INTRODUCTION

Lesley Logan
Hey you, thank you for being here. Welcome to the Be It Till You See It Podcast. I’m Lesley Logan, and I am so grateful that you’re here, right now. You could be listening to a lot of things, and you’re choosing to listen to this and that means so much to me. And also, our guest today is a dear friend of mine. And I’m grateful for her. At the time of us recording this, I think we barely knew each other six months, so but I do see her as a wonderful human in my life and in Brad’s life and, and part of this Vegas experience that we’re having that I just loving so much. And so we’ve talked about her on the pod before. But now you get to hear it from her words, you get to hear her life and how she got to where she is. And I really do love her story because I think we think life is, even though we know, life isn’t linear, for some reason, I think we think things are supposed to happen in a linear fashion. And we get stuck in the story. And so she is proof that it is not. And also why that is probably so great because what she’s created is because of her experiences, and because of what she’s listened to and heard and, and challenged herself with. And it’s just beautiful. It’s friggin’ awesome. So anyways, um, look, I, the way the podcasts get out is because of you. I can keep talking to this microphone, but it’s because you tell your friends and because you press play on this. And I know that there’s a lot you could be doing with your time. And I’m so grateful that you give us some of that and you allow me to bring these amazing guests in. And so one way that you can show your love for the pod is just by screenshotting the episode that spoke to you, tagging the speaker and the @be_it_pod. Because you never know like, we could be walking down the day going, “Oh my God, no one is listening.” Right? Like one of the guests could be like, “No one, no one is hearing my amazingness.” And then and they get a del…DM that somebody, somewhere, heard something they said and it inspired them. And that is a gift I want to give to every one of my guests because I know how important it is to just know that what you said some, at some point in your life like really matter to someone. So for those of you who’ve done that, thank you so much, for those of you who are new and and getting ready to listen to your first episode of ours. Hi, thank you for being here. Megan Linney is our guest and I am really excited for you to hear so much that she has to share and so do us a favor tag – The Layer Lounge, tag the @be_it_pod. And and let us know how you’re going to use her tips and advice in your life. What resonated with you? So without further ado, except for the little ado, of the ad. (Lesley laughs) Here’s Megan Linney.

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Lesley Logan
Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I’m Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and business fitness coach. I’ve trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it’s the antidote to fear. Each week, my guests will bring Bold, Executable, Intrinsic and Targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It’s a practice, not a perfect. Let’s get started.

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EPISODE

Lesley Logan 3:21
All right, Be It listener. Hi, I’m so excited. Okay, I’m really so excited because I have wanted to have this one on for a while. In fact, I she doesn’t know this, but she came up in conversation last night, because our mutual friend, Mike, who you introduced me to said, “How did you meet John and Lisa?” And I said, “Oh, I met John and Lisa because I was like I need friends and I own a store and I’m gonna make friends.” But then they introduced me to you and I was like, “This is a woman I’m gonna make a friend of mine because she knows everyone.” And you’re gonna find out in just a second. She really does have intentional relationships and, and is really big on community. Megan Linney’s here of The Layer Lounge, she is “oooh.” I just, I’m so grateful that you’re here. You are such a shining light. And you have so much love and intention of the things that you do. So welcome to the Be It pod.

Megan Linney 4:09
Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. I’m honored. I mean, I’ve listened to your podcast, and there’s some really exceptional people on here. So the fact that I got an invite, I mean, I’m humbled. So, thank you. I’m excited.

Lesley Logan 4:19
Yeah. So, okay. Um, you I mean, the, what I know you from is that you are how I met you is like, you said, “Oh, I have a facial salon.” And I was like, “Oh my God, stop, please.” (Lesley and Megan laughs) I used to get a (Megan: Yeah) facial before the pandemic every month. Please tell me where you’re located. But um, can you tell people a little bit how did you get to owning a facial salon in Las Vegas? I mean, it’s celebrating. It’s, it’s a little over a year and a half at this point that we’re talking so maybe I’ll close to two years when this comes out. But how did that start?

