Ep 175: Feelings Check-In on Q4 stress, 2025 partnerships, money realities and how we look

[00:00] Are we keeping this in the podcast? I don't think so. I mean, I don't know. I'm going to... [00:03] Cut around it. [00:22] The boys club podcast. No, no. [00:25] Just boys club. This is the feelings check-in. This is where Dina and I talk about our lives and our work and the challenges of building a business, the challenges of being alive. Have you been following the Shawn Mendes? I have. I have been following the Shawn Mendes story. I must have watched that video of his screenshots like four times. I showed it to Dave. I showed it to everyone that was around. I will say, I don't think there's anything sluttier a man can do than wear a crop top. I love a man in a crop top. [00:55] It was perfect. So great. [00:58] *gasp* [01:00] Hey, Natasha. So a question we get asked a lot is, what do you look for in a crypto platform? So let's talk about it. Well, Dina, I look for a secure, no fuss platform that I can dive into right away. That's why I love today's sponsor, Kraken. If you're waiting for the right time to get into crypto, Kraken makes it super easy and intuitive to get started. Plus, if you get stuck, they have an award-winning client support team that's available 24-7, along with a bunch of educational guides, articles, and videos to help you along the way. If you're ready to check out [01:29] kraken.com backslash boys club and see what crypto can be not investment advice crypto trading involves risk of loss and is offered to u.s customers through payward interactive inc okay so today we're going to talk about what it's like to be in q4 in this business so the way that this business works

[01:50] for people who don't know, why would you know? [01:54] It's a trad media business, which means brand partnerships, ad revenue, drops. [02:00] events. Those are the revenue streams and some consulting work that we do. Those are the revenue streams of this business. The foundational reoccurring revenue of this business happens on the fiscal year calendar. So that means... [02:13] At the beginning of the year, we sell in partnerships for companies. [02:17] what we did 2024 and those are the reoccurring [02:22] reliable [02:23] consistent revenue in the business. [02:25] And then we have a lumpy, [02:28] rest of the year where we do these big events we do some drops we do smaller scale events we sell in ad hoc ad placements that come in sporadically throughout the year in a different sales cycle that definitely are like a significant revenue for the business but having said that so when we're coming into a new year we basically have this year we're like okay we have three slots for these foundational year-long brand partnerships that are like 360 deals that [02:58] channels and... [03:00] provide a [03:03] reliable revenue for us for our salaries, for our team salary, [03:08] and allows us to do the work and then also go do the other lumpy revenue drivers throughout the rest of the year. What that means for us personally in this time of the year is that it's really fucking stressful. Because come February, we could have three times as much revenue.

[03:27] in that foundational bucket or we could have none [03:30] Because we're in renewal conversations with existing partners and we're in new conversations. [03:35] with potential other potential brand partners. So in some ways I'm like, I could be, [03:41] in a great spot come January. [03:43] I could also be like hitting the reserves on the bank account come January and going into very different mode around that lumpy revenue for the business than we have to be today if we don't have those foundational partners. So I guess that's foundation for a conversation around how the money comes in. [04:03] stressful how the money comes in and how stressful this time of years. [04:08] Like it's really, really stressful. I feel like in my body stressed about money. And it's weird because it's like that stress is somewhat divorced from the reality of the business. Like things are great. We have a lot in market right now that could come in and everybody's in 2025 planning right now. So every brand that we're talking to is doing the same thing we're doing where they're looking at the revenue. They're thinking about where they want to spend. They're thinking about what's going on. [04:32] who they want to partner with. And that's the cycle of our business and of a lot of these businesses. So like, it's an appropriate place to be. But it's really hard when you're the business owner, to not be like, [04:48] Oh, shit. [04:49] What if nothing comes together for this year? [04:52] and [04:53] to spiral into like a really stressful headspace around scenario planning scenario planning we've been doing some scenario planning that i think can be triggering for sure where it's like if there's nothing that lands what does it look like or if everything lands what does it look like right

[05:08] And just to have... [05:09] the muscle to be able to look at that soberly and [05:13] clinically and not get emotional about it is hard. [05:16] to do [05:17] It's very tough. It's very tough to do. And it also feels divorced from the work product. [05:22] Mm-hmm. [05:23] Like totally. [05:24] it's kind of separate from like [05:26] I don't know, doing good work consistently. [05:29] It's not because that's the reason that we're in those conversations, but it's not like we're thinking every day all day about how to make. [05:37] Boys Club. [05:38] Media. [05:39] better, the product itself better. We're thinking all day every day about how to bring in the money to support the business and that's appropriate as well for where we're at right now, but it doesn't make the business better. [05:49] It doesn't make the product better. [05:51] Yeah, it doesn't affect the work product. Yeah. In the same way. What are your feelings around it? I feel like, honestly, I think I feel a little bit more at peace with it than you feel stressed. Because, I don't know, I've kind of like pre-grieved everything in my life. Yeah. [06:07] at this point. [06:08] I've like done all the scenario planning for everything going on all the time. And so I'm like, I've already run through and become at peace with what were to happen if the business didn't come together in the way that we wanted it to come together in 25. [06:24] Truthfully. I also think I'm on the sales grind. I'm doing those calls. [06:28] Mm hmm. We've I think in a great way, in a grown up way, have like split up some of the work around that stuff. So all of that is it's right here because I'm like, OK, I've been the one on the other side of the call being like, you should really do this. This is a great investment for your business. And like I think what's tough about a lot of this is like I really believe that. Like a lot of partners we're talking to are like I in my heart of hearts. I'm like, they should do this. And if they're saying no, they're saying they're rejecting that idea.

