In this candid, cozy, and surprisingly laugh-filled episode, Kelly Bush and Kelly Metras settle into their favorite library nook to get real about the past year of entrepreneurship- the wins, the worries, the wild turns, and the lessons that hit harder than expected.

From money mindset breakthroughs to navigating the political chaos that impacts small businesses, the Kellys peel back the curtain on what it truly means to build and run a business with intention, courage, and community.

What We Talk About

Getting Comfortable with Money (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)

The Kellys open up about their journey toward financial literacy: what felt scary, what finally clicked, and why transparency around money is one of the greatest tools entrepreneurs can give each other. If talking finances makes you sweat, this convo is for you.

Politics, Policy & the Business Roller Coaster

No, this isn’t a political rant, but it is a real conversation about how shifts in the political landscape impact small businesses. The hosts break down why staying informed matters, and how industry groups help owners stay ahead of industry changes.

Goals That Don’t Make You Want to Hide Under Your Desk

Forget giant, intimidating resolutions. The Kellys make a strong case for tiny, joyful, achievable goals- the kind that build confidence and momentum. Think: celebrating your wins like a kid who just learned to ride a bike. A puppy making it outside.

The Magic of Community & Gratitude

As they look toward the new year, we reflect on the power of showing up, investing in relationships, and remembering that no business grows in isolation. Gratitude, connection, and mutual support? That’s the real strategy.

Key Takeaways

• Maintaining a positive mindset in tough seasons is a superpower.
• Set goals that feel human, doable, and worth celebrating.
• Talking openly about finances builds confidence and clarity.
• Understanding political shifts helps small businesses stay resilient.
• Community engagement fuels both business growth and personal fulfillment.
• Self-care isn’t optional—it’s strategic.

Companies & Organizations Mentioned

bossyroc.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Lunchador Podcast Network

Check out all of the shows on the Lunchador Network at lunchador.org!

Joe Bean Roasters

Use promo code Lunchador for 15% off your order! https://shop.joebeanroasters.com

Foreign.

Hello.

Welcome back to another episode of Getting Real with Bossy, the podcast that shows you what it's really like to be a business owner.

We are your hosts, Kelly Bush and Kelly Metras.

And here we are at the library.

Our new favorite spot.

It is so nice to.

It's so nice to be at the library.

We do some co working here every once in a while, but it's nice to get together and be in person.

Because we never record in person.

This is like our second time since we went virtual.

That's wonderful.

Yeah.

Hi.

Hi.

Love you.

So we're ending December.

Well, I mean, we'll have one more episode go out, but we're ending the year with us.

It's been a year.

It's always been a year.

It's always been a year.

Yeah, a lot's happened this year.

Yeah, a lot of great things.

A lot of great things.

I think we accomplished a lot this year.

We talked a lot.

I think we taught a lot.

I think we shared a lot.

We talked about money.

I hope you guys learned a lot from us this year.

I think we discovered a lot of things that we can do better and learn how to run our businesses better and be a lot more open about things that we don't know and not be so scared about talking about money and our feelings about money and how we were raised to learn about money.

Yeah, I think I feel a lot more comfortable with my relationship about money and investigating new things and how to run my business when it comes to the financials.

Yeah, money's terrifying.

Yeah, that's all I got.

Money's terrifying.

Money's terrifying.

It's still terrifying, even after all the talk we did.

But it's important and you need to know your.

You need to know your.

So absolutely, it can still be terrifying and you can still know your and just keep moving forward.

I'm apologize ahead of time.

I'm in, like four hours of sleep because I thought I was going to have to work today instead of going to the wake I was supposed to be going to.

So more beautiful things about small business ownership that people don't talk about is when you know, your life happens and you're trying to figure it out.

But last minute, I got somebody this morning to cover, even though I already covered myself, and then I had to cover other people and, you know, the navigating of all the things.

But that's how it goes.

I don't think people always understand that when they say just Shut it off.

You're leaving.

Oh, you get to leave.

Oh, you're going home early tonight.

Yep.

Yep.

I am absolutely walking out of the doors of my business right now at this time and never working on it again.

8:30 at night.

Yep.

I'm not going to think about it.

I'm not going to work on it.

Right.

I don't, I don't think people always understand that that's not the end of our workday ever.

Ever.

It continues and it's always on our mind and it's always present and we always have to be there for it on some level and it never shuts down.

So you know what I want to pivot to?

It's because I've, I've apologized.

So if I ramble or it don't make sense, I've already apologized.

We haven't pre planned this.

Not at all, not one bit.

I have always been an advocate for paying attention to politics because it always led to me understanding my business better, understanding trends better, being aware of things that were coming down the pipeline.

So when they hit my business, I wasn't surprised.

