The Journey to 200: Business, Life & Authentic Leadership

The Journey to 200: Business, Life & Authentic Leadership

Shelby Hobbs: Welcome everyone to this truly special episode of the business development podcast. Today, we're celebrating not one, not two, but three incredible milestones. We're celebrating the release of the podcast's 200th episode, the anniversary of my fiance, Kelly founding Capital Business Development on December 3rd, 2020.

And last, but certainly not least his birthday. And as if that's not enough excitement, it's also the birthday of our son. So this day is truly one to remember, and we hope you enjoy this discussion in this episode.

Intro: The Great Mark Cuban once said business happens over years and years value is measured in the total upside of a business relationship, not by how much you squeezed out in any one deal.

And we couldn't agree more. This is the business development podcast based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and broadcasting to the world. You'll get expert business development, advice, tips, and experiences. And you'll hear interviews with business owners, CEOs. And business development reps. You'll get actionable advice on how to grow business brought to you by capital business development, capitalbd.ca's do it. Welcome to the business development podcast, and now your expert host.

Shelby Hobbs: Welcome everyone to this truly special episode of the business development podcast. Today we have not one, not two, but three incredible milestones to celebrate. The release of the podcast, 200th episode, the anniversary of my fiancee founding Capital Business Development on December 3rd, 2020.

And last but certainly not least his birthday and as if that's not enough excitement, it's also the birthday of our amazing son. So this is truly a day to remember. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Shelby, his partner in life, love, and chaos, and the lucky person he gets to come home to after a day of inspiring businesses and entrepreneurs around the world.

I'm here today, not just to celebrate him as a coach, a founder, and the voice behind this amazing podcast, but also as the incredible person I've had the privilege of building a life with. Since founding Capital Business Development in 2020, Kelly's dedicated himself to helping companies thrive. And in 2023, he expanded that mission by becoming a professional business development coach.

so much. His work has touched so many lives and businesses and people, but today it's all about shining a light on him and his story, his journey, his dreams, and yes, some of the behind the scenes chaos that got him here. So my love, happy birthday, happy 200th episode and happy Capital Business Development anniversary as well.

Kelly Kennedy: Wow. Wow. It is super weird being introduced on your own show. I'm just gonna throw that out there. I appreciate it immensely though, babe. And yeah, like, you know, the reality is couldn't have got this far without your support. So thank you.

Shelby Hobbs: Well, you're welcome. And incidentally, it is also weird for me to be hosting your show.

So it's backwards day all around.

Kelly Kennedy: It's Backwards Day, but if you remember correctly, you were supposed to be the podcaster in this family.

Shelby Hobbs: That's true.

Oh, yeah, that's right. I mean, I gave it a go a little bit. But I was using your equipment and I just, you know, I'm, we're not great. I just, it didn't work. It didn't work. I needed to set up my own studio. I think if that was ever going to, if that was ever going to work.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah. Yeah. It's super funny because I, I don't think that I would have ever looked at podcasting.

Like before, you know what I mean? Like, it's kind of weird that that's the route that ended up happening because so many years ago, I can't remember like what the occasion was, whether it was your birthday or Christmas, I bought you a how to podcaster book, which I don't think either of us ever read.

Shelby Hobbs: No, definitely not.

I think sometimes the thing with books like that is you just. Just put them in your general vicinity and you, it makes you feel like you learned something. Like just put it on the nightstand and through, through like osmosis or like the law of attraction or something, you're just sending a signal that you're interested in doing that thing.

And you may never pick up the book, but you still took a step toward that thing by buying it. So sometimes that's as far as we get, but you know.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, I guess it's, it's just weird. It's funny how the, how it worked out. It's funny that this is the path that ended up happening because back then it definitely wasn't for me.

It was for you. And yet here we are 200 episodes, 200 episodes of the business development podcast, my gosh, I can't even believe it. I remember listening, like we listened to the box of oddities. We talk about this all the time on the show. I'm like a Jim Harolds campfire. I actually saw our Amazon music thing.

You know how they do a Spotify wrapped. I saw our Amazon music essentially wrapped today, and it was saying that Jim Harold's campfire was our number one show this year. So we have listened to, you know, a lot of podcasts over the years, and I remember listening to the Box of Oddities. And hearing their 100th episode, their 200th episode and thinking at the time, My God, what does it take to get to 100 episodes or 200 episodes?

I'm sure now they're probably like a thousand. But the point is that I remember thinking how incredible that was. And to be here today at our episode 200 of the Business Development Podcast is really crazy.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah. Yeah. It's so true. It really is quite a feat and you've, you've done it without even missing a single episode.

And I think there's been so many times over the last couple of years. So I've been like, yeah, like maybe it's a good week to, you know, replay something from the past or like, maybe just take a break. Like people know that you need breaks every now and then you're just steadfast, like, nope, not going to miss an episode.

Not going to miss a day, like hell or high water rain or shine, sick or healthy, whatever's going on. I'm recording, I'm doing it and it's been amazing. Like you really have. You just keep showing up every every day that you need to it's.

Kelly Kennedy: It definitely hasn't been easy and it hasn't been easy from the standpoint of like you said there's been days where.

I've been really sick and yet I could barely talk, but you know what? I chugged the cough medicine. I got down here and I crushed it out. Cause I'm like, okay, I can talk for 30 minutes. It's funny. Not even that long ago. Like I want to say like a month ago, not even. I literally lost my voice. I lost my voice doing the Wednesday show of the business development podcast.

And right after it, I like basically couldn't talk and it was just crazy. But. You know what? We did it. We did it. Because the thing is, you commit to something and you do it. And you know, with me, you know it. If I commit to something, I do it, no matter what it is.

Shelby Hobbs: Mm hmm. Do you think that that was A quality that you always had that you, that you've leaned into, or do you think that that's been one of the outcomes of starting your own business or even starting this podcast?

Like how much of what you've done is actually changed who you were or changed who you are and what sort of, what were the pieces that did come along with you for the ride? Like that were sort of innate, always who you were deep down that have served you in this process.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, I think that like determination is something I've always had.