[06:58] they're rejecting me and I've been able to start to like, I found the sales. [07:03] process with Boys Club at first really difficult because it was like, pay money to have me talk about your brand. Pay me personally. [07:10] to talk [07:11] about your brand and I felt so like I was selling myself and that was really difficult and not something that I had ever done before I feel like I'm a good salesperson but I was I have not a good salesperson when it comes to me yeah and I've somewhat gotten over that but I do and I have realized I'm actually not selling me that's actually not what I'm doing there's a whole infrastructure on voice club that has all these other variables to it and I'm not an influencer [07:41] When people are saying no, the feeling is like, how could you say no to boys club? [07:46] Like it's boys. That's a bad move. That's a bad move. [07:50] And it makes it easier to sell, but it makes it harder to get the no. And I think you have pre-grieved in a way that I haven't and am unwilling to do at this moment in my life. That will change. Maybe my hand will be forced. [08:04] But... [08:06] I think another thing is, today we're doing the forecasting for [08:10] boys club and we were looking at like okay what each anchor sponsor would need to pay each month in order for us to pay ourselves an appropriate amount and how that needs to look across the whole year and to your point around like sort of the spikes of revenue that come in around events like what what are those events for the year and like what are we hoping to net on all those events there's

[08:30] a line item that we've never done [08:34] that people always tell us to do. [08:36] Which is subscriptions. [08:37] And literally every time we like have a conversation with someone who's an advisor or who... [08:44] works in media new on-chain media new media old media they're always like what about subscriptions [08:51] and membership specifically I would say membership yeah membership and subscriptions but I'll say like it's usually starts with like this idea of like a member what does it mean to be a member of boys I think that that's because we have club in the name. Okay, but because but yeah membership sure I think membership. [09:09] Membership is access to content, which is subscription. So tactically, like subscriptions for the newsletter or recurring revenue around people getting [09:19] Additional content from boys club that yeah, or suppose membership could be like event stuff. But anyway, regardless of what it is in each either package like that comes up a lot. [09:29] And people are always like, you should do it. And. [09:32] we've always [09:33] not done it. Yeah. Because it's felt like people expect something different from you as soon as they're paying you $10 a month for something. And I'm kind of unwilling to be in that relationship with people. Yeah. [09:46] with... [09:47] at least the current offering that we have available with the content and events. I've always felt like a lot of stress when I've thought about the reality of fulfilling on that type of relationship with people. But it is like a stone that's unturned. [09:58] and I could see...

[10:00] someone coming to us and saying like I want to put this together and it's not just content it's all these other things that I see that you're doing anyway that could be like just an easy way to like bundle into something so I don't know I just I remember the conversation that we had with that Bloomberg person who was talking about all the different revenue for Bloomberg and what was really obvious to me in that conversation was for a media company it's like it's spread across so many different things yeah [10:26] And one of those things that's typically there is some subscription or membership, kind of across the board. Everyone, everyone else is doing it. So I don't know if that's something that like, [10:36] I just have some baggage around that I need to let go of as we're thinking about next year that would like kind of help even things out across the year. Yeah, I think, um, [10:47] I'm not interested in doing that work. I know. Me neither. I don't want to do that. I don't want to manage members' expectations versus the value they're perceiving that they're getting. Like... [10:57] I just am really interested in doing that. And so I think that's what it comes down to for me. Like the benefit of, [11:03] of it being your own business and you owning it. [11:06] is that you get to decide what you want to work on and what you like and what is fulfilling to you and that's [11:12] the [11:13] payout that you get. [11:14] for having the stress of being like, [11:17] every day thinking about all of the responsibility of the world being on your shoulders [11:21] Thank you. [11:22] the benefit is that you get to choose how and what. And like, [11:27] Whenever someone says that to me, it feels...

