In this episode of the BeaBossCoaching 9 to Grind podcast series, I chat with Luz Hernandez, a girl coach and substitute teacher who shares her journey of balancing a full-time job and running her business, Y.E.S Girl Life. Luz reveals her strategies for time management, the importance of intentional scheduling, and her passion for empowering young girls through workshops focused on mindset and emotional well-being. She also dives into her daily routines, challenges she faced, and how she harmonizes her professional and entrepreneurial life. If you're also juggling multiple roles, don't miss this episode.

Follow Luz at @y.e.s.girlife and visit her website at blissfulmindscoaching.com

And don't forget to visit us at beabosscoaching.com to see our offers, read our blog and listen to more podcast episodes.

Beatriz: Welcome to the Be A Boss Coaching mini podcast series 9 to Grind. In this podcast series, I will be talking with women of color, BIPOC, and queer entrepreneurs who are both juggling a 9 to 5 and running a business at the same time. In this series, I aim to shine a light on the many different ways that people balance their corporate careers with their entrepreneurial aspirations.

Each episode will delve into their challenges, successes, and most importantly, what they do from the time they get up in the morning until they go to bed at night. I know firsthand how tough this balance act can be since I left my job a little too soon and I learned lessons along the way. I hope that with this series you can get as much insight and strategies.

That will help you in your personal entrepreneurial journey and corporate career. Thanks for tuning in. And I can't wait for you to hear from these incredible entrepreneurs who have shared their time and their wisdom. I hope you enjoy.

Luz: Yes, me too. It's, it's a pleasure. So we met on Instagram and now just to be here in your podcast. I feel really special. Thanks.

Beatriz: Absolutely. Thank you so much for coming on. I'm so glad that we had a chance to connect and, I know that we are also both part of Wendy's Group coaching, which is the inspired action I'm sad that we don't have the same pod I'm on wednesdays. When are you what are your pod times?

Luz: Which is getting smaller. So it is on Tuesday.

Luz: Yeah, of course. So my name is Luz Fernandez. I am a girl coach. I have two amazing girls. One is 17. The other one is 14. I'm a very outgoing person. and adventurous. I love to travel. I love to get to know the cultures, their food, their traditions, as well as just, explore. I think that's what life is all about.

I also do Girls Empowerment Workshops. That's where the Girl Coach comes into place. my business is called Yes Girl Life. It stands for Young Empower Sisters. That is, those are the acronyms. yeah, that's me.

Luz: the pandemic. I had left my former job and then I was in the middle of a transition trying to become a substitute teacher, but I had no job. I had no responsibilities, everything shut down. So then I started looking on social media and I came across this program called Girl Life.

Which it was an investment of it gives you empowerment workshops. And I was like thinking, Oh my God, that'd be so cool for me to do it with my girls. empower my own girls with mindset and then do it with their friends. So I jumped in the opportunity and I started doing these workshops virtually. In pandemic, everything was shut down.

So, my workshops talk about social emotional topics, but we go through those topics through mindful activities So we practice gratitude. We practice breath work, meditation, and I make it fun and interactive for the girls because my workshops are geared towards girls that are 7 to 15 years old and my younger ones, they love a lot of hands on a lot of activities where they get to explore. Whereas my older group they're more into the coaching, more into talking about their feelings, learning where they come from.

So it's like an ongoing process, continue building that mindset muscle, you know, not just when they're in the workshops. Then we move on with the nutrition portion. The girls get to create, like, this healthy snack with fruits and vegetables, and it's fun for them. I recall one time we prepared a green monster smoothie, which has spinach and fruits, and the girl, after the workshop, she had her mom purchase the ingredients and do it with her grandma.

Right. You're just not going to have enough energy, but when you nourish your body with these foods that are that bring nutrients that bring a lot of goodness into your life, then your mind is going to be more clear. You're going to be able to think you're going to be able to have more energy throughout the day. So. This is something about how my workshops work with the mind and body connection and how it's not just about the mindset tools, but also for the girls to tap into their creativity into that spark that when we're kids, we're so curious. We get [00:07:00] into things. We love coloring. We love doing arts and crafts.

We love using our hands, our senses. So that is the part that I want to continue nourishing for the girls so they can continue expressing themselves in different ways, not just academically, but also through their creativity.

