We Can Do Hard Things with Ivy Havens

We Can Do Hard Things with Ivy Havens

 

Today’s podcast is with a very special guest, my 9-year-old daughter Ivy. She decided completely on her own that she wanted to start a podcast… and then went ahead and figured out how to get it onto Spotify.

She did this without my help.

She did this without an online course.

She did this without overthinking it.

Ivy decided that she wanted to do it… and then she did.

And as I listened to her walk me through the process, one thing became very clear:

We tend to overcomplicate things as adults.

In this conversation, we discussed what it actually looked like for her to figure it out, including the frustrating moments, the trial and error, and the moments where she almost gave up… but didn’t.

And the takeaway is simple, but important:

If a 9-year-old can navigate something new, uncomfortable, and a little bit hard… so can you.

This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start.

You just need to be willing to try, stay in it when it feels frustrating, and use the resources available to you.

Because more often than not, the only thing standing between you and the thing you want to do… is the decision to actually begin.

Enjoy!

 

Links:

Ivy’s podcast on Spotify: Lifelong with Ivy

 

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a Sleep Consultant, please join our Facebook Group: Becoming A Sleep Consultant

CPSM Website: Center for Pediatric Sleep Management

Book a free discovery call to learn how you can become a Certified Sleep Consultant here.

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Transcript: 

Intro: Welcome to Becoming a Sleep Consultant! I’m your host Jayne Havens, a certified sleep consultant and founder of both Snooze Fest by Jayne Havens and Center for Pediatric Sleep Management.

On this podcast, I’ll be discussing the business side of sleep consulting. You’ll have an insider’s view on launching, growing, and even scaling a sleep consulting business. This is not a podcast about sleep training. This is a podcast about business building and entrepreneurship.

Jayne Havens: Hi, everyone. I am here with my nine-year-old daughter, Ivy Havens.

Ivy Havens: Hi.

Jayne Havens: And we are recording a very impromptu podcast episode, because Ivy actually created her own podcast today. I was busy working downstairs and cleaning up the kitchen, doing a little laundry, and Ivy was just doing her own thing, and came down all excited because she recorded a podcast episode on her own on her iPad.

And not only did she record a podcast episode on her own, but she figured out how to actually get this recording onto Spotify. And I just thought, if my nine-year-old can figure out how to start her own podcast and upload it to a platform like Spotify, then adults really can and should be able to do anything and everything they ever want to do.

So, Ivy, share with us what you did today. Tell us about it.

Ivy Havens: So I went onto ChatGPT, and I asked it, “Hey, can you tell me how to put my podcasts on Spotify, but on a third-grade level?” And it gave me, like, four different options, and it was really easy. And I got in, I put in a couple passwords.

Jayne Havens: What do you mean you put in a couple passwords?

Ivy Havens: Like, it told me to put in my Gmail and, like, a password that I already saved, so it just went on automatically. It was really easy.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: Yeah, I mean, there was a couple frustrating parts, and I stomped around a little bit, and it was frustrating. But yeah, it was really easy overall.

Jayne Havens: Okay. So let’s take it step by step. ChatGPT, I think, first told you to download some sort of program for you to record it on, right?

Ivy Havens: Yes, mm-hmm. Yeah.

Jayne Havens: And what did it do? It just gave you a link, and you downloaded that platform?

Ivy Havens: Yeah.

Jayne Havens: And then what? What did you have to do once you’re on that platform?

Ivy Havens: So I had to download two. I had to download Spotify Creator and this voice memo app, which was downloading — that was a little frustrating because I didn’t know which one to choose. But apparently, I chose the right one because it worked.

Jayne Havens: Okay. And so then you recorded a voice memo?

Ivy Havens: Yes.

Jayne Havens: And then what did you do? Did ChatGPT give you instructions for what to do with that voice memo?

Ivy Havens: It did, but I didn’t listen. It just automatically went to my iCloud, and then I just had to send it to Spotify Creator. And it actually really worked well.