Yeah, I've been a huge advocate as of.

Have you.

And this year specifically.

Was full.

Of political possible changes that either went into effect or didn't go into effect or went into effect and then came out of effect.

And it was such a whirlwind spiral of exhaustion just trying to figure out what I needed to pay attention to.

There was a lot of political pivoting.

Yeah.

And even things like the war in Ukraine.

Like, I learned a lot about the supplies that Ukraine does for like the, the minerals and the, the raw materials that Ukraine, you know, supplies for the rest of the world and how that affects it and the shipping, cargo and they learned a lot.

But in that same thing, I was exhausted.

I still, I still am.

I'm like, I don't know, did the tariffs happen?

The tariffs are definitely happening.

I, I don't know.

Like, I know prices are up on everything, but it could be just random, like, who knows?

Like, I can't keep up.

It's, it's very hard.

And I think there's so many different, different news outlets and it's, it's hard to know, especially with social media, who to follow, what to follow, what is accurate.

And there's such a divide politically.

How, how are you guys getting your news?

How are you finding out what is accurate, what is true?

Because it, it is very difficult.

I Don't.

I don't know.

It's very hard.

It used to be that when organizations that I'm a part of would send emails about things, I knew about it already and I'm like, oh, yeah, I knew about that.

And now I'm to the point where I'm like, oh, cool.

So that's real.

Like, oh, okay, that, that one's real.

Like, because it's just.

It used to be that if you heard something was coming down the pipeline, like it actually did, where now it's like, you never know.

Things get backtracked, things get switched, things get altered.

The government's pivoting in ways I didn't know it was possible to do, and it's.

Yeah, it's just exhausting.

And I just wanted to ramble on that for a minute because I think that's part of my exhaustion this year is just trying to keep up on what I need to know to run my business in the future.

Because we're, we don't work for today, we work for next year.

Well, I think that's a good, a good plug for things like NYSRA and if your industry has a trade organization.

Because nysra, the New York State Restaurant association, has always been really good about putting out, out information.

And that's one thing that I can trust because they are working for our industry and I can trust that at least that information is accurate.

So if you do, if you're in an industry that has a trade organization join that, that is money well spent.

Yes.

And you're going to be getting that, that good information, that good, accurate political information that is affecting your business, local, there's, statewide, there's.

So find the one that you trust and definitely use their services to keep up on what is going on.

Yeah.

Because I don't think it's going to be a whole lot different next.

No, I mean, we're, we're in a certain political climate that's going to last.

For at least a couple of years.

So you have to figure out how to navigate it.

And this year I figured I have to turn everything off and just wait for the information to come to me, which is not how I like to be.

Right.

But I can't, I can't keep up.

You can't worry about things that don't end up happening.

Right.

And I think a lot of that has affected consumer spending.

I think.

Government shutdown and people's faith in the economy and their own spending.

And I know that you and I talk about it a lot, how we're spending our money is incredibly different than in years past.

Has definitely affected our industries and other.

Other industry retailers.

Um, so I think going into next year, like, what are we going to do?

And we've talked about it, like, we need like a full on, like good old witchy.

Woo.

Woo.

Oh, yeah.

Purging.

We are going to go into it in January.

Maybe we'll bring the podcast along.

Yeah, I think.

I think.

Listen to the burning.

I think we're going to do a live podcast in January at our January bossy event.

Because I feel like.

And I said it when Kelly walked in this room.

It's legit.

A lot has gone on emotionally, physically, for me, business wise, in our industry, in this area, in Rochester.

Politically, I feel like I'm living in a pity party.

And I think it's a legit pity party because I got a lot going on, but I don't want to live in it anymore and I got to release it.

Yeah.

And I think I burned.

I burned my bridge.

So I don't want to make grand statements.

I was like, I cannot wait that long.

We didn't even know what was going on.

I know I said, this is going to be a five year thing.

And I.

It was a five year thing.

But we had no idea how much was going to change that when we came out of the five years, the world would be a complete, completely different place.

Right.

But I mean, you.

You were right.

You just didn't realize.

Yeah.

It's like, you know when you make your wish to the genie.

Yeah.

And the genie always finds a way to trick you.

Yeah.

The world tricked you.

Wishes come true, not free.

Wishes come true.

You're true, not free.

Tough.

I want it.

Stephen Sondheim.

Okay, I didn't make that.

Did you just quote Broadway?

I did quote Broadway.

Very, very impressed that I knew that he was Broadway because.

Cause I'm still, like, learning.

You did good.

Your children would be very.

Kaylin, if you're listening.

I know.

I'm gonna.

I'm gonna send her a text soon.

This is done.

But I think next year is going to be the year we just have to let some of this go.

And.