I think like at the end of the day, I want to succeed. Me and you both share that in common. We're both successful for that very reason. We just do it until we win. We hate losing. Both of us hate losing like more than almost anything.

Shelby Hobbs: That's why we can't play Monopoly together.

Kelly Kennedy: Yes, it's a great quality and a horrible quality at times in the wrong scenarios.

Bye. But in business, and I think in commitment to each other and life, it has given us a lot of strength and a lot of determination and grit that gets you through the hard times.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah, so just being determined. Yeah, I definitely would agree with that. Do you think that anything about hosting the podcast or owning your own business has changed you?

Like, what about you do you think has evolved or changed?

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, of course. I think when it's your own reward, it feels so much greater if that makes sense, right? Like when you, when I was an employee working for somebody else, I was always building somebody else's business right now, even when I have success with capital and I'm helping build somebody else's business, I am also having success in my own business because that's what the job is.

So there's like, it's twofold. You don't just get the reward from building somebody else's business and having success there, but you get the success of doing your own thing as well. And so absolutely, I think it has, it has on that standpoint, given me a reward that I'm not sure I could have found as an employee.

Shelby Hobbs: Hmm. Just made life in general more rewarding or made your professional life more rewarding.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah. Made my professional life more rewarding, right? Like obviously launching this show, trying to do business development and the podcast and at the level that we've been doing it at, it's not easy. It has a lot of days where, you know, I've come to you plenty of times.

I'm like, babe, I don't want to do this today. Like it just, it is what it is. We all, I'm human. I have days where I don't feel like doing it. But that's not enough to hold me back from doing it.

Shelby Hobbs: Mm hmm. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, you've had a lot of success. What do you think have been, like, what's been some of your proudest moments along the way?

You're at 200 episodes. Like, when you look back, that's a lot of content. That's a lot of people you've had the privilege of meeting. And, and I guess I'm just curious, like, what have you been, what are you really proud of as you look back on these 200 episodes? Mm hmm.

Kelly Kennedy: You know what? We've talked a lot about it.

I think just the determination and showing up that it takes to do 200 episodes, you know, like if you look back at like my, some of my proudest moments, some of my favorite shows, one of my favorite shows was the last show we did like this, our hundredth episode show, right? Where I did it with you and Cole and Cole was a major part.

And you know, the first hundred episodes or so of the show to really kind of help it get going. And I thought that I really enjoyed that show, to be honest. And I've had some pretty incredible interviews, but. I love talking with you. You know, you're my partner in life, my partner in crime. We've, most of the episodes of this show, me and you have spitballed on before I came down and recorded them many times, many times.

We've got into fights about the challenges of, of the time it takes to do this damn show. Plus the time it takes to run a business, right? It's not easy. You know, I always say. Entrepreneurship is rewarding. It is not easy, but for the right person, it's exactly what you need to do.

Shelby Hobbs: Well, it is interesting because even you know Most the time I guess for the record if i'm grumpy with you, it's because I think you're not taking care of yourself and You know, I think As your partner and in watching just the immense dedication that you've had for your show and the listeners and your community, you know, as long as I see that filling your cup, I'm quite, you know, quite happy to, to support you and cheerlead and and be your teammate.

And then there, there's definitely those moments where I see you're starting to get a little more run down or like, you know. Where I see your cup needing filled and, and you know, as much as that's something I know that both of us consistently try to do for each other, there are limits, you know, to what I can do for you or what you can do for me.

And there is that point where we have to take care of ourselves as well. And sometimes I. I think at times I've worried that you're not prioritizing, you know, your own well being and but at the same time, I, I trust you and you've shown me time and time again that when you need a break, you also take it and.

So sometimes it might look to me like you're not doing it enough and I'm sure sometimes that is the case, but I've also learned like through the years being with you that when you kind of hit that wall or, or things are feeling overwhelming, you're also great at, you know, whether it's just taking that bath or getting out of town, you know, spur of the moment trips and things like that.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, no, you know, it wasn't that long ago that I hit the wall, right? I looked at you on a Friday afternoon, you were sitting in bed, you had Jet, and I just looked at you, I'm like, babe, we got to get out of here. Like, I got to get out of here. I got to get out of here because unfortunately, the working from home is incredible.

I love working from home. I love that I can run my business from home, do this podcast from home, do a lot of the amazing things. I could spend all day with you and Jet most of the time, which is amazing. But, but. What that also means is when I hit a wall and I need to run, I need to leave our house. I need to like, we gotta go.

And like last time, we didn't just gotta go. We gotta go like a whole province away. We gotta go see your dad. I literally said, I don't even care where we go, sweetie. We just have to go.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah. Well, I was amazed as we proved that we could do spontaneous travel with four children and dogs and responsibilities.

We pulled it off and I was just thrilled that we proved it was possible. It speaks to that determination again, like when you, when you've got a goal and you've got the right motivation, it's amazing. And of course, with the help of, you know, family and our support system. But yeah, it was. Yeah, it just, like I said, it's, you've shown time and time again that when that moment comes there, there are always steps that we can take and ways of kind of overcoming the burnout and overcoming that wall that you hit.

And so, yeah. Okay. Well, I'm curious. You, over the past 200 episodes, have had so many amazing conversations with incredible guests and people from, You know, so many different industries with varying perspectives and advice. But I'm curious in those 200 episodes, like from those conversations, what are some of the lessons that have surprised you that come up again and again from these entrepreneurs and from these different perspectives, like what has kind of surprised you about what continues to come up through those conversations?

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, I love that. I think ultimately the fact that whether you make 400 million dollars or you make 500 dollars, you know, a lot of us are facing the exact same challenges. And so like, you know, work life balance has come up in almost all these conversations and it's kind of crazy because I've seen incredibly successful people come on and say, you know what?