Jayne Havens: How did you know how to do that?

Ivy Havens: Honestly, I really don’t know. It was kind of easy, but also, there were some frustrating parts that eventually I just got.

Jayne Havens: Okay. So you were resilient and you were resourceful.

Ivy Havens: Yeah, mm-hmm.

Jayne Havens: So what did you talk about on this podcast?

Ivy Havens: So on my—or in my intro, I basically just talked about my name and what this podcast is going to be about. And then in my first podcast, which was, I think, eight minutes, I just talked about some things that I’m going to be talking about on the podcast. And, like, you have to watch — like, if you want to watch all these podcasts, you got to watch them in order. Yeah.

Jayne Havens: So basically, it was like instructions for the best way to consume your content.

Ivy Havens: Yes.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: Which the good thing about Spotify is that they can also comment. And I’m going to be commenting too to, like, interact with the fans. I mean, that sounds pretty fun, right?

Jayne Havens: Yeah. What gave you this idea to have your own podcast?

Ivy Havens: I don’t know. I mean, it was a long time ago that I just asked you, like, “Hey, Mom, can I start a podcast?” And you were like, go for it. So I went upstairs, did a podcast, and it went great, I think. Yeah.

Jayne Havens: Yeah, you’re talking about the podcast that you recorded several months ago?

Ivy Havens: Yeah, several months ago. Like, this was, like, a long, long time ago.

Jayne Havens: And that first podcast that you recorded, we never really put it onto Spotify or anything. We just put it into a Google Drive, and we shared that link with friends and family, grandparents, and your teachers, maybe. I guess you were feeling like you wanted to reach a wider audience?

Ivy Havens: Yeah, uh-huh.

Jayne Havens: And I guess the only thing that was keeping me from having you do that sooner is that I actually don’t know how to get audio onto Spotify. That’s not something that I do on my own. I have somebody that helps me with that. So the reason we didn’t do it earlier is because I actually didn’t know how to help you with it. And so I find it to be pretty incredible that you figured that out today.

Ivy Havens: Yeah. I mean, I devoted some pretty serious time, just, like, sitting on the floor, just like writing down a couple things, like trying to look on ChatGPT, putting it on Spotify Creator, whatever. Like, I took a lot of time trying to do this. But honestly, it was pretty easy overall. But it was like, there were some times that were hard.

Jayne Havens: Yeah. Did you feel like quitting ever?

Ivy Havens: Yes, I almost did, when it told me to put in a passcode, and I didn’t know what it was, and I, like, stomped around. And I was like, “I’m not going to give this up.” Like, I might. So then I tried a different way, and it worked. And it didn’t make me put in the passcode, which was really nice, because I just could, like, move straight along.

Jayne Havens: Yeah. Are you nervous about people hearing you on Spotify? Like, what will people think? Will people think that’s weird that there’s a nine-year-old who has a podcast? Or, like, do you want your friends to listen? Or do you think it might be embarrassing for them to listen?

Ivy Havens: Honestly, I’m fine with my friends listening to this. I want my friends to listen to this. Like, I want there to be a lot of views, and I want all my friends to listen to this. Just the one thing that I just thought about, like, just now, is that my teacher showed one. My first podcast that I ever did, like, the one that I did a lot months ago, she showed it to the class, like, with my permission, of course. And all my friends were laughing and making fun of me. So I don’t like—I feel like—but it was very awkward. Like, I was young and it was awkward.

Jayne Havens: And now you feel like you have more experience and it’s less awkward?

Ivy Havens: Yeah. And also, like, I’m not showing my face. It’s like a picture of me on the beach when we were—

Jayne Havens: Oh, like your new podcast now. I think what she’s saying now is your new podcast is just audio, you’re not doing video.

Ivy Havens: Yeah, it’s just audio. Yeah, uh-huh.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: Which makes me feel a lot better, because I feel like it would be awkward with my face and my hand motion and whatever.

