The Boys
Welcome to "The Boys" podcast, where business partners Jeremy, Stuart, and Dwayne come together after two decades of collaboration to share their expertise and passion for all things decor, home design, business, and floral design. Join this dynamic trio as they delve into the world of aesthetics, offering valuable insights, practical tips to elevate your living spaces, and a few laughs along the way.
But it's not just about design; it's about spreading joy and making the process enjoyable for everyone. The podcast is infused with the camaraderie and humor that comes from years of friendship and collaboration. Expect lively discussions, entertaining anecdotes, and a genuine passion for creating spaces that bring happiness and comfort.
The Boys
S1:E33 Success is made up from a lot of things
We sit down and discuss life and business with our amazing talented friend, Nancy from Design Link Interiors. It's a great story of how people who when are given chances or opportunities, and are eager to take them and run can build amazing success. Plus, you're going to love Jeremy's moment of Joy for the week! :)
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I'm so busy today. I don't have time to talk to Nancy.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Hey,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, what?
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:that's your priority, Stacey.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Ouch. Man. Well, you know, 1 of my employees, uh, brought me to the side. It's 1 of my employees, 1 of our
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:your showroom employees. Good. I'll remind you of that next time. There's a problem.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:please don't she's like, is, is Stuart okay. And I was like, yeah, he's fine. Nothing, nothing happened. She's like, he just seems like he's in another place. And I said, he's probably got 4, 000 things going on. That's about it. See? Yeah. So that's what I was like. He was fine.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:yeah, I have a new build that had to do electrical walk through on Monday at a moment's notice for the entire house, which is why I was that much later on Monday and, one of my remodels that, I love her to death. This is the fifth house I've done for her. We were there yesterday doing a walkthrough and I came back and told Jeremy that, we have maybe two weeks of solid work left, you know, just putting up some light fixtures and some mirrors and we're done with what we've started, you know, in February, which is great. And they're happy there. Well, now they've decided to add on to the back of the house before we leave. So,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh dear lord,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:so,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:a project that never ends.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:and we just, we just need to do it before we move in. I was like, well, It won't be two weeks
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:it? Yeah, get another designer. Yeah.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:they're fine. They're fine. They both have other houses to live in, so it's whatever. So yeah. So it's just kind of back up and punt and you just gotta, just gotta get, just gotta
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:You gotta roll with it.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:and he's also like, not freshly, but back from vacation. And you know, anytime you go out of town and you get back, it's just like a shit
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:It's a week of catch up. Just
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Two weeks, a month,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, yeah, just, just in office stuff and weeding through Dwayne's emails and frantic texts at 10 o'clock at night that he's sending me for questions of shit I don't know about.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Hey, that's the life that we all live. So
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:You want to be
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:well, I'm glad to know
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:you get to be boss lady.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:7.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:yeah,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:stops.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, listeners, the wonderful female voice that you're hearing with us today
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:It's not Dwayne.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:it's not Dwayne high pitched it is our beautiful and incredibly talented friend, Nancy Elam, who is a designer entrepreneur, businesswoman, head bitch in charge of. Um, a design firm here in Lexington called design link. And I'm going to let you give a little bit more, just give us a quick rundown of like the business and what your role is and all that, and then we'll get into the fun stuff just so people know who you are.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:So design link is, something that was created. With a business partner of mine that I met actually through singing and choir at church, and he and I did the design work. He's a commercial architect. He did the design work on the church, and then I partnered with him through that process. And then after it was over, he said, you know, I've been doing this a long time, and I've always wanted to have a design segment of my business. And, but I've never, collaborated with somebody that I felt like I connected with, like I do with you. And so that was the start. I honestly didn't want to do it because I at that time was working at Home Traditions and I was kind of just coasting and it was fun. I didn't have the responsibility of a business owner and I got to just do the design side and I liked it. But my niece, Jessica,, was graduating from UK design school and she had a passion for commercial design and that's really what Jerry's focus was on. That's my business partner's name. And I said, I'll do it if she can come on board and he said, great. And so we did it and Jessica is now also a business partner with us. She's we've been together now for 17 years. So we do both commercial and residential design. My focus is obviously more residential. But as you guys know, once you have relationships with people, sometimes that ends up segwaying over into commercial if they own a med spa or a. So you, it's who you have the relationship with that you end up working, working for.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:You know, we've talked about on here how, really what we do. Okay. So to give you a quick back, story, Nancy is that someone said to Dwayne early on that what we did was frivolous, or they thought what we did was frivolous. I know how dare that bitch. Um, and so we've not let it go, but what we have discovered, the more that we chat about this and we talk and we talk with other designers is that it's all about the relationships with the people, like that's what, that's what, like, that's the biggest benefit of doing what we do, right. Is being able to be creative, but establishing these, relationships with people that cross gears, decades, generations, and all that kind of, wonderful stuff. So I'm, I'm glad to know that again, people love Nancy cause Nancy's wonderful.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, that's sweet.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:there's joy. Well, the, the, one of the caveats for anybody to ever be part of our little guest family is somebody that we love and somebody we know and somebody that we believe that brings joy. And you click every single box about 12 times over because you are joy in every way.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Can we talk every morning?