[11:30] wrong because I'm like, [11:33] aren't, [11:34] North Star for Boys Club has always been like what [11:36] do I want to work on? And like, what do you want to work on? And what does Miranda enjoy? And what does Kate enjoy? And like, how do we have events that feel unique and special? And like all of these different things that have been a guiding light for the success of Boys Club so far. And so I'm really looking at that. I'm like, [11:53] That's maybe a... [11:54] on the [11:56] best case scenario at this stage of the business, [11:59] $300,000 a year. [12:02] best, best case scenario. And I don't want to do that work. So that means I have to hire someone to do that work. So then, [12:10] I also think that that's optimistic. [12:12] That's very optimistic. Let's call it $150,000 a year that that business is. [12:18] that that line item brings in for the business [12:22] the way that I'm looking at that is, [12:23] Okay, that's... [12:25] does nothing because I'm going to have to hire someone $150,000 a year to do that work. Yeah. Because I'm unwilling to do that work and you're unwilling to do that work. And like, there's no other [12:32] There's nobody else. So a PSA, if you're ever in a conversation with us where we're like, we're thinking about what this business could, how areas where business grow, do not say membership. I think also the other thing is I saw this tweet the other day that was like talking about how basically to the Bloomberg example that their media business that breaks even or maybe even loses money because all they're doing is basically selling Bloomberg terminals. That's where they get all of their business. That's where they get all their meaningful revenue from is from selling

[13:02] subscriptions that's what I want to figure out seriously and the kind of thread around that was talking about how yeah if you if you want to do media work if you want to run a media business you have to find some other business that you're tacking it on to that makes money makes money while you're sleeping [13:19] Yeah, so like a product or... [13:22] I mean, I think I do think some of these other media businesses like high somebody or whatever. I think there is consulting stuff that they're doing. Yeah, research stuff. Yeah, with the crypto people, they sell in research. So that's like in the back of my mind, too. [13:35] Yeah, totally. [13:38] It's time for a more open, inclusive, and transparent financial system. A system that serves nearly everyone, everywhere, all the time. That's why we love today's sponsor, Kraken. Kraken is a crypto platform that provides a super simple on-ramp to the world of crypto with a 24-7 support team. Crypto transcends physical and imaginary borders. No matter where you are, you can send funds easily and quickly to almost any part of the world. Plus, forget about waiting times and waiting lines. You can send, receive, and trade crypto anywhere near instantly. [14:08] Can I tell you one other feeling that... [14:23] I don't even know if I want to talk about it on the podcast, but... [14:27] is something that is top of mind for me. [14:29] Mm-hmm. [14:30] I'm feeling like so... [14:32] bad about how I look.

[14:34] Like... [14:35] like my literal face, like I'm just like, [14:38] Thank you. [14:38] not feeling good about it. And the only reason I wanted to talk about it here is just to be like, genuinely, I think that people are, [14:48] really complex. [14:50] and [14:51] all I can speak to is my experience as a woman, but I think women are really complex where, um, [14:56] I can feel... [14:59] on any given day. [15:00] Like, [15:01] the most [15:02] powerful [15:04] person in the world and smart and funny and capable and a force that [15:09] in the world. And at the same time, like... [15:13] look in the mirror and not feel great and be like, wow, I wish like, [15:16] I wonder if my crows... [15:19] feet are getting worse. And like both of those things can be true. And it doesn't actually mean that I have like a deep sense of insecurity. Maybe I over index on caring too much about what I look like. But I think that the complexity of the fact that I'm not going to be able to [15:33] of how you feel as a woman [15:35] in the world when so much of at least my experience of being a woman is that your value is what you look like more than anything else. [15:43] And... [15:44] constantly having to fight against that narrative. [15:47] and hold that narrative [15:49] against a narrative of like evidence in the world that that is true and that it matters. And feeling literally jumbled up in my head around it and being like, how do you have all of these things sitting on the same plate and have a healthy relationship to them?

[16:05] but also as someone who's like ambitious and smart, leveraging as much as I possibly can to get to where I want to be. [16:11] And... [16:12] It feels impossible. [16:13] Like it genuinely feels impossible to do all those things. And that's what I think around it. There's some days where I'm like, man, it would be so much easier to just be a man. Yeah. [16:24] Just be a man. [16:25] Yeah. And whose currency just continues to increase in their 40s and 50s and 60s. Equity only goes up for them. Yeah. Up only. I have in observing you. [16:38] being your friend. [16:39] I [16:40] and seeing you move in the world. [16:42] I see you kind of like, not struggle, but I see you like wrestle with it. And as your friend, knowing you and seeing how beautiful you are, and how perfect you are in every way, and for you to like be looking for other people to tell you that it's hard. And I also think like, as you get older, things do change. And like, your looks are going to evolve. That's just the truth. And I want you to wrestle with that less. And like, I hope some for some clarity for you, because I think it's a I think it's a waste of your time. Like, I totally smart person, [17:12] things totally I hope that wasn't hurtful oh no I think it's I don't think it's hurtful at all I think it's like a really beautiful desire for me I think what's weird I'm not an insecure person I know I have like a lot of worth [17:28] in the world and have a confidence moving about the world that [17:33] is totally rooted in

[17:36] a self-assurance around [17:38] who I am as a person, not what I look like. I don't know. I'm just like, it doesn't fucking matter. Like it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Well, thanks for being a good friend to me. Totally. [17:48] Always, anytime. And for everyone who's listened to this, thank you so much for bearing with us. And just appreciate everyone. [17:59] listening through thick and thin.