Megan Linney 4:51
Yeah, I mean, literally be cele… celebrated 18 months last week. So um, well, I mean, there’s a long story here so I’ll try to condense it. I have been in the wellness and beauty industry for 25 years and half my life. So it’s been really my only profession and my lifelong passion. So to get to where I am today was a series and the layers of evolution, obviously. But I think what and I think some people listening might relate to this. My last gig, I was like, “You know, I think it’s time, I think this will be my last time working for someone else. I think I just had had a lot of passion, a lot of experience.” And I thought, “You know, I think it’s time to go back out on my own.” Now, this isn’t my first time having my own business, but I had been a long time. And as a practitioner, you know, I started in massage, then went on to esthetics, and then yoga, and then eventually training and leadership and then was an exec for a number of years. So, I was developing concepts and sharing them with ownership and launching their brands or rehabbing, remodeling, rebranding big organizations. And, I was the COO for a firm that had eight by the time I left, eight locations across the country. So, I’m everywhere from San Francisco, LA, San Diego, all the way over to New Orleans, Chicago, Philly, Boston, like so I had been traveling, I mean, a lot. And so on my last last gig, I was the biz development for a new Chinese, traditional Chinese medicine, urban retreat. And the short story is, it was my personal purgatory. And I thought, this is the last time I’m going to do this because there’s something cool about being experienced and a veteran. But also with that comes like all the teaching of the new, you know, new people (Lesley: Yeah) coming up. And some people are open and collaborative, and some are not. (Lesley: Yeah) My last one was not. So I thought, “You know what this is, this is the last time. I’ll do this, it’s time for me to launch my own concept and my own brand.” And I’ve always kind of seen myself as a surrogate. So like, you give me your egg, you give me your sperm, I hold it (Lesley laughs) in my belly, I’ll just state it for you. I’ll give birth to it. And then, “Here’s your lovely little baby, like you go raise it.” And that’s really as a. As a consultant and as an exec like with so many openings I’ve done in the past. That was really been my role. But I thought, “You know, maybe I want my own baby.” (Lesley laughs) I really wish I, somedays, my timing was so off. But I feel really excited to have launched “The Layer Lounge.” So long story short, I came up with the concept while I was working on my last gig, and I was like, “You know what,” and I’ll get to the concept in a minute. But I was like, “You know what, I want to go somewhere where community exists for me someplace, I feel like I can make an impact, I can share my passion, I can make connections.” And I had had such a good experience in downtown Las Vegas before not the first time I came here, but the second time, and then I thought when it was time for me to bring my own thing. I was definitely bringing it to downtown Las Vegas in the Arts District specifically, because it reminded me of that common San Francisco in the 90s, where everything was burgeoning. And it was exciting, and new things were coming up. And I thought for sure I wanted to be part of that. So it was a no brainer for me to bring it here. (Lesley: Yeah, that’s so…) That’s how I ended up.

Lesley Logan 8:05
That’s such a cool, thank you for sharing that because I having what’s my first time living in Las Vegas. And you know, we are really loving it. But the downtown area is what we brought us here. It’s like this like hip, cool, like, “Oh, what is this newness,” but even though everything’s an old buildings, and it’s just really cool. But I have to, I want to go back because I think a lot of people listening to this have probably felt the feeling like, “I don’t want to work for someone anymore.” Or … how do you get … Because you’ve worked for yourself be… you did your own thing before was that what gave you that empowerment and confidence, you could do it again? Or what, how did you like talk yourself into it? (Lesley laughs)

Megan Linney 8:43
Alright, so you can appreciate this being an entrepreneur and launching your own thing you get it. There is the thing about women and the resilience physically. So we have the ability to forget pain, you know this? (Lesley laughs) (Lesley: Yeah) No, it’s really, that’s why women have six kids. So they forget how difficult was the first, second, third time. Um, I think that applies to entrepreneurs. It’s not gender specific. I think entrepreneurs have that same sort of thing and their DNA. (Lesley and Megan laughs) Because … back then, back in like the early 90s, when I did it, I had a small wellness practice and I launched corporate stress reduction programs. So chair massage, breathwork, workshops, I brought all of that to big companies in San Francisco. Like PC Magazine was one of my clients, lots of architects, lots of software incubator, Sony incubators and stuff like that where my (Lesley: Yeah) clients and I loved it and it was great. And then the .com bust happened. And then I had to go start working for someone else and like scrap together like a new model. And then eventually I ended up working for a spa and then gotten into training and went back to school for my esthetics license. (Lesley: Cool) I mean bear in mind when I went to college, I never thought I’d be doing this so like it’s (Lesley laughs) just all been an evolution. (Lesley: Yeah) So, I’m the least likely person, if you knew my whole story, you’d be like, “How in the heck did she get to do this? This is like so outside the wheelhouse.” But I think for me it was a combination of forgetting, (Lesley: Yeah) how hard it is. (Lesley laughs) Because when I own my own business before, I literally was like, “This hustle. I am constantly working. And when I went to work for someone else,” and then eventually grew my career, I was like, “Oh, wow, I get a really great paycheck.” And I’m working really hard but I don’t have to, I mean, I have to worry about all of it. But there’s other people to help me.