It wasn't worth it. I lost my entire family. I don't have a relationship with my son. I've gone through four divorces, whatever you name it. Right. And it's like they at their career levels hit insane peaks, had NHL deals, had, you know, sold their companies for 400 million. And then. Had to go through a lot of human challenges, and I think the further I go down this path, what I'm realizing is we're all human, and it doesn't really matter how successful we are, whether it's success in business, success in family life, whatever it is.

We all have to deal with the emotions and challenges that come with that, and they are just as overwhelming whether you make 500 or whether you make 5 million.

Shelby Hobbs: Mm hmm.

Kelly Kennedy: I think that really surprised me.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah. Yeah, it's fascinating. Like, for you, personally, how is that? Influence the journey for you.

Kelly Kennedy: Okay. So here's kind of the challenge that I see with it too.

Some of the people that I've met along the way, I see them achieving balance, right? And balance comes up. You know what? If you heard my show a lot, babe, you know, when I'm interviewing people, I always ask, Hey, did you achieve the balance? Are you, are you happy with where you're at? And I talked to a lot of people now who have incredibly balanced lives, but they had to work hard for it.

And I think that's the other thing that's come out from a lot of this conversation was that. There is no easy button. Like, I think everybody is looking for the quick fix, right? It takes effort. It takes determination. It takes showing up week over week, month over month, year over year, consistently to achieve the level of success that leads you to the freedom.

That's the other thing that I've seen in this show. And I've seen people that after 10 years, it, you know, running their companies, They achieve it. They achieve it. Now I work four hours a day. Now I go on family vacations all the time. Now I have the means and the ability to get away from my job and enjoy life.

But it's tough because for me, I'm seeing both sides. I'm seeing I'm seeing some people who've achieved Epic success and went into deep depression, and I'm seeing other people who, you know, went through a lot of slog run into challenge, but then eventually they hit that work life balance point, right? And so for me, it's like I feel like I'm stuck somewhere in the middle still right?

And you know it because I'm determined and I show up all the time and I just know like, For me, it's like, okay, one day we're going to get to that freedom. We're not there yet. And I think that's kind of where I'm stuck, at least at the moment.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah. Freedom is a word I hear you use a lot. And I know I've known throughout our journey and our relationship together, that freedom is something you really value.

I guess I'm curious, like, what is freedom to you when you use that word? And you're like, that's really what it sounds to me. Like, that's really what you're working toward is. Is a higher level of freedom and, and purpose. I see that you're very purpose driven as well. And I think there's a balance there between being free and having resources and abundance, and then also having purpose and having that community and, and all those pieces.

So what does that really mean to you being free?

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, I think free hits a point. Like you said, it's like it's a point of abundance where you don't have to worry about financial challenges. You don't have to worry about like obligations necessarily. I think like if we wanted to take vacation, we could absolutely just go and do that.

If we needed some time to ourselves, we could absolutely take that. That I think to me, that's what freedom is. It's the ability to make the choice to do something without repercussion. Right. But unfortunately, at least at this point in our lives and you know, we just bought a very expensive home and I'm very excited.

We're going to be here forever. I'm sure. But it just adds a whole nother layer of obligation that you have to show up for all the time. Right. So I think for me, financial freedom. Is a key. It really is. And it's like the secret to success. And I don't think that there's a shortcut for anybody to get there.

I think we just have to show up. We got to do things. And you talked about purpose as well. And like for me, one of the things that keeps me coming back to the show, you see how many people write out to this show about how it's helped them, how it's changed their lives, right? Like I couldn't. Have that level of impact without a show like this.

And so for me, it really is. It really is rewarding in that way, too.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah, yeah, I was actually going to ask you about that because I know it's been really cool. It's cool to benefit from this modern moment and have such access to the people that listen to your show. I can imagine that not that many years ago, people that hosted any kind of show, they didn't have that level of access or communication to the people that they were impacting. And I think for all of us, we want to see the way we're impacting either our customer or our kids or how the work we're doing is having an impact on the world. I think that's such a huge part of what is actually rewarding for us as people. So I'm curious, like, has there been a particularly meaningful or surprising feedback that you've gotten from a listener that really stuck with you?

Or like, is there some voice that helps keep you motivated that is that comes in the form of listener feedback?

Kelly Kennedy: Not one, right? But there's been, there's been lots, right? Like, you know, just like a couple weeks ago, we had a listener from France reach out, and they had actually just won an award or were nominated for an award for an environmental impact that their company was making on the world.

And he started that company with advice from the business development podcast. And for me, it was like, holy crap. Some guy talking in his basement in Canada. Made an impact in France that could eventually change the world. Things like that are just like holy cow, right? Like you just, you could never see that butterfly effect when I sat down for episode, you know, intro episode when you were giving me shit because we were like leaving all of the stuff in the corner of the room.

And it's funny because I've talked about it plenty of times on the show, but you know, you looked at me that night and you're like, Kelly. You got to do something with all of that equipment, either sell it or do something with it, but I want it out of our bedroom, right? And who could have known that that was the kick in the ass I needed at that moment that would launch us to this moment right here with the impact that we continue to make.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah, that's amazing. Yeah, I, yeah. Enough said. I agree. I agree with everything you said. I guess, yeah. You know, you've really enjoyed your interviews. I think that you've really found your, I don't know, there's some magic in there. There's another word I'm looking for. It has to do with purpose. Your genius.

That's what I'm looking for. I think in your sort of connection with your guests, you found a sort of inner genius that perhaps has been with you all along, but that's really kind of come to life in your conversations with your guests. I'm curious if you could interview anyone in history, alive or dead, anywhere, who would you want to interview on your show and why?

Kelly Kennedy: That's really good. You know what? I want to interview Mark Cuban. I've said it more than once on here. I just like him. I think he's really cool. I love his energy. I love that, you know, he loves sports and things along those lines. And I didn't actually write the intro to this show. I think a lot of people are like, Oh, did you write the intro to this?

No, I actually had it produced. I am not a producer of great audio things other than this podcast. So when I initially started the show, I knew I wanted a great introduction. And so I actually hired, hired a company to do it. And that was the intro they made for me. And I was like, Oh, that's really cool.

