, they work well over time. We've had businesses that, and you know, someone will, I'll talk to, I'll be talking to a business and they'll tell me, well, well tell me about another business's success. And you really can't do that because industries are different.
Erika: Sure.
Rebecca: But the way I do that is I say, you know what, if they're with us for three years and they're renewing two or three times and they've been with, we have, uh, advertisers that have been with us since we've launched Wow. 10 or 13 years. So something's working. Right. Somethings working. Because that would be, yeah.
People wouldn't keep paying if it wasn't Right. Right, right. And so, you know, and it just, it does take time. You know, that's why we have those packages. That way it takes time to build that relationship. [00:18:00] But once they get that one client and get that word of mouth referral from that one client, not only within that one community, they're advertising in.
But those other connecting communities of that, that we have, you know, with most of 'em, our family and friends in the other, other communities as well.
Erika (2): Yeah.
Rebecca: Then they start to see that, okay, this, this stuff really works. And us too, when we start to doubt something we thought, we go visit with a, with a, a client, a resident, and they start Yeah.
Or they'll tell us, Hey, we just used, you know, um, certain HVAC company or a plumbing company or a, a certain physician that was in the magazine and. We've recommended them to our family and our friends. And so yeah, that's kind of how this works so
Marie: well, we kind of walk around like a peacock when we hear someone use someone from our directory.
Oh, yes, we do. Or they got us working. Yeah. We had one, like, one of our, our members got selected to be on, um, the news Yeah. For, uh, you know, a segment. And we're like, well, how we were congratulations. And she's like, they found me on the directory. We're like, yes. Yeah, it works.
Erika (2): It
Rebecca: is. Oh, nice. When I went to that [00:19:00] directory, I saw your director.
I'm like, oh my God, these women are amazing. And look at all the variety of, of, you know, of industries that you guys have in that directory. So, yeah, no, that's golden. You guys should charge for that.
Erika: Yeah. That part is included in our, in our membership. So funny. Um, well, what I think is really good about it as well is how hyper localized it is, right?
So like, and I have this conversation, I have a lot of. Gals in my friendship group that are not from San Antonio.
Erika (2): Mm-hmm.
Erika: Um, they're from California or New York, or like different places. And in other cities, every city has its own culture. Every city has its own thing. And in other places people will drive like miles and miles and miles and miles to go to a restaurant or to go wherever.
Absolutely. San Antonions are sort of known for staying within their community. They don't wanna do a far drive. I've lived here almost all of my life, like, and so I think it's important. Um. That you know and helpful that this is such like a hyper localized thing where it's like, hey, something that may be advertised just like us, we [00:20:00] advertise the magazine.
Um, the communities are within a reasonable distance from here. And so we've gotten gals that have seen us in stroll and that have physically come to our events and said like, Hey, I found you in stroll. You know? Yeah. 'cause it's not that far of a, of a travel for them. And so I think that's probably super helpful for your partners.
Not only are they sort of. Able to get into some of these more affluent type communities, but it's near where they are. And so they do get that traffic, I'm sure. Mm-hmm. Yeah, no, it's
Rebecca: really exciting to see that. And the nice thing about it is that we list the resident business owners in the magazine. Yeah.
You know, on a separate page. So, and then we have this real cold logo resident business owners. So if they're wanting to make a connection and they're just, you know, filling these barriers, then they'll reach out to me and say, Hey, I just. Kind of need a warm introduction, kinda like you do at a networking, right?
Yeah, yeah. You want that warm introduction. So we're happy to do things like that, especially if we're trying to, you know, we've got a good partnership with the, with the business and, and I love when they, um, when they reach out to me, when, you know, they're wanting to try something different or they're wanting [00:21:00] to, um, find a way to connect and they're just, you know, if they're not seeing something happen and we just make things happen for them.
One way or the other. So Right. With, you know, through the magazine and the different touchpoint that we have. So it's been really awesome to be able to do that for businesses.
Marie: Well, you know, we had talked about in the beginning, like if we were gonna give someone a business, someone like us, I'd prefer to give someone like a working mom.