Beatriz: That's so interesting. Thank you. I never thought about the coaching world. coming into the world of like a young girls, especially seven, seven year olds and eight and up to 15. I think the closest thing that I can think of that's similar would be Girl Scouts.

Luz: Uhuh,

Beatriz: yeah

You know, you get to learn about

Luz: better places, to feel more

Beatriz: I don't remember exactly what Girl Scouts is about, but I know, they teach you about business, right?

Or?

Luz: I was working part time and then I decided to resign due to the stress that the job had. So I just made that decision to just resign.

Beatriz: Okay. Okay. And then what happened after that?

[00:09:00] Where I get to empower the kids in the classroom. I get to be in different schools. And I work with high school students. I've tried elementary, middle school. But my age, and the ones that I love, is high school. So that is the kids that I love working with.

Beatriz: yeah, yeah. That's so cool that your job, your full time job and your business connect a lot because you get to connect with a lot of young people in both aspects of your life. So that's, it's cool to see those two parallels in the work that you do. So I know you talked about what you do with your business and how you empower young girls and hold workshops.

Luz: Yeah, so one of the biggest challenges has been time management. Where do I invest my time in?

Beatriz: Yeah.

Luz: Before starting a business, I had extra time and I would just sit, watch a Netflix series, or go out with my friends. Like my time wasn't that important. It was important to me, but I had more activities that I could do.

But now as a business owner, I really have to be intentional with my time because I know that behind the scenes, a lot goes on with a business. When you start building up a business, you're on your own. You're like a solo entrepreneur out there. And I started balancing my time. Also my work, my family and my business.

Beatriz: Yeah,

Luz: I consider myself very tech savvy. I have been learning along the way and making mistakes or watching YouTube videos, you know, just keeping it real.

That is how I started learning. And I'm still learning. I'm still in the process, but now I have the ability to actually hire people that can help me or can teach me. Like a business evolves throughout time.

Luz: Yeah, so at the beginning, I had no idea how to start the business. So I was able to just reach out to like minded women and learn from them, learn how they were. running their own business, and then try some of the things. And since we're all different and unique, some things work for me, some things didn't.

And this is something that can help me manage my time better. I was also like, my girls are very important to me. My family life is very important to me. So I always schedule my things around their schedule. So we do have family meetings where we go over the activities that we have through the week.

And then I put in my business in there and things that I get to create. So I actually have expanded my time too. I feel like I have a better relationship with time and I respect. Yeah. I think also it has, you have to respect time, and the time will expand because if you don't tell the time Like, what is it that you want to do or what is it that you want to create?

I was very tired and not focused. And I was in pivoting in my family as well. So I think this starting a business has helped me grow as a person and also with my relationships. Like I said, with time, that's something that I learned. And then how I manage my time and how I manage my life.

Do you have a calendar or do you use a digital calendar online or a physical planner? , what does that look like for you

Luz: Yeah,

Beatriz: your day to day?

Luz: in my day to day, I use a physical planner,

Beatriz: Okay.

Luz: Before the year starts I look for a planner and I also go with the feelings. Like it has to feel right. It has to have the right amount of space. Cause I know like I'm going to start feeling it out. It has to be colorful. It has to have amazing quotes, empowering quotes.

And then, yeah, I write everything on my calendar with times that of things. I need to get done, but within also when I plan my days or plan my weeks, I also set boundaries with my family.

Luz: like if something comes up at the last minute and I have a commitment, I'm not going to drop off my commitment. This happened today. My daughter just notified me at the early, early during the day that she had a university reception. So she is getting ready to go to college and she had a university reception, but I already have the podcast. I was like, I have a podcast. You're at six and your thing is at 6 30.

I'm sorry I'm not gonna be able to make it ask your dad if he's able to take you you'll go if not It's not gonna happen so setting boundaries with my family and with those the people around me because if it's on my calendar and it's a Important commitment that I'm gonna stick to it. No matter what comes along the way in life.

I get to work on my business. I get to be with my girls. So that is what I look like. It looks like.

Beatriz: I love that. I love that it's not what I need to do, but what I get to do. I feel like I need to put that on a post it. It is so good. I love I have to write it down. But that's such a good, great mindset and just like a way to think about something. And also, As you're thinking about work and business and your life and family I like that you've come to a place where you have learned to honor what you need to do, right?