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! We're your little cheerleaders in the morning. Um, you know, she's brought us tons of joy just because she's a sweet, sweet, sweet person. The, who she hasn't brought joy to, may be the ladies in the front. Because listeners, what happens is Nancy will have a project
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:a skinny little queer in the back too sometimes.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Stuart, so they, they will, they will be working on let's say a residential, whatever, any kind of design and it will be a D Day. So they're going in and they're going in to accessorize and all that stuff. Well, we love this because Nancy comes in or Jessica comes in or any of the girls come in and then they just pull. And when I say they pull, they pull. They put the picture frames, accessories, lamps, artwork. I mean, they just take
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:We basically destroy your showroom.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:just destroy
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:it's funny because like a hush comes over the show. for like 30 minutes like Nancy's here. So everybody just waits, they just
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:and you want,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:and tissue ready.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh gosh.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:so then if we're in the office and we hear that, that they're buying, then we always want to go out because we always want to say hello if we're, if we're not up there. So we go out and then it never feels that whatever lady's working that day, if she's behind the cash rep, you see this look of panic and like they're caught in the headlights. Like, where do I start and where do I start doing all this stuff?
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:so funny.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:I mean, it's funny cause it's true, but you know, we love it.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:They're always so
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:be a source.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:We do have some
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:is when I roll up in there at a,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Uh, we, we, they fine. They know what the rules are. They know what the rules are.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:of us would stay if we can be, we're going to do what we got to
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I know, but you know they're really nice.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:a conversation.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:There, you know, they're thinking, um, we opened at 10 this morning. Where have you been?
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Listen, so
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:honestly, there's never been a conversation. Not
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:not
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:once, not once. Truthfully, I tell you, I tell you, get your act together, but it's not, it's just not a big problem. Hey, I want to ask you, cause, um, you know, our name is House, right? And this can be very confusing. You're like, What's the name of your business? And you, you do what? And your name of the business is what? And they just kind of don't understand it. So it's evasive sometimes, right? To the world. Even though we decorate your house, right? For me, it's kind of common sense, right? But you have the best name, right? Design Link. I think that is the smartest, chicest, most descriptive name I can think of. It just tells me what you do. Who came up with that one? I've always loved that
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, I'm honestly glad to hear you say that because I, I think it sounds a little, I don't know, non sophisticated in my mind, but I'm glad that from your perspective that it, that you like it. The reason for the name was initially, we were doing commercial and residential. And so the link was tying those two, you know, having a business that ties those two things together because it is kind of unusual, I guess, really for a company to promote doing both of those things. So that was and linking architecture, you know, with my business partner being an architect, it was linking the architecture and the design element. Together. So
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:So you've, you've sold your reason for the name. It links
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:it makes sense.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:what we're always our biggest, um, enemy, right? Or, or we pick our part. You shouldn't because it really does do the job. And you, you've described described it as what it does. I mean, it really does. So I have to say this. In none of the many, many, many years I've known you, ain't nobody ever said anything about Mr. Man. So you've got some man floating in the back of your life and I'm like, I don't even know what the hell she's talking about. So now what's his name again?
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Jim.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Jim. Tell
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Are you talking about my husband or my
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:No, no. He's talking about your business
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:your
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:business partner.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Cause I never
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, I
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, we thought it was just
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:existed
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:No, so
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:And all these little impurns with different credit cards coming in.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:So Jerry Herndon is his name. God bless him. He is just this incredible man. He is truly like a second dad to me and second granddad to Jessica. Yeah he is an incredibly godly man, just a good person, but he's also really talented and he, we call him the word magician. He could tell you to, go take a hike and you'd say, thank you. I mean, he's, he can fire somebody and they give him hug when they leave. I mean, he's just that guy. Um, he's eight. He's getting ready to turn 83 the end of this month.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:wow,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:What?