Cause I would really actually like to interview Mark Cuban. So who knows, maybe one day I've actually met people who've had lunch with him, who've signed deals with him. But I've never met him. So who knows? Maybe one day.

Shelby Hobbs: Well, yeah, the gap seems to be closing or the degrees of separation have become fewer and fewer.

So you never know might be in the cards here.

Kelly Kennedy: I have a question for you.

Shelby Hobbs: Oh, okay.

Kelly Kennedy: So I don't think a lot of people get this perspective. What is it like to be a partner of a podcaster?

Shelby Hobbs: Hmm. What is it like?

Kelly Kennedy: Talk about maybe like the parts where you've been proud and the parts that you've had challenge because I know this we've had a lot of challenges along the way of this journey thus far and I know it can't be easy because the time commitment especially can be challenging.

But I want to hear it from your perspective. What is it like to be a partner of a podcaster?

Shelby Hobbs: Hmm. I mean, the first. The first word that does come to mind for me is, is actually grateful. That might be surprising for you to hear. It shouldn't be because I should tell you how grateful I am more often, but I mean, I have to be honest, like we, podcasting has.

Certainly afforded us a lot. Although the time commitment is big. I have to also acknowledge the time. It has afforded us for you to continue to find creative and fulfilling ways to work from home. I mean, the reality, like, If I'm 10 years ago, Shelby, and I'm building my vision board and I'm thinking about, you know, what's that ideal, beautiful future with my partner and my family and professionally, and I think This is absolutely a dream come true for me that you work from home and I work from home and we have these that we're both creative people and I think that's been a really like sort of beautiful surprise in our relationship and for podcasting there's been I've seen such creative people.

Parts of you emerge that that I didn't really spot in you. I think initially in our relationship where I see that you're an incredibly creative person and that you find it very rewarding to build things that didn't exist and to work on those different kinds of graphics and the podcasting itself is a creative endeavor.

You've taken on production. You've taken on the whole vision for the show. And. I think it's just been, it's been an amazing ride, actually. I'm just incredibly grateful that you took that, that leap, and that you had the, the grit to stay in it long enough to start to see the rewards. Because I think a lot of people, they try podcasting, like even myself.

They try it, but they don't do it long enough to experience the rewards or the benefits and the learning curve is steep and it's challenging technically. It's challenging like emotionally and creatively it's taxing in that way. Like showing up every day on a microphone, on a platform with people listening, that's, that's a taxing role to be in.

So I think I'm just really, you know, proud of you and grateful that you had it. What it took to stay in it so that we could start to see the benefits of it like Your production is now faster than ever You've got, you know, a flow and a rhythm with your shows where sure, sometimes it's a late night and I'm not going to lie, those late nights, they are tough, right?

It's like that's where it starts to feel like more late night at the office kind of thing. You're downstairs, we're upstairs. Sure. We're both home, but we might as well not be both home. It's not like, you know, there's no time being spent, but And that, and we have to take, we have to take the good with the challenging and but yeah, the sort of overwhelming feeling that I have there is just a lot of like pride, like I'm proud of you, and then gratitude.

And I think Yeah. Does that surprise you? I'm curious if that surprises you.

Kelly Kennedy: I think, I think, yeah, I think a little bit because I know we've had a lot of challenges with the time. And I get it. Like, I've had plenty of nights from like, I wish I wasn't doing this editing right now. Or I wish I didn't have to go back in and finish this up.

Or heck, even, you know, when I'm feeling under the weather, I'm just like struggling with coming up with content. Because guys, for those of you listening who don't create content, It's not like, it's not like it's all there all the time, right? Like, for instance, let's talk about the show I did last night.

I literally had to go have a bath. I needed to chill out. I was just feeling really like overwhelmed and I could not come up with the show plan for my Wednesday show and it just wasn't coming to me. Wasn't coming to me. And sometimes that's just what happens. Like it's just not always right there for you to pull a whole show out of.

And it came to me, but I needed to like, I needed to chill out. I need to take a step back. And I've had plenty of shows where that was the case. Like I just wasn't in the writing mood. I wasn't like in that creative zone. And unfortunately, if you're not in the creative zone, I'm sure any writer will tell you.

It's pretty hard to make it happen out of nothing.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I mean, I guess if I have to dig a little deeper into some of the more human, let's just like call them the human sort of primal fears that I've had along the way like to dig into some of where I might have experienced some discomfort or some fear I think Certainly with you becoming more of a public figure, like, I've wondered, is that, I think everybody sort of wonders along the way, is it, Is it a good thing?

Is it a not good thing? I mean, is this, is having this spotlight on yourself and sort of by osmosis a little bit of our family or our relationship? Like, is that, you know, is that a net positive or not? Sometimes it's incredibly challenging to know how to measure that part of it, but I can certainly see the rewarding aspects of that as well in that you are certainly.

A great candidate and a great role model for taking on a position like that. And I would never want to stand in your way, but I guess if I'm being honest, I've certainly had my own anxieties about what it means for our relationship or our family. If the podcast, if and when the podcast continues to grow and the opportunities that come your way, continue to take different forms. Maybe it's more travel. Maybe it's you know, more public facing opportunities, which is a, which is sort of the ideal trajectory, I think, for the podcast. And then it brings up the question, is that the ideal trajectory for our family or for our relationship?

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, I've wondered a lot of the same questions, but to be honest, I've thought about it all too, right?

And I think too, for a long time, I struggled with how much of my family life do I want to bring into my business podcast, right?

Shelby Hobbs: Right.

Kelly Kennedy: But it's so funny because it's like the further I go down this path, the further kind of go down like the social media path and, and, and, you know, sharing your information with the world.

It starts to become. You almost have to share all of it like you almost can't separate them as weird as that is because it starts to become really disingenuous and inauthentic if you are trying to separate your work life from your family, because especially in our case. It's so linked, right? Yeah, it is.