Lesley Logan 10:19
Yeah. And you also like, you’re allowed to have (Legan: Yeah) your day off. Like, they respect the day off. I mean, maybe or not. (Megan: Sometimes. Most of …) I don’t know. (Lesley laughs)

Lesley Logan 10:26
… my positions not, not so much. But it was at least you’re getting paid regardless if you’re working (Lesley: Right) getting paid. (Lesley: Yeah) Entrepreneur thing is like you’re working all the time. (Lesley: All the time) I didn’t get paid for like a year. (Lesley: Yeah) Starting the Layer Lounge, in that paycheck was very, very tiny. I laughed at how excited I was when I got when I started paying myself because it was like literally a fraction of what I’ve come accustomed to earning. (Lesley: Yeah) (Lesley laughs) So, I was like, (Megan laughs) “I learned so much.” But anyway, so the thing is, I did forget, um, and also I thought, you know, here’s what I really thought, I really knew I could, I knew that I had earning potential. And I knew it would take time, because I’d already experienced that before. But because I did do it before, I knew the process a little bit, and I had faith. And then also, I knew better how the hustle, how to make the hustle work. The first time around, I was like, “Oh gosh, who knows?” Then going through 20 years of working, you know, across the country and traveling around the globe. I was like, “Alright, I have a little better understanding, still learning, always. But like I had a better understanding of how this was going to go a little quicker.” Or so I thought – my timing was a little off.

Lesley Logan 11:31
Well, we get into that … what I … Here’s what I love that you just said. Because I think we all want the first thing to happen. We want like, and want success on the first go. (Megan: Yeah) But if you do you don’t know it actually worked. You don’t need lightning in a bottle like just luck, random thing, but having had the first time not be you know, the most brilliant, amazing experience kind of let you know, what did you like? What didn’t you like and like, you know, a little bit more of what you kinda, you need to make it go. So, okay. Um, you open The Layer Lounge, as you mentioned 18 months ago. So for everyone who is listening to this when it actually airs, the date of that … (Lesley laughs)

Megan Linney 12:11
Damn history, children sit, um pull up a chair, gather around, let me tell you …

Lesley Logan 12:16
Yeah, I know, when I, when my first facial with you. I said, “Oh, you know, when did you decide to open?” And you said, “Oh, I signed the lease on February 2020.” And my response was, “Oh, oh …”

Megan Linney 12:27
It’s every… it’s like a conversation stopper. I signed my lease on February 20, 2020. And three weeks later on March 15, the world completely (Lesley: Yeah) stopped.

Lesley Logan 12:37
Yeah. And then you, you know, even though you’re still building out your salon, when you actually got to open your doors. It was during a time and still is sort of interesting time where they’re told, we’re told not to touch our faces. Don’t let anyone breathe on you. (Lesley laughs) And you’re doing facial.

Megan Linney 12:55
Here’s the thing. Yeah, here’s the thing. The mantra was, “Wear a mask. Don’t touch your face and stay away from people.” I’m like, “Hi, come close. Take your mask off. I’m going to be 18 inches away from you though I masked …” and, you know, (Lesley: Yeah) then later vaccinated. But like, though I’m masked. I mean, it was like 107 degrees the day I opened. It was crickets in downtown, no foot traffic whatsoever. Everyone was still fairly quarantined, (Lesley: Yeah) to be honest. And like, here’s a new bris… business. They don’t know me from Adam. (Lesley: Yeah) Right? So like they, haven’t that trust isn’t there yet. And here I am saying, “Hi facial boutique, come in.” You know, there are a few random things that worked in our favor. But but very few to be honest, it was real. It was, it was a nerve wracking time to say the least.

Lesley Logan 13:42
Yeah, I think what I’ve told a lot of business owner, I worked with I’m like, “If you were new business during this time, one thing you learned was like things you’ll learn in 15 years of trials in a business. Like you got the (Megan: Yeah) condensed version here is your cliff note and go.” (Lesley laughs) Um, I mean, I’m (Megan: Yeah) so grateful. But one thing that I find that you do so uniquely different than most businesses, even small businesses that I’ve seen, all over the world, is you have such a value based on community. And has that always been something that you did in every business that you worked at? Or was that something that you brought with you and decide to do any move to Vegas?