Sure. The same thing. If I see someone, my neighbor. That has a business and I'm like, Hey, well I use that service. Why am I not using that? I'm gonna use them instead. Instead of someone in another state that you dunno. Yeah. Or a nationwide company. I'd rather use someone local to support my neighborhood because in turn they might support my kids' soccer team or my, you know, the school down the street or, or whatever the case is.
You give back to the local community. Oh, is always gonna. Eventually support you in, in general, right? So I think that's always a good thing. So the show does that for everyone.
Rebecca: Yeah. I really appreciate you guys seeing that because it is a chain reaction, right? It in one way or another, it's like givers gain in anything, right?
If you, if just, if you go in there thinking about how can I help this business, even if it's not direct right [00:22:00] away? Sure. That just, you know, karma's a good thing, right? It comes back to you and you get that, you get that support one way or another. So I'm not always. Uh, you know, concerned if I don't get the advertising partnership, then um, I know about their business.
I'm gonna share. If I felt like this is a good business to share, you know, with other people, then I'm gonna do that if I really, really wanna help the business, because then they will in turn refer me to somebody else that they feel, uh, would be a good fit for the absolutely. For the community. And same thing with this, with this network too.
I love that about this network.
Marie: Well, that's what I kinda see. Like I, I'm in, I'm a. The, the company I work for is a national brand. Right. But I'm, I'm your next door neighbor who knows a little bit about mortgage. Yeah. Like if you have questions, call me. Don't call the 100 number. Yeah. On your, on your mortgage statement, call me.
I'm happy to help you out because at one point you might like, you know what, my friend needs a home. Call this person I. Eventually that might happen, but if not, at least I've helped somebody.
Erika: Sure.
Marie: You know, and they're my neighbor. Why wouldn't I help them first? Exactly. And if
Rebecca: they feel like they know, they feel like they know you.
Everyone wants to, everyone wants to be in the know. Right. They wanna, they wanna feel like [00:23:00] they know you and Oh yeah, I know. I
Marie: know that person. I know that
Rebecca: person. So, yeah, when you get
Marie: all the cheese men in the book. That's right.
Rebecca: I know all about you.
Marie: At least what you put out there and that dog you got.
Yeah.
Rebecca: I know I gotta meet that dog, so it's so funny.
Erika: Um, well, Rebecca, will you share because you've got. Not just one community, but you've got two. What was that like? And like, what was that process like? Did you start with one and you were like, Hey, this is great. Let's, you know, let's open up another kind of branch of this and um, is it overwhelming?
And share with our audience, because a lot of our audience is, I. Women who are new in business or thinking about being in business and that kind of thing. Maybe you can share a little bit about that.
Rebecca: Yeah, I mean, I think anytime you're an entrepreneur in anything you're doing, you're, you, you're the one that does the most, the most, um, you know, work that sweat, blood and tears, right?
Yeah. For whatever you're doing. Especially like when I launched my Sonoma Ranch publication, it, it meant everything to me. And I just, you know, uh, it means everything to me. I got very fortunate with, uh, [00:24:00] Shano, uh, stroll Shano Park because another publisher was. You know, getting ready to retire and he was gonna leave and he, you know, looked around and really wanted someone to, 'cause he, he was, he really took care of his residents, you know, and he really wanted someone that he felt was going to do the same.
So, you know, I felt very fortunate that he reached out to me and asked me if I would purchase it from him. Uhhuh. So I purchased. Uh, Shano Park. So, you know, and I was lucky because he already had an amazing editor, uh, that he said, I don't care what you do, you need to make sure you keep her. And that's what I've done.
You know? Yeah. You, you keep what's good. You don't try to, don't change. It's working. Yeah. Don't try. That's, yeah. If it's working. And she's been awesome. She. Has introduced me to, you know, the city, um, uh, at, uh, the city players in Chau Park, the mayor and the city manager, and, um, some of the residents. So it's been easy to adjust and, and you know, even the residents said, I remember my first, uh, neighborhood night out.
I. In Chau Park. I was so nervous, I didn't know anybody there that, you know, it was just a different group. I thought, God, how am I gonna, how am I [00:25:00] gonna connect with these? It takes time, right? It does. And you know, it was a resident, uh, her name is Lori Fanning and she opened up her home for my first event and I'm thinking, okay, good.