And you know, like, and I have to give, I have to give props to you because the reality is you are the creative in our family. It's funny because like from behind the scenes, you really operate there. But like, your ability to do amazing photography, your ability to do videos, your ability to create incredible stuff on like Adobe and like things along those lines.

Photoshop. I had none of those skills. I still really have like none of those skills at the end of the day. You've created so much incredible stuff for the podcast. How, you know, let's give you the big props for creating, you know, our hundredth episode poster, which had every guest for like 100. I was like 60 some guests or something like that.

And you created this incredible poster for us. You created a video for that. Like, you have done so much to help support this show that I can't do. That behind the scenes, you're the creative mastermind.

Shelby Hobbs: I prefer shadow government.

Kelly Kennedy: Shadow government, sure. You're the shadow government behind the business development podcast.

You know, I never saw myself as a creative. Until I met you, I'm not sure that I could have really done this without you. So I think on the other hand, I have to give you props. And I have to say thank you for your support because I think you inspire me all the time and you do it.

Shelby Hobbs: Oh, thank you. I think it was all part of the vision board.

Like, once again, if I'm envisioning that ideal. Romantic relationship. I think there's a level of passion that that I want at the center and that I think you want at the center as well. And I think that's been another reward to this whole endeavor is that I'm not exactly the kind of person to stay out of it.

I like to be involved and I like when you bring your ideas to our relationship so that we can bounce ideas off of each other and we can really talk things through and inspire one another. And I think that's, I think it's actually been really important fuel for the success of our relationship. And over time we've been able to.

really lean into it in a way that's been incredibly supportive through some of those challenging times. Like yesterday may have been really tough because you worked late and it was a long day. And then today we spend an hour over lunch, you know, in a invigorating conversation about what's next and that becomes fuel.

And I think that's been really exciting. So yeah, thank you.

Kelly Kennedy: You know, it's so funny. I look back to, I know a lot of people ask, you know, how did this start? And it's funny because you know, when it really started, do you remember sitting at Boston pizza? Yeah. Like two, two and a little bit years ago. And I pulled out my piece of paper and we were writing out our goals list for 2023.

Do you remember that? And right, like somewhere in there, like two or three was. YouTube channel, podcast, something front facing. Yeah. I had no idea. All I knew at the time was that we were avid podcast listeners. We have been since, you know, we got together. And for me long before that and I'm sure for Shelby too.

And so it was just one of those mediums that we just loved. And I think a lot of people were like, Well, why don't you start a video show or whatever? It's like, because I don't watch video. I listen to podcasts. I listen to them in the car. I listen to them at bedtime. I listen to them in the bath. I listen to them everywhere.

Like, that's what we do. And so, For me, that's really the approach we took and I'm thankful that it's the approach that we took because I think I've grown so much from this experience to like, you know, the opportunities that have come from this show, the coaching, you know, the ability to inspire the world, the amazing friendships like Colin Harms, Deanna Kean, Rodney Lover, all these amazing sponsors and friends and clients that we've met along the way, like It all started because I picked up a microphone and talked to a wall.

And so a certain level, right? Like you have to sometimes take that jump. And I was really scared. And I think there's still points where I'm like, what the hell am I doing? Like, obviously you're seeing me right now challenging video. I'm trying to take clips. I'm trying to kind of go down that road because I see that as being the most authentic way to connect with people and inspire people as we move forward alongside this show.

But I'm struggling with that medium because for me, it's brand new. And for me, it's not comfortable. And for me, I don't know what I'm doing with it yet. And, but I recognize too, that like, there was a time with this show that I didn't know any of those things, that I didn't know how to edit audio, that I didn't know what the hell I was doing.

Do you remember when I had to switch from Oh, what was it? Hindenburg? Yeah. Do you remember when I had to switch from Hindenburg to Audition and like how, like, struggling that was for me?

Shelby Hobbs: I do. I do remember because, yeah, that was probably one of the more tense times with respect to the podcast and its toll, let's say, on the schedule.

of life, because anytime you have to learn a new skill like that, it's it's cumbersome and it takes like, there's no easy button, like you said, to learn those new skills. So, yeah, I definitely remember that, you know, it was really tough and it was absolutely born out of a desire to improve your show.

And I think, you know, sometimes along the way I've, I've maybe question where you're like, you know, the audio isn't right. Or you go and you reiterate or you edit and I'm like, it's fine. It's like, nobody's going to notice. You're the only one that's going to notice. But it's like, you know, and I, I totally get it as much as I want to like keep you to myself and like keep you out of the, out of the workspace.

Sometimes I totally get that. That's the thing. The show has to be of a certain level of quality, I think for you, for you to feel proud of it and to To properly represent your guests and give your guests a professional platform with which to share their story and their message. And so, you know, all along the way, it's been the desire to improve your show that I think have resulted in some of those like steep learning curve moments and where more was needed, more time was needed and more effort.

Kelly Kennedy: Well, and it's crazy because I think what I realized. Well, you know, it was all, it was all born from challenge, right? Like, it's funny because in the beginning I didn't understand, right? I didn't understand audio production. I like, I had Hindenburg Journalist Pro and I was like watching YouTube to like, how do I get studio quality sound?

Like, how do I get rid of all this echo and all this, right? So, And in the beginning, when we were recording in the basement of the old house, like that room was so full of things that it really deadened any reverberations. And so it really wasn't until we moved to the Edmonton house that I was like, Oh shit, we're in trouble.

Because I basically went from like a downstairs right full, what we call the hobby room, which is just full of everything, but it deadened the whole room. And so I like, I was able to record without reverb, without. Echo, and I didn't recognize at the time, like how, how amazing that was for the launch of the show.

Cause it actually made the show sound better than it was for my skill level.

And then as we moved to the new house and I didn't really have a lot of space we started recording from the bedroom. And it had a lot of echo and I remember being like, Oh crap. So a lot of the skills that I learned along the way were skills of necessity were skills of like, okay, how do I get rid of this horrible echo noise and still keep the quality of the show?