Megan Linney 14:21
You know, first of all, thank you for saying that and, and acknowledging that that’s, that’s just inherently who I am. So, I take great, I don’t know, I’m very flattered and great pride actually in that fact. And that it’s recognized. I think, for me, it’s always been there and probably because I’m in a family of eight kids, like we’re mixed blend. I think for me truly and anyone who actually like and you you know this because we’ve spent time socially like for me, the mantra, “the more the merrier” is like really it might as well be tattooed on my (Lesley laughs) it’s just how I roll like, “Oh yeah, you yeah, yeah.” I mean like I you know, I may not even know you well or even eventually end up liking you like but I want you to come and hang and like, connect with people. Because like, I think, you know, for me, I learned so much about other people. And I learned so much about myself. So it’s so important for me in terms of business, I have always been col… even when I worked in resort spas, as a spa director, we’re talking about, you know, 1000s of people in the building. And spa, is it spa, fitness and beauty are typically the amenity of the property. So we’re not really always see even though like I’ve run 5 million annual, you know, (Lesley: Yeah) businesses with 150 employees underneath me in my location. I mean, all well educated, well experienced all of those things. We’re still seeing sort of as like, “Mm-hmm, (Lesley: Yeah) Yeah. It’s cute.”

Lesley Logan 15:37
Well, I mean, to your point, when I worked for this one high end fitness company, (Megan: Yeah) the spa was like, in one place was another set of stairs up, like you’re not even gonna stumble on this place. It’s on the fourth floor. So like the group that is on the third floor, you’d have to like, “Keep going.” (Lesley laughs) You know, so

Megan Linney 15:55
… go and go up. (Lesley: Yeah, yeah.) Yeah, I mean, for us, I’m, I mean, fortunately, I think I’ve gotten, yes, we I worked at some incredibly, very beautiful spas. But you have to work with other departments and that’s where I’m going about community. So even in those environments that you don’t think of like as community oriented, you think of them very departmental. I’ve always forged relationships with everyone, whether it was like the bell desk, or the concierge, which is obvious, right, because they, their first facing with guests, but catering and banquets. And like engineers, I’m really just always, always saw everybody as like part of you know my team, whether they’re above, below or beside me. So in terms of hierarchy, but I always think that someone has something to offer, you know, whether it’s like an energy or like love your engineers, if you work at a resort, you better be friends with those engineers and housekeeping too, because things will go wrong, and you’re going to need their help, and you need to take care of them, they’ll take care of you, I really do just see it as this giant team. (Lesley: Yeah) And I think it’s because I grew up with just a lot of people, like we just had the arm wrestle for food at the table, sometimes you know what I mean (Lesley: Yeah) like not to get into foods scarcity, and how I came to be who I am. But I mean, I’m used to that. So for me, I feel like a collaborative mindset is just kind of how I have always been, and I don’t see it any differently than my neighbors, or teams at big resorts, like I kind of always see it the same. If I’m, we’re all stronger and better together. (Lesley: Yeah) So if someone knows, I can’t do everything. So if some I know someone who can do something for someone, I want to be able to have a personal relationship with them. So my new friend that I’m introducing them to, I feel really confident, I’m not just throwing names out, I’m actually tied and connected to that referral. And referrals are everything in our industry and you know that. So

Lesley Logan 17:34
They’re … in, in so many businesses, like even if you’re an online business, which I am now mostly. Most of the clients come through, not randomly, like maybe I get the random Instagram person, but truly it’s because someone said, “Go follow this person, go see their stuff.” It’s a referral, even if it comes that way. So when you move back to Vegas for the third time, and you are bringing being part of like bringing community and events together, I think a lot of people listening might be like, “I’ve always wanted to do that. But like how do like what if people say no? Like, what how, what if you don’t know anyone? How do you create community?” So like, did people say “no,” where it was hard when you first moved here? Or because you’d worked here before you had some people to draw on? Like, what are some tips for people who are like, “I really want to do that. But I don’t know how.”