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:loves what he does. says he'll work till the, you know, till the day he drops over, I guess. Sharp as a tack, still very healthy, and just has a thriving business. He's just, again, he's, it's relationships. He's just a repeat and
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Is he in the office with you every
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:every day. Yeah. Now, when we initially started DesignLink, um, of course, Jessica was, A baby straight out of college had a passion for commercial work, and we did. I didn't have any commercial connections at all. That wasn't what I did. So, Jerry, literally, the day she started said, okay, here you go. Here's our 1st client. And God bless the turners because they just took Jessica in and allowed her to kind of learn and, and work with them on many, many projects and they continue to all, you know, uh, give her continued business and do a ton of work together, but I mean, they literally let her grow up with them and just learn. Um, doing projects for them, knowing that she was so green. I mean, she just was just straight out of school, but she is. A workaholic. She is a go getter and she just did it. And she, she did a good job and fumbled along the way, but made it work. And really, and truly without Jerry though, we wouldn't have had those connections. You know, you don't, you don't just call and say, Hey, I just graduated from college. Can I, can I decorate your office? Like, um, no, thank you. But because they had a longterm relationship with Jerry, Jerry. Um, they trusted him and so that's how all that evolved.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:It's, It's, who you know, right, in a way. It's who you know. Funny, and that's, you can't, you can't change that in life. It's about, the connections and how you evolve, and that's just, that's just, that's how you build business once it's all said and
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. Yeah. But we attribute much of our success to him, for sure.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:yeah, no, I, when you were saying that, I think that you, you had a good business going, but it sounds like The connection with him to get to a different level and it, it's, it's. Now I can understand clearly the projection path that you were able to go on. And it's not, dismissing your talents for Jessica's talents, but he sounds like he was an important layer to get where you
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Absolutely. My goodness.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:you just happen to have, like with Jessica, I'll go back to, she had, an immense talent, right? She had the degree, she has a drive, so it wasn't as if you brought in a partner that was, useless. Right. She had it, but she, that was that one step that she was given. She was able to then, um, platform
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Right. Absolutely.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:just goes back to in life, if just, if you, if, if you have that work ethic, and you have that talent and you're kind, if there's one person that sees that and mentors that and gives you that hand out, it changes your life forever. It just does. Preach
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:does. We'll be forever grateful to Jerry Herndon.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:do you see why we call Dwayne the preacher? He gets up on his little soapbox. Now listen, he'll tell this same damn story 17 more times today to 17 more people walking the store. But you know, hey.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:So, my connection is there was something called a parade of homes or decorator
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:something, right? And there was a house that, Stuart and I worked on and we did the master bedroom and you did a guest bedroom upstairs. Now, I don't know who
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:I
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:do you certainly remember this Stuart? Yeah, I remember Nancy's fabric. It was black and gold or black and caramel or something, twa. I remember that room and how beautiful it was. I thought you did it, just an absolutely beautiful job with it. But what stuck out with me was this not just talent, but, there was just a kindness there. I felt your kindness and, that it's not as always true with every designer, right? I think we've got, we've, all of us have done it long enough. We've met really good people. Great designers out there, but there's some snotty snots and, you're not that you're just humble and kind and gifted. And I, you stuck out
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Thank you. You're stuck.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:and that, that, that week, uh, and, um, the other thing that you won't remember, uh, well, you may, but I shouldn't say that is when we, when I was, um, we all were doing the, the, the. Um, one of the things I really pushed back on wasn't, it had to be in context. 25 years ago, right? Something like that. I mean, a long time ago before
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:it was in West Wind, right?
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:I mean, if it was 25 years ago, I was in high school.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:It
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:You didn't, you. didn't exist
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah, shut up, right? Uh, I don't miss so West. Stuart and I talked about it and we wanted the hardwood floors to continue into the master bedroom on the first floor at that time. That was a controversial decision, and we got a pretty strong pushback and whatever reasons we use, but ultimately, it was classic and the builder finally lamented because it was a showcase and it's to do things a little different and I. I recall you having a commentary of some form of how much you like that and you wish other people do it or something like that, but long story is you're appreciative of it and you were complimentary of that. And again, that's one of the things that stuck with me is you, you saw that and you appreciated it. And I was like, Mm hmm. Old girl got it. She know what she doing too, right? Hmm.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, I remember you from Lexington Mall Days.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:mall. Yes. I also remember Dwayne from Lexington mall
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:It's Not good
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:partners because back then. He had his little store home accents back then. And I was actually lead visual for McAlpins.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:So I did their home store visuals at that time. And I remember when Dwayne was closing his little store to move to a big store. Oh my God. Cause you know, I'd on my break, I'd walk through that little mall and go to orange Julius and take a break and get
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Orange Julius.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:And, uh, He had this little sidewalk sale and this crazy woman wanted this cat poster. You know, it's that cat poster of them playing with yarn, kind of Victorian, very Kirkland's looking, and he had already had it marked down to, I don't know. 10 or some random number from 50. And she was trying to get it for 5. And he, I remember him grabbing that from that woman. He's like, I'll just keep it. I'm not giving it away. I thought, God, what a rude ass. No wonder he's going out of business.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:never got that memo, customer's always right.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Right. And then, you know, five, six years later, we meet at another location and then here we are. 29 years later, So
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:There we go. No, my, my version's just slightly tweaked from that. And it's a little more vile. It's, I'm ripping it out of crazy mall walker is what she was. She was a mall walker who loved cats. She really was a mall walker. And she was there every day and it was just awful. I'm ripping out her hand saying to her, I'd rather burn it than let you have it. But that's my version.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:See, I remember in the 4 million times, I've heard that story. I always remember as I would rather. Eat it and you kind of like crunch it up and shove it in your mouth. I don't know.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:it's one of those, it's some version thereof and it was probably, I just took it and said, no, baby, you can't have that. That's probably what really
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:No, you were,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:the
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:were pretty direct
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:whereas, okay,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:that.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:I love it. I love it. I love it. Okay. What you got going on? What jobs you got going on?