Like you said, there is the.

There's going to be more of that political pivoting where there's going to be grand gestures and big statements that get pulled back real quickly.

And, and other ones that don't.

So forward.

Focus on, on your businesses, focus on yourselves, focus on your families, what you can control.

And I think this is going to be the year to get back to that.

Yeah.

And do what you got to do and put your, put your head down and, and go forward and focus on your community.

Yes.

Supporting.

And that's, that's where I want to get to.

We do need to be community focused.

And I think, I think I started that, but I didn't have words to put it in place.

I think that's where my exhaustion led to, was like, I can't keep up.

So I just have to focus on xyz.

Like, yeah, just put my head down.

People ask me what I'm doing and I'm like, moving forward.

Yep.

That's all I could do is move forward.

Right.

Like, I have to get through this week, get through next week, and then see what happens next year if I just keep moving forward.

Yeah.

And we always say, like, you know, in our business, we have to be looking towards tomorrow and next year.

And I feel like maybe we just have to tunnel that down a little bit and just, let's just, let's, let's just work on next week and stop putting so much pressure on us, on ourselves, and just focus on little, little goals and, you know, always have those big goals in the.

Those big goals for the future.

But I think next year is going to be tricky.

Don't think it's going to get any easier.

So let's make some small goals and just be really, really, really filled with gratitude when we make those.

I think that's going to make big difference.

Yes.

I think we should, we should leave this episode and pick, look at your business and a giant picture and pick three things that you want to set a goal for in the next quarter.

And maybe you do one thing each month.

You know, I want to increase my catering.

It's always.

I probably talked about it a thousand times on here.

Obviously, I want to increase my catering.

How am I going to do that?

Right.

Am I tracking it?

And I think that's something also.

We are so focused on the big picture that we're not paying attention to the little things we're doing and the little successes that we're having.

So we don't notice when a campaign is getting results and we don't notice that people are coming in because of something we said or did or an activity, you know?

So I think that gratitude and that streamlining and that focus on a smaller level.

Yeah.

Will be good for our mental state.

I think so.

I don't know about y' all out there, but I think I need it.

Yeah.

Give us your thoughts.

We're happy to hear them.

Oh, that's a good one.

Yeah.

That's where I'm at.

That's what I got.

That's all you got.

How many minutes are we in?

We're done.

12 minutes.

It's the shortest episode we've ever done.

Well, that's what we've got.

Finished.

I don't know.

I don't know what else we got.

I think.

I think that's good.

We are legit.

Yeah.

Oh, let's talk more about what we're going to do in January so people have ideas in case they can't join us.

We are going to write things down and burn them.

Yeah, I'm still.

Or break them.

Break them.

We're not sure.

It depends on what location that we're in.

Okay.

We have a couple different.

Couple different.

A couple different options.

We're going to break or burn.

One of the options.

So I was going to say I'm still jealous that I missed Erica's sound bath.

So Erica, our biggest cheerleader.

Yes.

Bought her building a building this year.

She's been trying forever to find the perfect place.

It is the perfect place.

Gorgeous.

I'm sorry.

So excited.

I can't even.

Because of all the places she looked at.

I was talking to a mutual friend of ours, and I said, it's like when your friend is dating.

I'm like, oh, I met this new guy.

I want you to meet him.

And you're like, oh, he's nice.

You're like, I think you could do better.

Like, oh, he's nice.

Like, I really hope this works out for you, but in the back of your head, you're like, is this the right guy?

So I felt about the buildings.

I was like, oh, I really want this to work for her because she's so excited.

Right.

But is that the best place?

That seems like a lot.

Or.

Oh, I don't.

And she found this place.

I was like, oh, my God, it's perfect.

It is everything she wanted.

So put that out there.

You can.

You can manifest.

She manifested the.

Out of it.

Out of that.

Holy crap.

And found the most ideal perfect location and had a sound bath.

When she first got in to circle back to why I brought it up and I couldn't make it.

You got to go.

It was wonderful.

I was so jealous.

So maybe we need to incorporate a sound bath into our January transition.

I think so too.

Definitely need a sound bath.

Yeah.

We're gonna make some intentions.

We'll put some intentions out there.

We're gonna manifest.

And like I said, making those small goals make them attainable.

I think we are.

We've put a lot of pressure on ourselves this year in an incredibly difficult, traumatic and tricky, tricky year.

Yeah.

And I think that was really unkind of us to do to ourselves.

Yes, we need to be nicer.

Yeah, we need to be nicer.

That's what I love about manifesting.

And like you, you know, some people are like, oh, it's all woohoo.

Vision boards.

Manifesting, making intentions, burning things, breaking things, building things.

It brings your, your focus to the forefront.