Megan Linney 18:19
Yeah. I mean, I think when I first came here, I didn’t know anyone. When I first came to Las Vegas to work at a resort for a big rebrand and remodels, massive project. I didn’t know anyone. And that was actually the draw for me personally, I was going through some stuff. So I didn’t know anyone. And by the time I left, I’d made some friends. So the second time I came around, I’d had like just a couple, not anyone significant really just, well, a couple really important friends, but not many. And then I kind of built from there. And then the third time I came back I had a hub of friends. And I always knew I wanted to do something around community. I’ve always done stuff around community. So I’m the person who throws a party, whether it’s a salsa dancing party, or rollerskating, biking party or like whatever, like I’m the person who’s always throwing those parties because I wanted to create something like a soiree of like minded people (Lesley: Yeah) and a sense of community. And that was always important to me. And so a lot of times I would invite random people, I might be at a bar and some woman’s hitting on me. And I’m like, “Yeah, you’re not for me, but let’s come to my party,” because I’m sure someone there will be for you. You know, it’s not for me, but like (Lesley: Yeah) it’s gonna be someone. So I think I never really people say no, that’s totally fine in terms of business. I mean, personally, people don’t say “no” as often, (Lesley laughs) because it’s fun. And like, there’s no real risk. (Lesley: Yeah) But business wise, yeah, I mean, no, no, comes with the territory, right? I mean, (Lesley: Yeah) people say, “No, it’s not for me. No, I want this.” You offer that like, yeah, there’s a lot, especially coming from my industry and then opening like a real, a real industry disruptor kind of a business. Yes, I’m in my industry, but it’s very different. And so a lot of people who knew me before were like, “This is so different.” Some of them are like, “This is really great.” And some of them… “No, thank you.” So I mean, it’s definitely been a journey, I think saying “no” is part of the process. It, knowing that you’re not going to be for everyone and not getting tripped up on that. That’s so important. Like, knowing you’ll find your people, have faith and confidence in what you do and what you bring, and find the people. But like, if you want to find 100 friends, you’re gonna have to meet 500. Like, (Lesley: Right) if you want, you know, 1000 we always say 60/40 thing, right? So 60, 40 60% of our clients are new clients. 40% of our clients are returning clients, because we know that people will evolve their lives, their schedules, their financial, you know, situation, their preferences, things will change. So you constantly have to be like, bringing new people into your world. (Lesley: Yeah) And so for me, that’s just part of like, I’ve just always known that. So hearing no, now and again, and I have I’ve had people like, “Hey, do you want to collaborate?” They’re like, “No.” You’re like, “Hey, do you want to like, let’s have lunch.” My neighbors, they’re like, “Yeah, too busy. I have friends. I got enough friends.” I’m like, “Okay.” You know, so it happens, but I don’t think that you can. You have to be realistic when you set out to do anything, whether it’s build community or build the business or, you know, go on a diet or (Lesley: Yeah) go into fitness program, you just have to be realistic.

Lesley Logan 18:22
Yeah, I think that’s so true. I love what you said, though, that’s like, you, if you want 100 friends, you have to be 500. If you want, like, I think we get stuck on the the first “no,” or the first thing is, it’s like, it’s just part of it’s in anything, whether it’s business, or life or relationships, like your first boyfriend or girlfriend is not going to be the man. (Megan: Oh yeah) I mean, maybe I don’t know. But I even think my grandparents who got together at 16, that wasn’t their first. (Lesley laughs) (Megan: Lets, let’s hope) Yeah, so okay, um, you mentioned, creating an an industry disruptor, which I love when I saw that in your space, I was like, “Well, this is I’m gonna love this place already.” I really do believe like, I think a lot of people are getting hung up on their business being or their idea being already done, or it’s, you know, it’s all out there. And really, there, it’s all it’s all out there. Like, there’s not (Megan: Yeah) a lot of new things happening unless you create like a (Megan: Yeah) new technology. Right? (Megan: Right) And even then, it looks like something else. So it’s pretty similar. (Megan: Yeah) But I believe in like really showing off and being proud of your uniqueness and what your uniqueness is, is definitely disruptor. Can you tell people or like, what, what made you want to do it the way you did it? Because you’ve had experience in all the fancy spas? And you’re like, “No, I’m gonna do it differently.”