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I'm telling you all, I know you feel it too, but we, it's, we're just so busy. I mean, so
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:What is one of your favorite residential ones right now? Oh my.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:right now. We have a project out in, actually one of the houses was in the tour this year and it's a family, they have a family compound and it's Just absolutely beautiful. A couple hundred acres and it's the mom and dad and the two daughters Are both building homes out there and I've had the pleasure of working with the two girls and I love their aesthetic. They're both, you know, we all have our own preferences, style wise, even though we end up doing all different styles. But it's very, traditional coastal, southern, and they're, they're similar in style, the two girls, but different ones, a little more hardcore, traditional ones, a little more informal, little more coastal traditional, I guess, but both homes are just lovely. And they're amazing, like their mom and dad, and so easy to work with just. beautiful people, and just the whole atmosphere out there. It's gorgeous. They've got this amazing farm and a beautiful pond and a party barn and it's just, you go out there and think this is literally heaven. To be able to live out here with your family and you're right next door to your sister and their kids are growing up together and, So that's just a fun project beyond just the design element of it. The people are just so kind and fun to be around and easy to work with. So that's probably one of my, I've actually got a few though. I mean, I've got another family that we're working with and she found out unexpectedly in the midst of building a house that she was pregnant with twins. And so had to regroup and honestly, the house floor plan had to get redesigned and it was already framed. So, like, walls had to come out and some tweaks had to be made to accommodate these twins. And so that and I mean, literally, these people are the kindest people. So, you know, I'm just right now, I've just got a slew of really nice. Fun people to work with and they're much, they're very modern. So it's like, it's that the fun of getting to work on more traditional project versus more modern. And I love, I love all the styles. I just, you know, I migrate from my own personal home more toward that mix of traditional with, you know, I love modern art blended in or whatever, but, um, but I also enjoy doing just full on modern or whatever, you know, I think we can all relate to that probably in that you appreciate all of it. You just maybe don't want to be surrounded by 24 7 in your own
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Absolutely. Well, I was, I was, the listeners can't see what I'm admiring the, the console behind you with the beautiful chinoiserie and the orchids and the cerused wood and the modern piece of art. And I was like, yeah, I could live in that.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:okay, so let me be real transparent right now. I thought about what my background was going to be before we did this.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Mm-Hmm.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:If I took this around to the rest of my house, the house that we live in now was built in 1990. we moved a couple of years ago. And the people that formerly owned the home, they did it up right in 1990. I mean, it full on decorated and it was beautiful then, you know, all the ornate window treatments and wall coverings and, um,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:I like to call that circa Kirkland's.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:sponge painted walls and,
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:know, all the things, which again, they really invested in all that. And it was lovely at the time, but it it's time for an update. our daughter got married a year ago here on our farm. And now we're wedding poor, and we can't afford to update this house yet. So it's, if I could show you what our master bathroom and kitchen and Many other rooms look like, you would think that we had gone back into time. Um, I've got pink marble floor and it in my bathroom and a tub the size of pool swimming pool and a shower that is only like a two and a half by two and a half.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:So now does that make you neurotic and you're like, I, I wanna fix this. Or you're like, you're so busy, I'll get to it and I'll have time to ponder it. Or you're like, oh God, I gotta fix this, but you just have to move on. Where are you with that? See, I would, I'm not, I feel like I've lived in my house for 18 years and it's a continual disarray and it makes me jittery and I just, I can never get enough money. I can never get enough time and if I do get a room then it gets destroyed. You know, like I had the master, or not master, I had a guest bedroom upstairs finished to the most Perfect of detail and then Ian became 14 and moved upstairs and destroyed it, right? I love you, Ian, but it's, you know, it's not perfect now. And then I had another guest bedroom upstairs that was, um, well put together, but sweet Chloe got an apartment and she did mattresses and I took the mattress out of that room because we didn't have time to go look for mattresses. And I said, just is. And so now that room has been sitting there with draperies and sofas and furniture in the middle of the room with no mattresses for a year. No, I don't have time to do it. I just don't have time to do it.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. Nate, what, as you were telling the story of your bathroom, what it, what it reminded me of was, I think we have a mutual love of Lori Paranjapi to pay out of Nashville, Zachary. So, uh, Lori was, um, sharing a story one day or something. She would, I think she was sitting in her bedroom where she was sitting in her kitchen. I don't remember where she was sitting. They were getting ready to remodel it. They had to, and she was just talking about, Oh, it's a bathroom. That was our bathroom. And she was like, You all would die if you saw this bathroom. And then she showed, because you see all these beautiful design projects that she does, everything's done and finished. And then she shows you the super, super dated bathroom. Right. And, um, she was like, this is my bathroom. Well, while I was watching it. I was upstairs working in our current home and we had moved in here and it needed a total remodel from, from top to bottom. And, you know, you just can only do what you can do. So when I'm watching this, I'm sitting in our guest room, that's across the house and I'm looking up and, you know, we lived here for like. Four years and all of the plaster upstairs had to be repaired and there was plaster flaking from the ceiling and falling down. And so I remember taking a picture of it. I was in the chair. I was like, girl, you're not alone. I'm like, I get it. Like, you know, people always think that everything's perfect, but you just have to do it as you can, as you go. It's, there are some people that can do it all at once and, you know, God bless them if they can afford it. But for the rest of us, you
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I know. I mean, there is. Do you all feel a little bit of pressure when somebody new comes to your house and and they know you're a designer and you, you just think they have this expectation that everything's going to be flawless, you know, and right. It's
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:I don't, I don't, I don't, I
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:myself