Jayne Havens: Okay. So keeping it to just audio for right now feels more comfortable for you.

Ivy Havens: Mm-hmm. Yeah, very much.

Jayne Havens: Okay. Do you think one day that you might want to start your own business?

Ivy Havens: Yeah, uh-huh, probably.

Jayne Havens: Probably?

Ive Havens: Yeah.

Jayne Havens: Rather than, like, working for somebody else.

Ivy Havens: I mean, maybe I can be — If I don’t start my own business, I kind of want to work for someone else’s business.

Jayne Havens: Okay. So you don’t want to work for, like, a big company. You want to work for an entrepreneur.

Ivy Havens: Yeah, like, I want to help someone build a business.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: Like, maybe if I’m still in touch with a friend at one point, like, we can start a business together, which would be really fun, honestly. Yeah.

Jayne Havens: Okay. And do you think that podcasting will be a part of whatever business you’re a part of? I know you’re only nine, but I’m just thinking long term.

Ivy Havens: Honestly, maybe we could have a couple ads and stuff. And, like, I’ll make that stuff because I’ll know how to do it, probably.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: And that’ll be it. But, yeah, I really don’t think that doing podcasts is going to be my long-term plan.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: Because I don’t think that that pays very much.

Jayne Havens: Right. Yeah. No, podcasting is not a money maker unless you have a huge podcast.

Ivy Havens: I’ve also recently been thinking maybe I’ll take over your business.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: But honestly, I don’t know if that’s what I want to do.

Jayne Havens: Yeah, I get it. I get it. How do you feel about putting yourself out there? Like, do you feel more comfortable now podcasting than you did a few months ago?

Ivy Havens: Um, yeah. Honestly, yes.

Jayne Havens: Like, it felt less overwhelming or intimidating to — I know you didn’t get in front of the camera because you didn’t do video this time. You just did audio.

Ivy Havens: Yeah, I’m very awkward with that.

Jayne Havens: You’re awkward with video?

Ivy Havens: Yeah, it’s like, my face is there, and then I jumble all my words. But, like, if I’m just walking around, like, recording into my iPad, like, it’s really easy.

Jayne Havens: Kind of like what we’re doing now.

Ivy Havens: Yeah, it’s literally what we’re doing now. It’s really easy because, like, you’re just walking around talking to yourself about yourself.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: But you know that it’s going to be posted. But honestly, you don’t really care, because it’s like, honestly, that’s not what’s going on at that moment. But, like, you know when you’re on your — you can see your face. And then, like, all of a sudden, you jumble your words because, like, you’re seeing your mouth motions and, like, whatever.

Jayne Havens: Yeah, I really identify with that. When I record solo podcast episodes, if I do it on Zoom and I’m watching myself in the camera, I get really tripped up. It feels overwhelming, and it feels like a lot of pressure to say the right thing and not jumble my words. But when we use an app like we’re using now that’s just audio, it feels more natural to have conversation, even if you’re just talking to yourself.

Ivy Havens: It also adds, like, with your — not using audio and using screen, like, recording with your face, it adds a whole new thing. Like, do I look good? Like, is my hair good? Like, do I have any pimples? It’s like you have a whole extra thing to worry about. Yeah.

Jayne Havens: Well, that’s one of the whole reasons for why I started podcasting in the first place. I felt like it was a way for me to share my thoughts and my knowledge and all the things without having to worry about if someone was going to see a pimple on my face or if I was going to be awkward on screen.

Ivy Havens: Or if your clothes were good.

Jayne Havens: Yeah, sometimes I just don’t feel like putting makeup on. But if I’m doing a podcast, it’s just my voice.

Ivy Havens: Yeah, and, like, sometimes you don’t feel like putting makeup on. You don’t feel like getting all dressed up, and you don’t feel like making your hair all pretty. And, like, just for one podcast, like, maybe I don’t want to do that.

Jayne Havens: Yeah, I don’t think you put makeup on or do your hair anyway. But I understand your point.