Megan Linney 22:21
Yeah, well, something about me as I’m kind of an all or nothing person. I think that’s a lot of entrepreneurs are like that. Solopreneurs, particularly, because we’re like … Oh, I think you know, I will answer your question but can I backtrack just a moment? (Lesley: Yeah) Because I think, I think entrepreneurs have also, in addition to forgetting the pain, I think we also have this superpower of we’re, we’re spurned by a few things. One is passion, always. Right? But then also a little bit of a chip on the shoulder, if someone says, “we can’t do it,” it’s almost like, “aha, watch me.” Like, there’s a little bit of that and sometimes, you know, you just were spurned on by like money. Right? You know, financial security, I think that’s a lot of it to eventually, but I don’t know a lot of entrepreneurs that are basically like, “I’m going to get rich quick,” you know, and they launch out and they put their house… to mortgage their house and all their source… resources and their savings and their friends and 10 grand from their friends here and there. Like, I don’t know, anyone who really goes into it like that. (Lesley: Yeah) And that are successful, to be honest, long term. (Lesley: Yeah) I think most of us have a passion. And we also have a little bit of like, “watch me,” you know, and I think for me, after 24 years, 23 years in the industry of doing it, the the standard way. And I always had a little bit of like, embellishment, but nothing too off the charts, because it’s it’s a model. Chandelier, you know, are a prerequisite and beautiful lighting fixtures and polished floors and all of those are part of my world. But I had been hearing for all those years, both as a practitioner and as a leader, complaints from clients. And so I finally just always had took note, you don’t really when you hear it so much, you don’t really have to make note of it, it just is (Lesley: Yeah) ingrained in you. So I’d heard three common complaints from our clients over the years, over the decades. And I thought when I sat down and said, “Okay, we want to do something different.” I reach, I wanted to create a social club, a wellness social club, that was originally what I wanted to do … that’s been done. And I was like, “Okay, we could do a little bit differently with fitness and nutrition.” And people are doing that but it’s a little bit more geared towards the elite, (Lesley: Yeah) especially being from San Francisco, there’s so many social clubs, they have a wellness component, but it’s really about networking, and like the billionaires connecting all the time. (Lesley: Yeah) I knew I did. That’s no harm to that. That’s just not my jam. So I was like, “Okay, I don’t want that. I wanted to do something more,” you know, working professionals who have like an interest and I wanted to find my fellow seekers. So I thought I need to set out for business and develop it that I could find fellow seekers, people who are interested, who are into self discovery that are going to be excited by the things I want to bring. (Lesley: Yeah) So then I kind of went back to the drawing board. And I thought, “You know what, I want to take all these notes that I’ve had over the years, and stay in my industry because I love my industry.” And I thought, “You know what, I want to do what Drybar did for the face.” But for me for the hair, but for the face. (Lesley: Yeah) I want to create democratize self care, I want to create a gender neutral space, I want to create abbreviated, affordable results oriented skincare, and start there and see where we can go, because the three most common complaints in my industry are one, three hours, (Lesley: Yeah) and your dollars, right? Lots of money and lots of time, because if you’re going to spend $300, after tip and maybe a cleanser at your local spa for a facial or massage. You want to take advantage of the amenities, which means you’re not bouncing into that 75 or 90 minutes, you’re actually there for hours. (Lesley: Yeah) So that’s kind of lifestyle prohibitive for most people who are busy and can afford it. It’s just not something that they can spend time on. (Lesley: Yeah) So either you can’t afford it or you don’t have time.

Lesley Logan 25:57
Yeah. And then in so then you you’re like, “Oh, you go every six months.” And then you’re like, “I wish I could do this more.” But then like it just it’s not possible because time …

Megan Linney 26:05
It’s a circle thing. Yeah. So it’s either time or money. And then the other one is going into a dark room with a stranger getting naked. Fancy that, can you imagine that’s actually a thing, like people get really like, you know, like nervous about that. And I don’t want to gender it. But typically more male clients get more nervous about that than females, but we have a lot of trauma. And like even that can be triggering for people. So across the board, that’s just an issue. And then lastly, just the novice factor, like, “I don’t know what to expect. I get to this fancy spa that someone gifted me for Mother’s Day. I get there and all of a sudden, we’re having imposter syndrome, or have all these hang ups about it.” And like that doesn’t really lend to like an openness to be able to enjoy the experience. (Lesley: Yeah) So I thought, okay, those three things, let’s see if we can tackle them. So open an open, you know open concept floor plan, salon environment where you don’t have get naked in a dark room with us. I mean, you were strangers at first, (Lesley: Yeah) (Lesley laughs) you don’t have to get naked and it’s not solo, and then let’s create an abbreviated service you can get in, get out and make it affordable. So we can be part of your regular lifestyle and your self care and be more of a partner more of a coach than be this elite chandeliered. You know, I mean, I like my space, but it’s not that vibe. And I come from that vibe, I wanted to create something that was approachable, and that all my brothers could come and hang out and they’d be into it. (Lesley: Yeah) So for me, and then still me who’s like, you know, where I’m wearing a hot pink shirt, but I’m like, as as high fem as you can get most days. So like, I wanted everyone to feel comfortable here. But I wanted to deliver results. Above all else, I wanted to make sure we delivered results. So I thought, “Okay, this is a big pile.” (Lesley: Yeah) (Lesley laughs) “So let me try to figure this out.” And so I thought, “Well, if Drybar can do that for hair, I can figure out a way to do that for face.” So I knew I had to come to a burgeoning, growing, developing community. And I knew what I wanted to do. And then I just went to like, on my tablet was just went to town started coming up with ideas, starting putting together all the best practices, that things I knew worked, the things that and figuring out timing, conven… you know, components and pricing, and just trying to figure out a way I could deliver this to the market and see if they were into it.