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:You
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:a completely new person. Yeah. Like if any of you all came over,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, I wouldn't
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:you know, you're, you're in the profession, you know it, but if someone brand
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:I'm just in the I can give you shit phase in life, so no, I really
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I love that. I need to adopt
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, our friend Esther gave me some, um, and I thought this was really wise. Our friend Esther bought this, um, Old Victoria, it's Victorian and it's Stewart, I don't know what kind of, it's, it's a big old house. I don't remember, um, downtown. And when she bought it, it was a total disaster. I mean, it didn't even have running water and concrete. I mean, it was just a mess. Um, And while she was living there, she was also renovating it. And her advice to my husband and I, when we bought this house and again, this house was fine, it just was really dated and just needed the modeling. And she was like, my only advice to you is invite people over from day one. Let them see it. All and enjoy the journey with you. And so then I tried to do that. So then, you know, when, when, as soon as we moved in, before we did anything, we had everybody over so they could see the house and then they would see it kind of like as it transitioned. So, I mean, it is just, it
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:it is what it is.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:I think with this, I don't, I don't, I don't feel that with this. I know that people get worried. Like friends get worried when I walk into their homes, thinking that I'm judging it up and down and I don't, my brain doesn't work that way. I it's I'm done. I'm not thinking anymore. So it's their home. I'm appreciate being welcomed into
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:I'm right. I want some food. Just feed me,
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:give me a drink. Um,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Right,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:If you ask me why I'm there, Hey, what do you think about this? It, I turn a switch on and I go, okay, let me think about it. But I literally don't walk in the door and start judging and picking apart because you have to, you need to shut your mind down. At least I do for me, right? I have to shut my mind down or if it's continually going. Uh, it's just overwhelming. And like, I'm there for you. I'm there for the food. I'm there for the friends. I'm there for the party. I'm not there to decorate. I'm just, that's why I'm here. So I can shut this down. And so I really, it's like somebody to ask me about their house. I'm like, I don't know. Now, if I'm at your house for design project,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, sure.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:But if I'm just there to visit, I'm like, I don't know, because I didn't pay attention. I wanted to know what was on the stove. A fat boy wants to eat.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:uh,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Or you like, your, your, your mind's always on. I'm looking at You, I think you, you're like, no, I
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:No, I definitely have a hard time. I'm not judging at all. I mean, you know, but I have a real hard time turning it off because I'm regardless of what space I'm in. I mean, I can be sitting in a restaurant and my head is going, uh, you know, I'm looking at. The art and the ceiling detail and the flooring and
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Aren't you tired? Miss Hilly?
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I am, but I can't help that. You know what I mean?
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:No, I get
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Don't you all do that when you walk
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. I, I
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:if a space inspires
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:you do that? Stuart?
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. I, I do, I mean, I keep it quiet to myself, but it's always, it's always churning in there as like, oh, I could rearrange it this way, that light fixture would be better over here and blah, blah, blah. I mean, I'm always doing that.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, I'm with you. I, I don't talk about it, but it's happening.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:no.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:think I have so many voices in my head. If I don't shut them down, it would imply.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:They all shut down at one time.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:I think
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:They all shut down at 1 time.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:for me, it's, if, if I go into a space and it really does inspire me, then I start picking it apart, not in, uh, how I would change it, but I start analyzing why the decisions
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. So you can learn from it.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. So I can learn from it. So that's, that's what it is. So speaking of that, what. Are there designers or who is like really getting you going right now? As far as design, like, aside from, you know, like Laurie, trying to pay for it. She's just a sweetheart. Like, who do you really admire? What inspires you? Dwayne
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:love Suzanne Kassler's design.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:clue. Dwayne
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:She's probably my favorite. Um,
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:knows
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:know, Nancy did, you know, that's like, like, like my, my sweet mama.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:she is
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Do you know this? Yeah, uh, Law, she's a
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, she's good.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:well you are like the Susan Gassler of
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, that's what I am.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Do you are? Yes, what you are, you are.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Um, I love, um, Mark Sykes. know who I'm talking about. He's a good one.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:He does, I don't follow anybody, I just, so, uh, yeah, yeah.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:You would like him.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Susan
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:You would, you need, yeah, you would like him a lot, I think. Um, those were probably my two major go tos, but yeah, Suzanne.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:I, Dwayne actually in our last podcast, talked about how she, he, she really inspires him, um, and the look and style and, and, and all of that. So I always like to ask people like, well, how do the, when they feel like they're struggling, where do they find their sense of inspiration? Like, where, where do you look like, where do you, like, some people just need to take a walk. Some people need to cry. Like, what do you need?
