Stacey Gordon wanted to be a novelist since she was a kid. She loved reading and writing.

However, as an adult she was juggling a demanding career in tech, parenting, work travel, and life...with nothing left over for her own creative pursuits.

Stacey shares how she gave herself the space for writing and creating without sitting down to type or put pen to paper. How she continued her path through Covid, putting down a few hundred words a day in a small shed outside her house.

In this episode, she talks about how she’s building a life of a fiction writer. And she's now working on her fourth book. (And, yes, she still has a 9 - 5 job).

She reveals the power of community and the importance of protecting your creative space — especially in the early, vulnerable stages.

Patience and persistence really pays off: her book The Pearl Farmers is out this fall, and she’s building her author brand and helping other writers alongside her day job.

Maybe your creative dream is just an idea now — but with small steps, it can become real.

Website: https://www.staceygordonauthor.com/

Her book: thepearlfarmers.com

IG: @staceygordonauthor

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EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

After 20 years in tech consulting and leadership, Danielle was laid off. She knew it was time for a change. But what? Tech didn't seem like a path forward anymore.

She made the unexpected but extremely gratifying shift into housing, becoming a housing provider for people challenged by the Bay Area rental market. Her company, Rising Tide Residences offers room rentals for men, women and families from diverse backgrounds, looking for stability and a chance to level up. These are people who have just come out of prison, have aged out of foster care, or have another difficult situation that makes it hard to find housing. She's found success in making buildings into stable homes.

Hear her story and what she plans to do next.

To connect, learn more about their offerings, or to apply for housing, visit www.risingtideresidences.org

Link: www.risingtideresidences.org

Send us Fan Mail

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)

"I think the journey that most of us are on with work really has to do with a process of self discovery that has followed us our whole lives.”

When Erin Wade was fired from her job as a lawyer, she decided it was time to take on a big project - creating a restaurant space that prioritized purpose, culture, and hospitality.

Erin is the founder of Homeroom, a restaurant with a cult following in Oakland, California, focused on delivering the absolute best mac and cheese.

She bootstrapped her restaurant, starting by investing her own money (no investors) and worked tirelessly in every corner—from building furniture to training staff. She was committed to launch a restaurant that was counter to typical dining culture. She designed systems rooted in transparency, employee engagement, and values that resonate beyond just serving mac and cheese.

Our conversation unpacks some of the lessons learned as well as her advice to others hoping to build something meaningful.

Erin Wade: https://www.erinwade.co/

Erin's Book: The Mac and Cheese Millionaire

Homeroom: https://www.homeroom510.com/

2018 WaPo Editorial Link

Chapters

00:00 - From Lawyer to Mac and Cheese Entrepreneur
03:38 - Childhood Influences and Entrepreneurial Spirit
06:13 - The Journey to Homeroom: A New Vision for Restaurants
09:12 - Building a Unique Restaurant Culture
12:24 - The Financial Risks and DIY Approach
15:15 - The First Weeks of Homeroom: Success and Challenges
18:04 - Hiring and Team Building: Lessons Learned
21:04 - Creating a Transparent and Engaging Workplace
23:52 - Values-Based Decision Making in Business
27:02 - Support Systems for Entrepreneurs

Send us Fan Mail

EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION is produced by Courtney Kaplan.

Website: Iconic Leadership Coaching.

Follow me on IG @iconic_owl

Connect on Linked in @courtney-kaplan

Music by Midwest Got It (IG: midwestgotit)