And so I really love that you've learned to figure out what this looks like, both for your business and for within your work, within your family, and it's, you've gotten there. And I think it's because you're a coach. Like you have that, you have the skills and the, that ability to figure out what that looks like.

Asking those questions? What is that relationship to time look like? What is the relationship to my word look like? And I know because Wendy asked me that same question. So I love like that. There's a lot of tools that you're implementing no matter what in your life and in your business.

Luz: Yeah, so five years from now, I do see me myself transitioning to my business full time because I see the importance and it's something that motivates me every day. Just seeing the transformation in the girls, how some girls come into a workshop, feeling shy, feeling anxious, experiencing depression. And as we go through the mindful activities in each workshop, I get to see the transformation as they are opening up in awareness.

I'm not alone. Other girls are experiencing similar things. At the end of the workshop, they just, first of all, they don't want to leave, which is a good thing. And then they're more alive. They want to continue learning. They want to continue practicing what they learn. So I always tell them at the end of the workshop, don't let This work stay here, share it with your friends, share it with your family, share it with the people you're in contact with.

Beatriz: Yeah.

Luz: happens in each workshop and how the girls get to tap into their genuine self. and not focus so much on what other people think of them, or those messages they get to hear on social media, or what society is telling them, but just really tap into who they are, that

Of course you have support systems around you. For the most part, I would hope that young people have support systems like their parents or somebody that can do that, right? But to have intentional space and tools where you think about how you move through life, your mindset what does empowerment mean to you?

And then connecting with others around similar challenges. It's just, I think it could be so powerful. And it can really shape the way that even when we're going into young adulthood, it can equip us even better, I think. So I think that's so needed. Thank you so much for doing this work, because there's so much vulnerability in being a young person, so much vulnerability there.

Beatriz: Yeah.

Luz: if they don't funnel their social media the right way, then they're just bombarded with all these disempowering messages. So now there is an increase of body image where the girls are comparing themselves to other girls.

And there's that internal dialogue of I'm not good enough. I'm not pretty enough, or I need this in order to be enough, and that comes with our self worth. So that is the core of my workshops, working with their self worth and just loving themselves for who they are, not what others or social media is portraying out there.

That stopped me along the way. And if our girls have these tools early in life, they're going to pivot faster than what we are experiencing right now. So that's another empowering tool that I tell moms, like it's important to nourish their mindset early in life.

Beatriz: Mm hmm.

Luz: And I love that nowadays we have all the resources at our fingertips, right?

We have the internet, we have the social media, so it's the way that you wanna also use social media, right?

Beatriz: Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, for sure. It's it can be

Beatriz: Such a tool of life to then be able to go into situations, into new stages of life, feeling like even if you don't know what is to come, that you adapt, that you have the tools. You've learned how to see the worth in yourself and what that looks like, and that work doesn't stop.

It's continuous. It's always continuous, and you grow, and it's never too late to get on a path to seeing your own self worth. I don't think it's ever too late. But I don't think it's , it's never too early either.

Luz: Yeah, always.

Luz: I love this question. So a typical day in my life, it starts early in the morning around 5 a. m. I get to get up and be intentional with my day. So when I wake up, I do my morning prayer. That's my first thing, practice gratitude for a new day and what's to come of that day. Then I move on to moving my body.

I could do a morning workout. I could just put a YouTube video and start moving my body or take a walk outside. Something that shifts my energy and helps me like feel more energized. And that is my morning workout. Then I jump in the shower, of course, get ready.

Beatriz: Yeah.

And I love using different patterns, different colors, and I always look forward to picking my outfit. It makes me, I feel like it, it lifts up my mood and it makes me feel good throughout the day.

Beatriz: Awesome. Yeah. Yeah.

Luz: then I, after that I go drop out my youngest daughter to school. And then I head to work. So once I'm at work, I just focus on teaching, depending the subject that I have to teach that day.

I interact with the students. I also love getting to know the students, listening to them, hearing them, making them feel seen. Because that, there's also a transformation. When the students feel that you care and can feel it, then they are open, opening up. And they're ready to learn. So many behaviors come from students.

Beatriz: I love it.

Luz: yes, I'm like, that grounds me.