If I have 20, 30 people, I'm good to go. And, and when I told her, Hey, we've got, 'cause I'm trying to be respectful of her home, right? Sure. I've got 20, I gotta, I go, I have at least 30 people. Is that okay? Oh, she says, oh no, that's just Sunday dinner for me. She started making calls and we ended up having about.
75 people at her house. Nice. Oh my gosh. My, I'll never forget that. And they were all so warm and, and and friendly. And so yeah, that was my, she broke the ice for me. So, and you know, her and Dana, I mean, there's a lot of residents that I could, I could name off here from Cha Park, um, Mary Young and, and Dana, the editor, Dana Orel.
But, uh, but yeah, so they, they really welcomed me and welcomed me into their neighborhood as well as the, the city manager Bill and, and the mayor. Bob Warner. So yeah, I've been really lucky. I've been blessed, so I love that. Mm-hmm. Well, you know,
Marie: networking, we always said that in the beginning, this is kinda weird, like trying to meet people and be there.
Sure. So when you have a [00:26:00] community that's welcoming and, and, and kind of gives you, like you said, that soft welcome and, and introducing people, it's so, it's so. It's a blessing. Yeah. At the end of the day. 'cause it is, it is awkward as an adult meeting people and making friends. That's right. Like it's easy when you're a kid, but as you become an adult, you kind of get outta the habit.
Especially we always talk about it with COVI. We were so isolated for so long and then getting out and being sociable again. Was a little awkward. Like it just, it took a little bit of a, tries to get better at it. And, and our community is learning. Know people come in all scared. We try to be as welcoming as we can 'cause we know what it feels like.
Absolutely. So that's awesome that the, that they were able to do that for you. Yeah. I mean,
Erika: but it's so like getting out there and doing that kind of stuff is so necessary for business now. I mean, someone said it to me and now I like to repeat it and now I wish I could know who said it and I don't remember.
'cause my brain is much, but. Someone once said to me, uh, you are just one connection away from the best year you've ever had. Oh, that's absolutely, that's so true. And it's true. Yeah. It really is true. Yeah. I can't tell you how many times I've [00:27:00] not wanted to go to a networking event because I'm secretly like an introverted extrovert.
Like I have to, you know, talk to people, but inside I'm like, Ugh. But, um, you know, where I've been like, oh man, like dragging my feet. Like, oh, do I really have to go to this thing? I don't wanna go to this thing, blah, blah, blah. Excuse me. And then I can't tell you how many times I have gone to that thing.
And made some amazing connection. Right. And it's helped me tremendously. Yeah. Um, and so I just really, really believe that getting out there and talking to people, even though it's awkward and even though maybe it's weird, um, is so important. And that is why, you know, to your point, why we try to make sure that people feel warm and and comfortable here because I.
We know it's weird. We know it can feel awkward, but it helps your business. It just does. Right. And you know, the more you
Rebecca: do it, the easier it gets. Yeah. You know, so if you just have to, it's like working out, right? You go out, you hate getting up at five or six in the morning or whatever time you go work out.
But once you're out there, the feeling that you get afterwards, it's, it's a great feeling, right? You have to remember
Marie: that feeling. And that same thing with our networking events. I feel like that's so like. Oh, we have to do it. It's, it's so, it's [00:28:00] strange, but I, once we do it, I'm like, I had a great time. Yes.
Always. I met so many neat people, you know, but it's that, it's that intermediate part from the time like, oh, I have to get up, I have to get my butt there, I have to do this. That's part, that's hard. Right. And you know what the
Rebecca: nice thing about it too is that what I like about this group too, and, and you know, and I see that with when we have, uh, our networking events too, is that there's accountability when you start meeting someone and you start working together, because when you're not filling it.
Someone pushes you and Yeah, I see that. I see that here. Even with these women too, as they get, you know, they, they, you know, just help each other out. And so I'm one the, I signed up for the book club. I'm so excited. I bought the book. I'm so excited. I started reading it last night,
Erika: and so far
Marie: it's already been a little sad, but it's good.
I was so bummed. I missed last week. Yeah. I, I, I was sick. I was out of a, oh, had no voice and horribly sick, but I missed it. It was the first time I had missed it in so long, and I'm like, ah. And I actually listened the, that book made me
Erika: Yeah. Upset. Yeah. I mean, that's the nice thing though about the book club, right?