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:both of those probably done both of those, but well, number 1, you know, we do have, um, a great team of designers. Um, we actually hired 3 designers straight out of college. In the spring for, you know, as full time assistance, you know, but they are degree designers this year. We did and then we have Jessica and and Alan Callahan who are, you know, more experienced designers. So, when I'm really hung up. And I just did this yesterday. I call in the troops and, you know, I had Jessica and Alan sit down with me in front of my laptop. And I said, I'm just stuck and, you know, just collaboration with other designers. I think, whether they work with me, or they're you guys, or whoever they are, I think that's. That's so key because getting somebody else's perspective on it and you all know how it feels. You've looked at something so long that you just can't even see past the problem. So collaboration I think is, is huge and, and that they totally solve the problem. And just having that affirmation also from another designer saying, yes, that does look good or know that here's what's wrong is. Is so beneficial.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:mm-Hmm.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:adjective affirmation is something that's always in my head. A lot of times you'll work with a design or with a client and they really have a great aesthetic. And sometimes you kind of look at it and it's just, let's say it's just an accessorizing job. I'm like, I go there and was like, you don't even need me. Why am I here? Right. But they need that affirmation. And at first I kind of stood back and said, well, this, why, why am I here? Oh, I need to get that affirmation. I have it built in like you do with these two amazing business partners. And I have this ability to bounce that off where that other person's out there floating by themselves, that client, right? And they just need to hear from you. You're headed in the right direction. What you're doing makes sense. Maybe see the, see it through this lens and do this or tweak this and you can just let them go. And it really is just. The word affirmation, and it's right. And the other thing that stuck out with me when you were saying this is the, the humbleness, the understanding that none of us know the answer, right? We don't know every single answer. And when you realize, right, when you realize to put your guard down and allow yourself to work with others and, um, And hear their voices, even with clients, right, hear their voices, but with your co workers, when you do that, I've said time after time after time, I'd rather have a team than an I, right,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, gosh.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:much better. Yeah, it just, it just helps everything. It just
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, for sure.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:That's why you're good. That's why you good.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I don't know, but I can say that I absolutely know that I am not all knowing when it comes to design. So I have to surround myself with people that are strong in areas that I'm weak for sure.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, I think it's also interesting to be talking about your hired three designers right out of college. Um, you know, they're fresh, they're very green and they've not learned, um, the experience level. Like they haven't learned what they don't know and they haven't experienced what they've learned. Hasn't worked in the past. And part of this has come from, we worked with a lady who said, um, well, that may not work then, but it may, may work now. And she was talking about, you know, we're scorned because we've been around this for so long. Um, and this didn't work then, but maybe it works now if we do it this way. And it's like, it's nice to have those fresh eyes, um, that you can communicate with, especially when they're not scorned and old, like
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I know there's pros and
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:not you all, none of you are old, none of you. By the way. Nancy's birthday was yesterday, you two. I know you didn't know
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, well, happy
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:found this the last time.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Welcome to the
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:you.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:birthday.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, thanks. I know I feel so old
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:cute.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:So, I don't know when this is going to air, so this was, you know, we're taping it and it's going to air later, but
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:so it was nine 18 is her birthday because that's sweet. Sweet Nancy. That's my daughter's birthday. I will never forget this. Now
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh you
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:my sweet Chloe's birthday also I did this year. Yes I did Don't be an ass
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:how old is your daughter now?
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:She turned 21 yesterday.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Did
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Of which I said, oh, I'll send
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:tequila shots together last night?
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Thank you. I said, I'm going to send her money so she can get a cocktail. And he goes, she doesn't drink. And I just kind of looked at him. Doesn't come on like you can have a cocktail. Come on. She's she she is an adult.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:not judging, but I don't think that's in her wheelhouse. I don't think that's an interest of hers. That's not that wasn't a goal. Her goal was she went out to, uh, the Chinese restaurant last night, uh, with her boyfriend and they went and got, uh, graders ice cream and that's who she
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:That's all right
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:in the
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:and she finished it off with a fifth of vodka And
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:So we had your sweet baby girl in the shop a few weeks ago. Uh, well, look, she's gifted. So tell us, tell us a little story about the sweet baby girl.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, she I mean genuinely I know I sound like a typical typical mom. She is kind of perfect
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:She's so kind. She's such a sweetheart. She really is so
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:She really has always just been the best She's just been a good kid. Um, she just by nature is, has a sweetness about her and, um, she is totally in love with Jesus, which impacts her life in a big way. She, that's her, definitely her guiding light for sure. But she's just easy to be around regardless of who you are. She's going to love you and, and enjoy being around you. And she has a gift for sure. She's absolutely wants no part of being in the design business. She's seeing what that looks like from living with me her whole life and how you don't turn that off. It's a 24, seven, you know, I'm at. You know, we're trying to watch a movie and I'm texting a client at 11 o'clock at night or whatever. And she, you know, she has boundaries. I do not. She's very kind, but she also knows how to say no, which is, I'm grateful that she has that because I don't really have that.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:by the way, I think this is a generational thing because dwayne is also with you He doesn't really have a whole ton of boundaries. He'll text you back at 11 o'clock. I We'll wait till the next day until I get a chance.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I love that.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:saying
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Or may never respond, by the way,
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:know, if it's, if it's not needed.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:respond. That's a generational
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:my shut off. time is 10 PM. If it's after 10, you don't get a response to the next day.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:or he may never respond. That's a very old generational thing.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:true too. I'll be like, yeah, I read it.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:like,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:What's,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:it. didn't warn
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:that's what drives me crazy about these two. It's like, give me a thumbs up. Give me an acknowledgement that you read this. You may not react upon it, but, like, you see it, but I don't know if you're ever going to do anything. And both of these fools, right, I'll never know if they're going to, if they see it or do anything. It's just like, I need to know that you saw this, right? And, nothing. Crickets. And I'm like, okay, whatever. I just move on.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:uh, okay, uh, moving on, uh, the one thing that you did not mention, Nancy, about your beautiful daughter is how incredibly artistically talented she is. So Dwayne mentioned having her in the store.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:that who that little girl was with that? Well, I would
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yes,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:to, I was on vacation. So I, I just saw a post that this person was there. I didn't know who the hell it was. So
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:she, now does she only do watercolor or does she do other forms of
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:No, she does it all. She does,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:why don't we have some of her stuff in here? Cause
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:We, well, we did, well, so she did and she did sell, I don't know if she sold more than one, I don't know, I have no idea what that was, but she brought in some of her art, it looked, it was
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:did well. She did
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. She sold like
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:did we pay her for it?