That makes me feel like it recharges me, makes me feel so good because now when I get up, I get to either work on content for my business or just be with my family. So we do have our family dinner around 6 p. m. And that's when the four of us, my husband and the girls, we get to sit down. We get to just share how our day was, share anything that came up, any feelings or something that we need to talk about.

So that is what my day looks like and that is Monday through Friday on the weekends Of course, I'm not teaching so I have more time to focus on my business and focus on family and Sunday, it's all about family just being with each other And trying new things. Like I said, I love traveling. I also love like taking these trips to local areas in LA and being a tourist in my own city.

So how do you prioritize or how do you choose what you are going to work on for that time Block.

That's when I'm trying to get new clients into my social media for them to find out what I'm all about Right building those relationships. That's what I've learned with social media. You got to build up those relationships It's not just about throwing your offer out there But they get here at about ten times before they come and sign up to one of my workshops So I'm very, I love getting creative with my reels and the content that I put out there.

So I do take that time. If it's closer to a workshop, like two weeks prior to a workshop, that's when I make that a priority to work on my social media platforms.

Beatriz: mm-Hmm.

Luz: And then on my website, it's been progress. It's been a learning experience cause I started from scratch and I hire a coach to help me with my website.

Beatriz: Yeah, I love it. I love how there's just like these are the things that move the needle for me, which is the newsletter the Social media and your workshops like very to the point straightforward. Like these are the things that are Important this is how the work gets put out and the website is this ongoing project that's like ongoing all the time.

And I like that you mentioned that social media is not just about creating, but connecting with people

Luz: Yeah. Hello,

Beatriz: then on weekends Is there like a nighttime routine that you have perhaps or maybe working on one or what is?

Winding down look like if at all if that's something that happens in your day

with my husband and my girls. Sometimes they join, but many of the times they also want that space for themselves. So at the end of the day, they also take, go to the rooms while my husband and I are watching some Netflix, a series, something that would just like relaxes. makes us feel more grounded, more calm. And then we started doing a gratitude practice. So every day we get to write 10 things that we're grateful for. And that also help us with, it helps us with our mindset to end the day on a good note. And I feel like I get a better night rest right now that I'm practicing the gratitude. And in the morning I wake up fresh and energized. So that routine has helped us a lot just to practice a gratitude, write it down, and really look back at our day. What [00:35:00] work, what am I grateful for today that can help me the next day?

Beatriz: Okay, yeah, I love that. Yeah, that's it. I like how you close out the day just reflecting on what happened what you're grateful for and it feels like a relief to just release everything And like you said, end on a good note and start your day fresh. So I love that you get up so early too.

Like I love getting up early in the morning and I'm like, okay, I need to go work out. I need to move my body and it just makes me feel ready for the rest of the day too. And it helps my acne. So

Luz: You're like, yes, it's a win win.

Beatriz: Yeah, that's a big motivator for me. I'm like, Oh, I need to like, keep my acne at bay. Let me go run like 30 minutes.

to younger generations. So I think it's so important. So thank you so much for sharing. Before we wrap, where can people find you and get in touch with you? And how can we support you?

Luz: You Awesome. First of all, thank you for having me in your podcast, Beatriz. This was a great experience. I enjoy our talk. You guys can find me at blissfulmindscoaching.com. That's my website. And then my social media handle on Instagram is yesgirllife. I am a DM away. I love connecting with people and talking.

Beatriz: where we really get to learn about how people working full time jobs also get to work on their business. And I love what you said. I don't need to, I get to. to do what I love. So thank you for sharing that powerful thought really.

It's so powerful.

Thank you so much for tuning in to this special episode of the Be A Boss Coaching Podcast. The nine to grind series. I hope that you learned so much from today's entrepreneur and that you took away new insights and new ways to navigate both your entrepreneurship journey with your professional career.

And of course, you can also reach out to me. I am Bea, I am the founder of Be A Boss Coaching, and I help women of color, BIPOC, and queer entrepreneurs find their own confidence in their entrepreneurship journey like a boss. So come on over to BeABossCoaching. com, take a look at the website, what we offer, the freebies that we have, and Any other podcasts or blogs that you're interested in.

You can even schedule a complimentary call. I can't wait to get to know you. Have a great rest of your day and I'll see you in the next video.