And then I went too far and it sounded overproduced and I hated it. And it was hurting my own ears. And I was like, babe, my show hurts my own ears. But it's all, you know, I've learned so much, like I've learned so much about audio editing and audio production, and I'm sure I still have a ton to learn. I'm sure if you put me in a room with an audio engineer, I'd still learn a thousand percent more than I know today, but anybody can do this.

I think that's like, that's like the important thing I really want people to listen to on the show is that if you want to create YouTube videos, if you want to start your own podcast, All of this stuff is learnable, and I am like the perfect example of I learned it all from nothing.

Shelby Hobbs: Mm hmm. Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna push back on you a little bit, though.

I'm not sure anyone can do it. I mean, anyone can try it. I'm not sure anyone can actually stay in it. But maybe, you might be right. I think, I think it takes a certain kind of a certain kind of motivation for sure. Like you said, it's like the necessity is the father of invention or that kind of thing.

Like, I think if, It's what is next for that person. And it's really and it really makes sense because you, I think once you realize how much work it is, it's got to really make sense because it's easy to underestimate the time involved.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, it is. It is. And I think the other side of it, too, is it's it's easy to underestimate the costs involved to like in the beginning.

Sure. It can just be all. I'm just recording it in my bedroom. But as you start to need plugins, as you start to want to advertise to grow your show, as you start your social media platform to go along with it, It starts to really tack on the time. And as you get better, right? Like in the beginning, I could produce the show right quick, but I didn't understand the audio editing side.

So the show is going out kind of subpar in the beginning. And as I learned more about what I needed to be doing now, that added more time. Now, even when I finished editing the show and I went to run the production, well, my computer is pretty great. But even then it takes it about 30 minutes to really like produce the episode so I can get to the next step.

So. It starts to add time. Absolutely. So I think you're right. The longer you do your show, sure, you get more efficient. But you also get better at like what you want it to sound like and that's going to take more time. So your production time tends to go up at least initially as you're learning as opposed to you get faster.

Shelby Hobbs: You need to make a master class, a podcaster master class or something.

Kelly Kennedy: Well, the other side to that was, and we've explored this multiple times, I produce my own show. I actually enjoy producing my own show, so I might be like, you know, a rare, a rare case of that. I like the actual audio production process.

I think I've gotten pretty good at it. Unfortunately, I probably over edit now as opposed to under edit like I used to, but. The cost of audio production, if you want to outsource, this is really prohibitive, unfortunately, so unless your show is making a lot of money, which many are not producing your show doesn't make sense, it's just, it's too much of a hit you know, just to give you an idea, 400 an episode was kind of the running price as of, you know, December 2024, so it's a lot, right?

Especially if you want to produce two episodes a week. Well, 800 bucks a week. I can't stomach that. Neither can probably 99 percent of podcasters. So it becomes, it becomes something that unless you're willing to throw a whole bunch of money at it, you have to learn those skills.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah, absolutely. I'm curious about something because one, one thing I've observed, I've observed about you as well is that you seem to have a much quieter or friendlier inner critic than I do.

And I think one of the things that people run into with something like You know, being a content creator or starting a podcast or starting anything where they've got to put their face out there have a level of courage that can really push the comfort zone. And that's where even producing your own show gives you this really up close and personal look at yourself and you hear.

Your kind of your quirks and your idiosyncrasies and where you may have made a mistake or where you might have sounded a little bit goofy. And I guess I'm just curious, like, what's the question I've observed you have a kinder or quieter inner critic. How? How did that happen? Teach me your ways. That's the question, like.

Kelly Kennedy: Well, I have a really great mom.

Shelby Hobbs: Let's talk about your mom. You know what? Yes, we need to talk about how freaking amazing your mom is. I think we should spend the whole last 20 minutes just talking about Bonnie.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, mom's been mom's always been super encouraging, right? And I think, yeah, sure, we all have that inner critic.

But I think the end of the day, you can't let it hold you back. You really can't. You got to just kind of push forward. And I think the thing with content creation is that we can definitely over criticize and overanalyze ourselves in a way that the public never will. And I, you know, Episode three, and I talked about it on the show, was an episode I really struggled with.

I think I made a lot of mistakes in it, like you were saying while I was recording. And maybe I just wasn't feeling good that day. God knows. But episode three, I struggled with. And I almost didn't release it. But I remember then just thinking, Kelly, you're going to have shows you don't like. There's going to be things that you're not super pumped about.

But what's more important is just keeping going like it's like on a certain level, you're better off to keep the momentum than you are to stop. So regardless of how you feel about that video or that podcast episode or whatever it is at a certain level, just say, Hey, you know what, whatever. We're going to forget about that one and we're going to keep going because the next one can be better.

And in my case, that's exactly what's happened, right?

Shelby Hobbs: I'm sorry, I'm getting excited because I want to say, like, who is that voice? Like, I see, I hear you do that a lot where you're like, you know, Kelly. And you, you talk to yourself like this loving advisor. Like, you have this kindness with yourself. That's like, that's compassionate and like makes space for error.

And. And says, you know what? It wasn't the greatest this time. It's gonna be better next time. Like, who is that voice for you?

Kelly Kennedy: I don't know. I don't know. I just, I've just, it's always been there, right? And you know, you know, let's call it God. Why not? You know, you know, I'm religious at the end of the day, right?

I, I believe in a higher power. Do I know what it all is? Nope. But I, a lot of things have happened in very interesting ways that for me leaves no question. And whenever I'm struggling, a little prayer. Makes all the difference. And I've had plenty of times before I started the show where I just said, God, help me produce a good show.

Like, help me to do this. I'm not feeling it today. And it's worked out. And, you know, you know, you know, mom's really religious. I, I, you know, I'm not I'm not like a church going religious person, but I definitely. Believe in God. I believe in a higher power. And when I need help, I pray and I think it can make all the difference in the world.