Lesley Logan 28:06
Yeah. I, there’s a couple things, I definitely wanna get into there about self care, because I think people see facials and spas as rewards. And what I love about your, (Megan: Yeah) in your space is that it is part of a self care routine that I can regularly (Megan: Yeah) have. But I did laugh a little when you said about like the chip on your sho… like, “I can’t do it. I’m gonna do it anyways, because I have to show this.” Right? You might not know this about me. But when we created onlinepilatesclasses.com, it was Brad’s pushing me to do it. He’s like, “You’re traveling too much. You teach five classes a week, these people need a (Megan: Yeah) place to go.” And I said, “Well, there’s all these other platforms, they can go go to.” I mean, I’m on them. Like, they could just go there, right? And he’s like, “But they’re not. They’re haven’t yet.” So like we need to fit and I’m like, “Right. So then why why would they come to mine?” Like, so I (Megan: Right) like stuck in my head on this. And I asked people like, “Hey, hey, how do you like those platforms? Like, are you using it? Oh, I don’t use it. Why don’t you use it?” So I was like getting all the customer complaints. And I was hearing the same ones over and over again. And I was like, “Okay, well, that’s interesting.” Because one of the things I’m big on, I think why we get along well is that I love that people came to my class as part of the community. And then if someone hadn’t been there, they’re like, “Hey, where have you been?” Like, (Megan: Yeah) you know, or they go, “Are you … I going to see on Wednesday morning?” Like they just knew each other. Right? There was a shared experience that they had as like, “How do I do that with an online class?” Because (Megan: Yeah) that I don’t want it to be this thing that everyone’s taking class. 1… 17 22, right, like and saying that, “I like that one. I just wanted it to be similar to being in-person.” (Megan: Yeah. I know) The other thing is, I talked to my friend who had a platform, and I let her know I was doing because I just wanted her to I said, “I want you to hear it through the grapevine. I just want you to know what I’m doing. I have no intention of like, hurting you in any way.” Like, but I think it’s important to be honest. And she said she I told her what I was doing, and she goes, “So you’re going to take the class away from them?” And I said, “Yes like, but they paid for that.” And I said, “Well, they pay for that week of the class.” And she goes, “Oh, I just don’t think you can take that away from people.” And I was like, “I’m doing it.” (Lesley laughs) … I just, I was like, “Well I’m gonna do it.” And I have been doing it. We are celebrating for… three and a half years now. So we’re going on our fourth but like I and it is what makes people stay with us because of the accountability and everyone’s taking the same class. So I do, I think that it’s maybe that’s the one time a chip on your shoulder is a very good thing. (Lesley laughs)

Megan Linney 30:27
I mean, I can think of a couple times, but I mean, generally speaking, we think of it as a negative thing. But I think whatever motivates you. Right? (Lesley: Yeah) Like, sometimes competition is a motivation. Sometimes proving someone wrong is a motivation. Sometimes getting the validation acknowledgement is a motivation. Sometimes it’s financial, like, whatever your “why” is. And I think I’m so big on people knowing their why. And so when I have interesting conversations, I think that knowing your “why” is super-duper important, because I think you’re gonna get lost in the shuffle, you know, that, like your friends gonna be like, “Oh, you can’t do this.” And you’re like, “Okay, well watch me.” And then but if it came back to your “why” of, like, “Why were you doing it?” because it really fit them. I mean, you had a following, and you (Lesley: Yeah) weren’t able to really serve them 100% as Brad pointed out. So trying to figure out ways that you could do that, and also do something differently and see and really stretch, like, I love working out, because I like to just see how far my body can go.(Lesley: Yeah) And that for me really is the, the physical thing is awesome, you know, develop a muscle or lose a pound or whatever. But that’s how I do it. I do everything really to just see if I can do it. And I think that’s, you know, there I have a few ways, but that’s one of them. And I feel like the chip on your shoulder is really just a, “a salty why,” you know. (Lesley laughs) Salty why. (Lesley: I like that. I like that) It’s fair.

Lesley Logan 31:38
Yeah, it’s totally fair. Okay, so self care. Um, it is obviously like very much the business that you’re in. As part of like anyone trying to be it till they see it, having confidence in themselves doing things like, where do you think self care falls into that?

Megan Linney 31:55
I have a thing, “Self care is the cure,” because I truly believe it. Like I absolutely believe it. And there’s so much being spoken about it and messaging of it that I don’t really, it’s already been done way better than I can do it. But at the end of the day, if you’re not feeling great, if you’re not feeling good about yourself, you’re not energized, you’re not gonna do anything great for anyone else. And that’s, I mean, look, we all get stretched thin and sometimes you just have to, sometimes we hone it in, that’s human, but I think generally speaking, I think if you don’t care, take care of yourself, then you don’t make yourself a priority. Nothing great, truly great and sustainable is going to come out of that. (Lesley: Oh) It’s just the loss.