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, I think they paid her directly or however it worked. Yeah.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:good.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:don't have to do anything. No money. No money exchanged.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Did, um, does she have, does she have an Instagram, Nancy, or
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:She doesn't. I mean, genuinely you all her. First appearance of any kind in, in her, you know, exposing her talent was at your store. She doesn't have anything up and going yet, but she's working on it. She actually teaches art and she was full time last year. And she went part time this year so that she could pursue this whole art thing. So she, um, is going to have all the things, Instagram and the website, and maybe start selling things on Etsy or whatever, but. Yeah, she would, of course, love to have some of our art, you know, just in, in your inventory. If you're interested,
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, we'll, um, we'll have to get some, we'll get some and, and,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:there was a special order she took of an oil painting. Probably 8 by 10 or something like that, a commission piece that she's doing for 1 of the latest year, uh, or 1 of the customers rather. So, uh, it, what I got from it was, I got the vibe that this was kind of new to her and we, she did a great job. She was very personable. Um, but I knew that this was, um, this handout, this opportunity was giving her a platform to shine, right? I knew that, right? I knew that that's what this was about, and I was grateful to be able to do that for her, but it's because of Our connection to you, but then she happens to have that same beautiful talent and her her light, right? She really does so it worked out beautifully The thing that stuck out for me on top of her art and her kindness Is all the people the friends and family that showed up that day
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh,
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:hmm,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:I stood back, you know, I don't have to get involved in all this, but I saw so many people that she knew coming in and giving her love. And I have to believe that that gave her an affirmation, that you're talented. Again, that word affirmation, that you're talented and we support you and people get it, and I love the fact that she sold pieces because I also believe that gave her confidence to kind of. Push this a little further for her. And that's, I hoped that would happen. It's like, I didn't want her to come in here and not sell anything. Uh, cause you never know, You just never know, right? So she sold enough that I think it gave her enough confidence to say, Hey, I can do this, right? I do believe that. So what was sweet is, I don't know if it was cousins, friends, neighbors, that kind of doesn't matter. There were a lot of people, but as a family core, her sweet mama stayed here and hung out with her all day. Her sweet dad came here for a couple hours and her. Big brother, baby
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Big brother.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:big brother came. And that tells me everything.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. Sweet. Thank
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Tells me everything. Everything.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. Well, that's a blessing to have what we have, you know,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:So we're going to segue to um, family again. And this is uh, good old Jim. Now Jim is Nancy's um, husband of how many years
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:33, we just had our wedding anniversary last week. We were in. Sedona.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Ooh, I love
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Excuse me. So Jim, um, uh, worked for Toyota for a thousand years, right? And put his, put his time in and worked hard. And he's now working with Nancy at the firm. Um, but so helping and again, beautiful relationship, but the thing that stood out on meeting Jim was, uh, walked over and Nancy said, this is my husband, Jim and Jim said to me, yeah, we've met before. And I said, oh, well, apparently you've made no impression on me.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:that's true.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:It was true, and I was actually, you know, it's a joke, right? No, he got me, he got me, right? But it's like, I don't remember meeting him truthfully, but what is context? But the long story is, I think I made up on it, right? I think I did okay. He's not mad at me. No, He wouldn't care. He'd get two craps, right? He's the nicest, nicest guy. You did okay. He's, he's a good, good
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:he is nice. Yeah, he's a good guy. And the fact that he's working at DesignLink now is hilarious, but it's good that I'm just always out in the field and that we don't really interact at all because that could be problematic. That could not, that could maybe not work out so well
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:this, that reminds me of a video I saw this week, which will bring me to what, one of the things that we've started doing in the show and when we would like to continue is, is sharing moments of joy that we've had this week or the last, last little bit, and, um, Nancy, as a lady, would you like to go first? Is there a moment in the last week or two that has brought you joy that you would love to share? And if you're not ready, we can let you go last.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Well, honestly, it's kind of, it's not work related, but we did just get
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Whatever. Yeah, whatever.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary. So, I mean, have you guys been there?