Shelby Hobbs: Mm hmm. Yeah, that's so beautiful. Yeah, it's been one of the things about you that has really been a marvel to me because I think what I've been used to and what I've seen more often modeled in my life is this extreme self criticism, like to the point of being paralyzed, right? That like people, they, they can become so critical of themselves that they just totally paralyze themselves from taking that next step or making any progress.

And they stay safe. They stay in the comfort of what they know or what is dependable, what is and they never, like, never fully step into that courageous space where I think so much tremendous growth and so many amazing lessons and gifts are there for all of us if we can overcome that Just like gremlin critic that I think is, is so common in people.

So I've always kind of wanted to ask you, what is that voice? But yeah, like shout out to Bonnie. Like Kelly's mom is one of the just kindest, sweetest people. Like it's just, there's this incredible tenderness and maybe there is something in there for us parents. Like maybe we don't realize how much it's our voice that becomes the inner critic.

For our children.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah. Yeah. You know, I think with our boys, I just want to encourage them as much as I can at the end of the day because everything we learn, unfortunately, at least in my case, has been the hard way. It's like I've kind of had to learn everything in the struggle a lot. And I know for you, that's really been the case as well.

But I also feel like it's the bravery and strength of taking on that place that allows for the growth. And so even though we're afraid of the struggle, I think most of the time it's exactly what we need to get to that next spot.

Shelby Hobbs: Mm hmm. Mm hmm. You know, I do want to talk a little bit about our parenting journey.

I don't know if this is the moment for that, but I do think, you know, I heard a story yesterday and this feels related to what we were just talking about. I heard a story yesterday about a grandfather and a grandson go to a ski hill and the grandfather says you climb the hill first before I'm going to buy you a lift ticket.

From the grandfather's perspective, this is like a lesson in working hard and, you know, perhaps building character and earning or having that reward. Hard work equals reward. And how from the kid's perspective, it's more like, Grandpa's just kind of an asshole.

Kelly Kennedy: Mm hmm.

Shelby Hobbs: And I think sometimes as parents.

We're, we get caught up in that, that on one hand, it's our job to mold our kids into these productive, well adjusted kind people who are going to be a positive force in the world and in the people that they impact in their lives. And there's sometimes just, it's never easy to fully understand what the path is to get there.

But I guess, you know, I'm just, I'm just curious, like you talked about just wanting to encourage them. And how, like, how do you think that this journey has, Has affected your, your parenting or how you view your role as a parent and maybe not even just this journey, but just where are you at today in your role as, you know, father, stepfather and what, what we're really here to do as parents together.

What's the goal?

Kelly Kennedy: Oh, man, I've, that's loaded. You know, she's got me behind a camera, she can ask me the hard questions. Yeah, parenting stuff. And I think parenting has never been harder. And I think I've talked with a lot of people on this show who I haven't even necessarily agreed with. We've gotten onto the parenting conversations, right?

Especially I struggle. I think when I hear parenting tips from non parents, I really struggle with that one because I think I've, you know, we, we had a conversation the other day and the conversation was, babe, like, I don't think you can really understand parenting unless you are a parent. And I didn't understand that.

I thought I knew and I was completely wrong. Right? Like, But, you know, you don't know you think as a non parent that, you know, you know, but trust me, something happens when it's your kid and you have a kid, it It changes you in a way that you could have just never seen and you hear people, you hear people like me, parents telling you this, you're like, bullshit, I know it all.

I got it all figured. I got, I got nephews, I got nieces, whatever. But trust me, until you are a parent, you can't truly understand parenting. I just, I'm sorry.

But the other side to this, and let's kind of get into encouragement for the future. And I remember a while ago, like, think about it from the past. Think about it from the past. There was a time when you, your kids were going to do exactly what you do. You were a farmer, your kids were going to farm. Guess what?

Not only were they going to farm, they were going to farm using the exact same tools and equipment that you did, because technology evolved that slowly. That was a different world and a different type of parenting was involved and making your kid walk up that snow hill to build character made sense because you had to walk up that snow hill to build character, right?

It was like when our parents said, I walked to school both ways uphill, right? And I think for me, I've struggled with it, babe, because you know, my parents are literally what boomers, right? Like my parents, parents were like, Old, old. My dad's dad was born in 1901, and my mom's parents were born in like, you know, the 1910s, 1911s, right?

Like, my grandfather was enlisted for World War II, so I think on a certain level, the growing up experience that I got was one from a different time. It wasn't like a 70s parent. It was a 50s and 60s parent on both sides, like my dad and my mom. So I think being taught how to work hard, being taught that, you know, honesty and honorability is important.

Being someone people can trust is important. Your word is important. Your hard work and your effort is important and nothing comes without hard work and effort was really instilled to me as a young kid. And I think. Where I maybe struggle with that now with our boys is that the world that they are going to have to do this in to start their own podcasts or whatever it is, 20 years from today, right, is going to be a world that me and you can't even see right now, but it is going to be that different and it's not going to be our podcast, it'll be, God knows, a virtual holocast.

We can't prepare them for that future, and I think that's where I struggle as a parent today. I, I, and I've talked about it multiple times, and I, yeah, I don't know, I think maybe just encouraging them to ultimately keep trying new things. Don't be afraid. Obviously, we talk about this with Fortnite, our oldest son, he loves Fortnite, and we struggle immensely with it because I feel like it's a gigantic waste of time.

But he thinks one day he'll be a YouTuber, and who knows, maybe he will, right? Like, Who are we to know right now? It's like, God, I wish he would just learn some skills that aren't Fortnite. Yeah. Yeah. And find other ways of experiencing confidence. And yeah, that I think that's been such a big piece has been where where he finds a sense of, of perhaps freedom and expression, but also confidence in himself and his ability.

Shelby Hobbs: I think a lot of the answer was actually in your answer where when we focus on the principles and the values as opposed to the how, like as opposed to the what, like what we're talking about, like focusing on, on something like integrity and honesty being somebody that others can rely on, being somebody who is authentic, and expresses themselves authentically that, that maybe it's, it's really the best thing that we could do for them is to focus on modeling values like that.