Ivy Havens: Yeah, that’s probably so true.

Jayne Havens: So is this something that you’re going to keep up? Are you going to try to get an episode out every week or every month?

Ivy Havens: Yeah.

Jayne Havens: What’s the cadence?

Ivy Havens: While I’m really in this, I’m going to try to pre-record podcasts. Just in case I don’t feel like making a podcast one day, like I already pre-recorded, like, I don’t know, one or two podcasts that were like 8–10 minutes, between that time.

Jayne Havens: Okay. What would you say to somebody listening who’s overwhelmed and feels like all this stuff is so hard? You know, computers are complicated. The internet is complicated. I don’t know how to do things, you know. I’m so overwhelmed. What would you say?

Ivy Havens: A couple things. As a nine-year-old, I did it, and I got myself on Spotify. I mean, I really think that any adult can do that stuff or anything, really.

Jayne Havens: Like, if you can do it, they can do it kind of thing?

Ivy Havens: Yeah, if I can do it as a nine-year-old, I believe that they can do it too. But also, like, if you’re stressed out with something, it’s really — you just got to focus and like really be complex. Complex? Is that the word?

Jayne Havens: No.

Ivy Havens: Whatever. You got to be—

Jayne Havens: Well, let’s think about what the word is. What were you trying to say? You have to focus and what else?

Ivy Havens: You got to be like really in the zone.

Jayne Havens: Okay.

Ivy Havens: Yes.

Jayne Havens: Okay. And maybe persistent and—

Ivy Havens: And use your resources.

Jayne Havens: Ooh. What do you mean by that?

Ivy Havens: Like, I used ChatGPT. Like, maybe ChatGPT can help. Maybe you can ask a friend or a parent or whatever.

Jayne Havens: Or a colleague.

Ivy Havens: Or a colleague.

Jayne Havens: Or a business bestie.

Ivy Havens: Yes, yes, a business bestie. I like that word.

Jayne Havens: And so, you know, we can do hard things, right?

Ivy Havens: Yeah.

Jayne Havens: That’s sort of the message that I wanted to convey today, is that we can do hard things. And even when we don’t know how to do them, there’s this—

Ivy Havens: It’s possible.

Jayne Havens: I think there’s a book that’s called Everything Is Figureoutable. Does that sound right to you?

Ivy Havens: We might have that on our bookshelf.

Jayne Havens: We might.

Ivy Havens: We might.

Jayne Havens: Do you think that sounds right, that everything is figureoutable?

Ivy Havens: Yeah. I mean, I don’t really understand that. Figureoutable?

Jayne Havens: It’s not a real word.

Ivy Havens: That doesn’t really sound like a word to me, but, yeah.

Jayne Havens: Okay. So before we wrap up, I want to give you an opportunity to share a bit about where people can find your podcast. So why don’t you plug yourself? What’s the podcast called, and where can they find you?

Ivy Havens: It’s Lifelong with Ivy Havens. You can find it on Spotify. And if my mom’s right about this, maybe other platforms.

Jayne Havens: Maybe, yeah.

Ivy Havens: And yeah.

Jayne Havens: Okay. Can I be on your podcast next?

Ivy Havens: Yeah, uh-huh, I would love you to be on my podcast.

Jayne Havens: I would love to be on your podcast. Thank you so much for joining me today. Should we end with a hug and a kiss?

Ivy Havens: Yeah.

Jayne Havens: All right. Love you.

Ivy Havens: Love you.

Outro: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Becoming a Sleep Consultant Podcast. If you enjoyed today’s episode, it would mean so much to me if you would rate, review, and subscribe. When you rate, review, and subscribe, this helps the podcast reach a greater audience. I am so grateful for your support.

If you would like to learn more about how you can become a certified sleep consultant, head over to my Facebook Group, Becoming a Sleep Consultant or to my website thecpsm.com. Thanks so much, and I hope you will tune in for the next episode.