It's energy and it reminds you of the things that you truly want.

When you're living in this spiral of life that's just makes everything go by so fast.

Right.

So it is, it is not woohoo.

It is actual focusing yourself on what you truly want.

There is science behind it.

You're putting that energy forward and if you're reminding yourself of that every day, that's what you're putting forward.

And living with that intention, you're going.

To make that up on your mirror, on the dashboard of your car.

Oh, we're gonna do crafts this year, aren't we?

We are gonna be crafty.

Let's be crafty.

So crafty.

I have some craft kits on the website.

I powerful on my bathroom mirror for my girls and I don't think any of them pay any attention to it.

Or they're just so.

It's just part of their daily life.

It's just ingrained in them.

They, they don't have to pay attention, it's just part of them.

I wanted to remind them every day of how powerful they were.

So I literally put it on the bathroom mirror.

I love that it's slightly crooked.

There's probably too faced on it.

So the OCD part of me wants to redo it.

But.

Toothpaste yet?

Sure.

If anybody follows my personal social media, my kids are really good at putting toothpaste in random spots.

No toothpaste there.

Maybe they are actually embracing the power I'm putting out there.

They're manifesting.

And we also need to remind ourselves of eight year old us.

We were talking before we started recording about how my youngest is doing the Nutcracker.

So I've had her alone, driving back and forth and sitting and waiting, and I was reminded of how amazing it is to be eight.

And she's constantly looking at the world with these hopeful, beautifully kind eyes, and everything's going to be okay.

Do you know what failure is?

Failure is a chance to learn and grow.

Oh, God.

Oh, my God.

She drops this shit and you're like, what?

You look stressed, mama.

Do you need a hug or do you need some space?

Oh, my God.

What?

Who?

Where did you.

Once.

Yes, please.

Both.

Can I have both?

Yeah.

All right.

She's incredible.

So maybe I should start writing down the eight year old quotes and sharing them with the world so we're all reminded of how beautiful and hopeful and uplifting the world can be when we're not dragged down by the stressors of the outside life.

Yep.

So we all need to remind ourselves during our day, we need to run our business like an eight year old.

Yes.

Yeah.

With the mindset of an eight year old, not the business acumen.

I mean, maybe.

Good point.

Who knows?

Have we tried it?

We haven't hit a goal.

I'm gonna give her my book.

Sending her my PIANL right now.

She'd be like, well, I learned multiplication this year, so.

All you have to do is add the.

Probably do better than me at this point.

The way my brain's working right now.

Right.

You'll probably find many mistakes.

Oh, my God, yes.

So I'm gonna encapsulate a little Imani this year and share it with the world so y' all get to reap some of the benefits that I get.

It's one of the beautiful parts of having kids late in life.

I wish I had had them younger, but damn, I'm happy I have them around now because if I didn't, I'd have a bunch of teenagers and 20 somethings and I'd be all alone in this mess.

It's true.

But now I got her.

I know she's gonna be okay.

It's wonderful.

My little therapist.

That's perfect.

Yeah.

All right.

Run your business like an 8 year old.

Manifest.

Manifest.

Manifest small attainable goals and celebrate with the most gratitude.

Like a puppy party.

You know when you get a puppy and you're like, when they go potty outside, you.

You throw that puppy party.

You know?

Throw yourself a puppy party every time you make that goal, every time you.

Go to the bathroom outside.

Mm.

I love you.

Yes.

Puppy parties on the puppy parties.

We're gonna share with you in January how our either, you know, share it live, if we can figure out how, or share with you what we did and how it went.

Yeah.

To.

To.

It could have been amazing.

And that's great.

Right.

You know, your.

Your burning and breaking can be personal.

It can be habits.

You know, maybe you're doing amazing, but you've got yourself in some.

Some nasty habits of not having boundaries, working too much, having your phone on all the time.

Well.

And sometimes when things go great, you get into a level of complacency.

Yep.

I need to break that.

Yep.

Things could be better.

But you're.

You're happy, you're doing well, so.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And as we learned this summer, sometimes when things are going great, that's the time to look at selling.

Yeah.

Or looking what your exit plan might be.

Yeah.

She was amazing.

And also.

And if you're like us and your January is going to be slow and you miss any episodes, you should rewind back.

It's great.

And listen, because they were amazing.

We had some amazing guests on this year.

We have some amazing guests lined up for next year.

Yep.

I'm not going to give any spoilers, but I'm already excited.

Yeah.

Yes.

It's going to be calm, it's going to be focused, all of those things.

And it is going to be a puppy party.

Puppy parties all the time.

All the time.

I love it.

Great.

All right, well, be bold, be brave, and be the boss.

Share this episode with someone you think needs to hear it.

Probably should have said.