And that probably most of the time we're doing most of our parenting when. We don't mean to be and that it sort of happens by accident that as much as you want to be intentional and find all of the intentional lessons and find those teachable moments they're probably doing most of their learning when we're not paying attention, when we're just being who we are and showing them the way as opposed to getting on a soapbox and telling them the way.

Yeah.

Kelly Kennedy: I think I hope that one day they look back at this time and they remember that dad was in the podcast studio and mom was working hard on the computer and that that's what it took to succeed. And that's, you know, like, I kind of hope a little bit like them seeing this. Helps them with their future at some point, right?

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah, we both had childhoods where we saw our both of our parents working incredibly hard in life and not necessarily Achieving all of the outcomes that they might have hoped for. I think our both of our sets of parents were just working essentially working class people. I think your dad worked in maintenance.

Your mom was a nurse My mom wasn't educated. She didn't have a higher education of any kind, so she moved kind of place to place, and she'd work her way up or whatever, but she basically just went job to job, never really establishing a full career. And my dad as well just kind of worked in the grocery industry his entire life.

He's about to retire. And In all of that, it's interesting because I think we did learn the value of hard work and that's certainly been instilled in both of us, and, but also in a sort of unconventional way, not necessarily the typical path of go to school, higher education, degree, career, that That's not what was modeled to us.

And I think that's part of why we each have a sort of entrepreneurial spirit or maybe a more creative way of approaching what we do professionally, which I'm hoping will be a benefit to our kids because it's showing them an alternative way.

Kelly Kennedy: I think, you know, you asked earlier about like some of the trends that I've seen on this show, and a lot of the really successful people and like incredible people I've interviewed on this show, who went on to start really big, incredible companies and do good things, they came from entrepreneurial families themselves.

So I do think it does rub off. I think it really does. That spirit that entrepreneurial spirit, it does rub off on them.

Shelby Hobbs: As our conversation kind of rounds out here, we've managed to talk for an hour, which is pretty good. I guess I'm curious, like what's next either for you, like for Kelly Kennedy, what's on your, your list at, or what's next for the podcast?

Like just what are some of the things you're dreaming of these days and hoping for, for yourself and the show?

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, I just, I think I just want to keep going. I think, like I said, it's all about momentum and you just have to be ready to say yes to what's next. I think, you know, you're seeing me step into video.

2025 for us is going to be a year of video. That doesn't necessarily mean a year of video podcast, but it does mean a year of seeing Kelly. popping up on videos here and there on the show and on YouTube and on Instagram and on LinkedIn. Right. I think at the end of the day, I just want to continue to inspire people to start businesses.

I hopefully want to inspire more podcasters. I've had a lot of podcasts start from guests of this show, which has been pretty cool. So I hope that we can continue that trend. And, and at the end of the day, babe, I just want to make a difference. I want to. I want to help as many people as we can, and I think by continuing to show up here, give business development advice, interview incredible people, and educate and inspire, we can do that.

Shelby Hobbs: Absolutely. Yeah, it's, it's legacy work, too. Everything you're doing, it's still going to be around, presumably, like 50 years from now. So, the kind of projecting yourself that far out into the future, and I'm somebody, and I come across your show 50 50 years from now, I mean, what are you hoping that listeners take away from your show?

Whether it's, whether it's today or 50 years from now, like, what do you really want your listeners to get from it?

Kelly Kennedy: I think at the end of the day, I just, I want them to feel like they can do it, right? I don't want people, I don't want people to think, I don't have an education. I don't have this and that. I can't do this.

I can't start a business. I can't grow a business. The funny thing is, if you follow business development principles, if you believe in yourself, you can do almost anything you want. And I think at the end of the day, if we're able to educate and inspire people in that way, 50 years from now, my gosh, it'll be an honor.

Shelby Hobbs: Mm hmm. Amazing. It's like squash the inner critic. That's really what it sounds like. And I think you're, you're a fantastic role model for that. And it kind of comes back to like, parents, encourage your kids. Like, if it's Fortnite, if it's, you know, dance, if it's Art, whatever it is, I think it, it really is our job to, to do what we can to make sure they don't end up with that unruly inner critic that's frankly going to get in their way every step of their journey.

And so, yeah, I, I think that that's kind of our theme for today, which is. Which is awesome. I think that's so you. You are, that is so you.

Kelly Kennedy: Yeah, it's it's crazy. It's been a journey. And you know, before we wrap it up, babe, I also just want to talk to our listeners and, you know, our sponsors. We're gonna have a lot of people who listen to this particular show.

And I just want to say to my rock stars out there, To my incredible, incredible sponsors to the friends that have come through the show. Thank you so much for believing in me. Thank you for helping this show get to this point. It could not have gotten to this point if you wouldn't have supported it. If you wouldn't have got behind it.

As you can see, you're not just helping me and the whole business community, but you're helping Shelby, you're helping my boys, you're helping my family. And I'm incredibly and eternally grateful.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah, absolutely.

Sorry, I don't know if I can add anything to that.

Kelly Kennedy: Yes, yes. Well, I think, I think that takes us to the end today, babe.

Shelby Hobbs: Yeah, it's been an amazing journey. And I guess here's to the next, hopefully 200 episodes of the business development podcast and Kelly Kennedy and yeah.

Kelly Kennedy: And yeah.

Shelby Hobbs: I didn't write an outro. Okay.

Kelly Kennedy: Well, lucky for you. It's the same outro every time.

Until next time, this has been episode 200 of the business development podcast. And we will

Shelby Hobbs: catch you on the flip side!

Outro: This has been the business development podcast with Kelly Kennedy. Kelly has 15 years in sales and business development experience within the Alberta oil and gas industry and founded his own business development firm in 2020.

His passion and his specialization. Is in customer relationship generation and business development. The show is brought to you by Capital Business Development, your Business Development Specialists. For more, we invite you to the website @ www.capitalbd.ca. See you next time on the Business Development Podcast.