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, I have. I've been there three different times. I
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:I mean, Stuart, it's literally, you all, it's like, you, you feel like you're on a movie set. It's not real. It, the landscape is insane. And so I just remember standing there thinking, this is just the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And just feeling so overwhelmed by how gorgeous our world is and how beautiful it is. You know, God has just provided all of this amazing architecture really for us to enjoy. And, you know, we're watching the sunset and just how grateful I was in that moment, just to be able to be, be able to travel. And, you know, obviously 33 years of marriage, that's been, um, good and happy and just feeling so overwhelmed, I guess, with gratefulness and just being able to stand in that beauty. That's what stands out to me right now, because it's
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:No, that is joy.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:that's true
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:That's joy. that's true joy, that's true joy.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Hey Boo, you got one Stewie? He
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:my moment of joy for this week is to eat those Spalding's donuts that I have out there because they were warm when I brought them in.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:that's some
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:He's the,
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:That's what I got this
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:is the, he brings him in weekly. He is the best at that. He at least brings him in, I guess once a week, sometimes twice a week, I can't remember. Uh, but he brings him at least once a week. And, um, that's a little touch of literal sweetness from Stuart. That he, he takes care of us and brings us some good donuts every week. And that's, that is joy and kindness, really is. Okay, let me, let me do mine. Uh, mine is because I do, I'm out on the floor much more than the other guys because they have other venues to take care of. Right? So I have these opportunities to work with people that, um, they don't necessarily have. And, I got a gift, last week and it goes back to the back story of when she gave it to me. Uh, I said, you I don't understand. And she said, I came in, uh, your guy's shop about two months ago and I was having a really, really difficult day. And she said, I came in here, um, just to kind of, you know, retail therapy and I needed to kind of feel better. And. You were so kind to me and the ladies were so kind to me, but what stuck out was what you said to me. And she said, I don't know if you felt how I was feeling that day because she didn't tell me. And to this day, I don't know what the issue was and don't need to know, right? That's not important. But she said, What you said to me, make this your best day ever. And that's just a little mantra, right? And so she left and she said, I pondered what you said and I turned it around. I turned it around. So she said, so I want you to give me this gift to let you understand what you did for me. So I opened it up and it's this plexiglass neon sign that's attractively done that says best day ever. Now. Oh, yeah. If that doesn't. Bend your knees and humble your heart. Nothing will right to understand. It goes back to a voice said this words have negative power, but they also have beautiful positive power. And anytime you have an opportunity to interact with anybody, which I do a lot. Just bring that positive energy if you ever can, because you never know the shoes that somebody's walking in. So, of course, you know, this is my, I'm going to hang on to this story for the rest of my life because it really was, is humbling. It's humbling to know that. Anyway, there's mine.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:I saw her when she brought that in. I did not know the backstory to that. You've said many times, you know, best day ever. Like you've, you know, that's in your vernacular, right? That you said, so I just thought, Oh, it's just, you know, she's just loves it. I had no idea about the backstory
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:that's sweet.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:there was, this was, it was a good one. Really, really good
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Mm-Hmm?
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:um, I, Okay. So I have, okay, so I'll do two cause you know, I'm a joyful person. Um, but this week, but, uh, this week and last week we had, and I don't think I even mentioned this to Dwayne. We had two customers come in the store that I know I have been clients of ours for 20 years and we hadn't seen either one of them. Well, there was Barbara
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, Barbara Mc.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:in Leslie and Barbara came in. Hadn't seen, hadn't seen her in a long time. And then there was another one that came in yesterday, Cynthia, who we've not seen. And she, I don't know, maybe eight years or whatever, but she, they have been customers of us over the time and they were so thrilled to have found us again. They thought we had closed or whatever. But as soon as they walked back in and they saw our faces, they just lit back up like it was before. And it's just like, there's been no time that went by. I thought that was so sweet. But the other one was a video that I saw on Instagram and it had an older couple, we'll say probably, And they were dancing to some live music in, um, in some kind of European town. Right. And so they were just kind of jigging, but they were just, you know, again, they're 80 something, so we're not going to say grace is probably their number one, feature for their mobility, but, um, the caption that was on the picture was imagine how many times they forgave each other to get to this point.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:that's good.
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:what?
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:I thought. Oh,
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Wow.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:and I thought, and so it just brought me joy of, that sounds weird, but it, it just, it registered with
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:No, that resonates.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:I thought, cause you know, everybody was looking at it and everybody was thinking of like, how sweet is this? How beautiful is this? And then you have to really think, but to get there, there's, there's some love and some joy and some forgiveness. That's gotta be there. So
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Oh, that's good.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. So I love that. Well, Nancy, thank you so
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:back to Nancy and 33 years of forgiveness,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah, I know. That's really resonating with me now. I'm
squadcaster-831e_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:night as I was trying to tell my husband the story as we were eating dinner, he said something really mean and snarky and I just kind of looked up at him and I thought forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Yeah.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:Nancy, thanks so much for joining us this week.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Uh, thank you guys. I love you all. Love your store, but I love
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Do I need to tell the girls? Are you coming in today,
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Let me think. I never know when I'm coming. I'll look at my schedule and Oh crap. I've got to install tomorrow. Yes. I'll be there.
jeremy_1_09-19-2024_090714:well, we will, um, put design links, link down in the notes below, as well as Instagrams and all that. And then whenever we get anything from your daughters, Arthur, we'll put it up there for the world to see too, to celebrate her. Um, and as always listeners, if you haven't had a chance to download our mobile shopping app, please be sure to do, if you have any ideas, tips, tricks, or you just want to bitch about something, feel free to call our hotline, because why not? It's 859 412 1572. That's also down in the show notes. And, um, we will see you again next Wednesday when a new episode drops. We'll see you soon.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Thanks guys.
stuart_1_09-19-2024_090714:Thank you.
nancy-elam_1_09-19-2024_090714:Bye.