It's like something that [00:29:00] I, when I, before I had kids, I was an avid reader. I always had a book in my purse. But then, you know, you have kids and you get a job. Yeah. And it's like a whole thing. And so I wasn't reading very much. Mm-hmm. But one of our, uh, board members, a good friend of mine. Um, she was a part of a book club.
Yeah. And so, and she drug me along to hers and I did a couple of those and then we got to talking and she was like, why don't we do that here? Yeah. And I was like, we should do that here. Right. Um, and so that night is one of my favorites. Mm-hmm. Even if I don't read the book. 'cause sometimes to be honest, even though I'm hosting the book club, I don't get to it all the day.
But, um, even if I haven't read it, it's just a nice like. It's something that I do for me. Yeah. Which as a mom and as a woman business owner, it's sometimes, you know, those things are far and few between, right? Yes. Right. So I'm excited that you signed up. Me too. Me do. I'm very excited and, and more people, if you're listening to this, please come to our book club.
Book club. It's great. You don't have to be an avid reader. Yeah. It's a free event that we hold. It's literally just a night out to chat a little bit with moms. Have a little bit of snacks. We do talk about the book. Um, if you haven't read it, that's fine. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, we know we, we get it.
I get it. [00:30:00] Yeah. We
Marie: have some really great conversations and I think that's what's important about having a community where you can sometimes disconnect from work a little bit. Absolutely. Have an enjoyable time and just talk. Just talk.
Erika: Yeah. And the
Marie: book club gives us a reason to talk. That's right. So it's really kind of like the magazine, right?
Well, yeah. It gives you, it opens up conversations for you. Right. And,
Rebecca: you know, and think about it, when you have that, when you have that comfort feeling. That you've established from something like that. Yeah. You come to a networking and you just feel a lot, you know, more comfortable in opening up. So all of those little things that you're doing, they create that comfort zone with people that are, that do have a hard time connecting.
Yeah. So they, you know, they get them, they come to the fun stuff and then they, it's easier for them to blend in with the, you know, when it comes down to. The business too. So yes, you
Marie: can kind of tell within like on our two, our brewing business the last Tuesday of the month that we have, you can tell the people who have a little harder time coming out and talking about their business.
Yeah, I feel like I'm one of those. Sometimes you're awesome, you're a natural coming out, but you can tell there's a few that [00:31:00] as they come they get better. But again, they just need that soft introduction somehow to get into the group. So yeah, like I feel like. Your, your publication does that for people.
It introduces the business a little bit, you know, and then you get to know them in person Right. Through your community events. Yeah. No, so that's, it's been,
Rebecca: it's been really, it, it's just a nice, it's a nice compliment to, you know, even though the, the, the publication is the meat and potatoes. Yeah. The, the, you know, the events are the cherry on the top.
Yes, yes, yes. No,
Erika: that's great. Mm-hmm. Well, um, can you share, um, with our listeners. How they can reach out to you if they're interested in advertising in one of your publications? Absolutely. Yes, you can. You can
Rebecca: reach me, um, either by email, [email protected] and that's Rebecca, R-E-B-E-C-C-A. Dot B-E-C-K-E [email protected], or you can reach me at 2 1 0 6 0 0 5 4 4 8.
And yeah, I would love to have [00:32:00] coffee and meet, you know, any uh uh, not only women entrepreneurs, but business owners that are trying to connect and they're just having a hard time and we would just love to learn about them and see how I can help them out. Absolutely.
Erika: That's great. And we'll put all of that stuff in our show notes as well for this podcast.
Okay. Um, and I wanna thank you for being
Rebecca: on this. Yeah. You guys are fun. You made the, you did a good job. Yeah. Good job.
Erika: This is great. It's just a conversation. Right, right. Yeah, no, for sure. And then I'll also thank our listeners for tuning into this week's episode and we'll catch you guys next time. See you guys next time.
Thanks so much for tuning into this episode of the Working Moms of San Antonio podcast. We hope you love today's chat and found a little inspiration to take with you into your week. If you have a podcast topic suggestion or a question you'd love for us to cover, definitely send us an email at hello at working moms of san antonio.com.
We'd love to hear from you. And until next [00:33:00] time, see you in the community.