Lesley Logan 32:35
Oh, that is, that is like the most quotable moment. That is beautiful. Thank you. I love that. (Lesley laughs) I love that so much. (Megan: You’re welcome) Nothing to add that it’s so great. Okay, um, so where can people find you? Do, we do hang out on social media? And if they are in Vegas, where can they come to have facial with you?

Megan Linney 32:52
Oh, I’m so glad you asked. We are really active on Instagram. At the moment, that’s really our main platform. You can DM us on there if you have specific questions, our linked to book our services are on there. Any wellness events that we host which are frequent, are posted on there. It’s really like the one stop shopping, figuring out who we are. You can also check out our website because we have a shop there as well and more details at thelayerlounge.com. And then we are in as we mentioned earlier, the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas and we are at 1104 South Third Street at the corner of Charleston. (Lesley: Yeah) That’s where you can find us.

Lesley Logan 33:28
Oh my gosh. So you’ll all are gonna go follow The Layer Lounge and then check out their amazing swing which inspired my swing set. So … (Lesley laughs) (Megan: I love that.) Yeah, I go out of my swing set, most mornings even though it’s cold with my slippers on and my coffee and I’m like, “Okay…” Because we, it’s now the bitter cold part of Vegas. And it’s like, “Alright, the sun’s not out in the backyard, yet. I’ll come back.” This looks cool but it’s not. (Lesley laughs) (Megan: It’s cool. It’s cool.) Yeah, it is. Okay, so we ask everybody bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted advice, targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us?

Megan Linney 34:06
… Stay curious, I think that’s my number one in personal relationships and in business, “stay curious.” You don’t have to be the expert, you can be an expert but don’t have to be expert on everything. Be curious.

Lesley Logan 34:18
I think that’s, I think that’s such a good one. I mean, if you’re curious on lots of things, you’ll never get stuck. You’ll, you know, it takes my curiosity has brought me to a lot of places. (Lesley laughs) Including …

Megan Linney 34:29
Some of them are weird like, I went in weird places. I’m like, “Oh that’s weird. Let me go, let’s, I’m curious about that. Let me go check it out.” And I’m like, “Wow, wow, this wow.” I ended up here staying curious but I’m always like delighted and enlightened.

Lesley Logan 34:41
Oh, that’s a great one. Thank you for that amazing tip and I think it’s it’s one that maybe you know, people discount because there’s that whole curiosity killed the cat sort of thing that goes out there and …

Megan Linney 34:54
Satisfaction brought it back.

Lesley Logan 34:56
(Lesley laughs) I have not heard that.

Megan Linney 35:01
That’s a chip on the… chip on the shoulder moment. Right? It’s yeah, that’s the saying a nursery rhyme. Curiosity killed the sat … Excuse me, curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction brought it back. Nine lives.

Lesley Logan 35:14
Oh, that is amazing. Okay, thank you. I learned so much today. I learn so much all the time. You are wonderful. (Megan laughs) Thank you for being (Megan: Likewise) just for being such a light in this community. But also, you may have not heard every episode that Brad and I talked about you but like, (Megan: Thank you) people have asked us how like, we make friends and everything. We’re like, really intentional. And we, we like went out and we made friends. And we were like, “Let’s make the friends with the people who are everyone’s friends with.” (Lesley laughs) Cuz that’s how you’re gonna meet people. And …

Megan Linney 35:43
It just simple vetting process to if you’re like, “They can’t be that big of a jerk. It’s like that person seems cool.” And they like them. You know what I mean? Like, it’s sort of like, you know, (Lesley: Yeah) with the less risk.

Lesley Logan 35:52
Yeah, so, anyways, we are eternally grateful. And I can’t wait to see what the next year has in store for all of us, everyone. Until next time, Be It Till You See It. (Megan: Bye!)

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Lesley Logan
That’s all I’ve got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It podcast! One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate this show and leave a review. And, follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the @be_it_pod on Instagram! I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us help others to BE IT TILL YOU SEE IT. Have an awesome day!

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Lesley Logan
‘Be It Till You See It’ is a production of ‘As The Crows Fly Media’.

Brad Crowell
It’s written, produced, filmed and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan
Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

Brad Crowell
Our theme music is by Ali at APEX Production Music. And our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.

Lesley Logan
Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can’t see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell
And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.