The Sugar Daddy Podcast
47: Career Pivots and Entrepreneurship with Registered Nurse, Naomi Corbi
In this episode, Jessica and Brandon sit down with Registered Nurse, Naomi Corbi, who started a medical consulting business during the pandemic.
Her role has since expanded into working with her husband who founded SAFE, a bespoke, comprehensive security solutions firm, as the Director, Business Strategy & Medical Preparedness. With 50 years of success, they've safeguarded high-profile clients, governments, residences, and headquarters globally, through customized security systems using advanced technology for early threat detection, swift client isolation, and thorough mitigation.
Naomi's transition from hands-on clinical work to launching a medical consulting business, reflects a narrative rich with growth and balance.
Her story stands as a testament to what's possible when ambition meets heart.
Watch this episode in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP55O4Ku4dukHcK0kExhpcA
Be sure to connect with us on socials @thesugardaddypodcast we are most active on Instagram
Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thesugardaddypodcast
Notes from the show:
http://www.vitalrnglobal.com/
https://www.safe-us.com/
Hollywood Reporter Interview 2024
Female Disrupters, Authority Magazine
Fox News Interview 2024
In this episode, Jessica and Brandon sit down with Registered Nurse, Naomi Corbi, who started a medical consulting business during the pandemic.
Her role has since expanded into working with her husband who founded SAFE, a bespoke, comprehensive security solutions firm, as the Director, Business Strategy & Medical Preparedness. With 50 years of success, they've safeguarded high-profile clients, governments, residences, and headquarters globally, through customized security systems using advanced technology for early threat detection, swift client isolation, and thorough mitigation.
Naomi's transition from hands-on clinical work to launching a medical consulting business, reflects a narrative rich with growth and balance.
Her story stands as a testament to what's possible when ambition meets heart.
Watch this episode in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP55O4Ku4dukHcK0kExhpcA
Be sure to connect with us on socials @thesugardaddypodcast we are most active on Instagram
Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thesugardaddypodcast
Notes from the show:
http://www.vitalrnglobal.com/
https://www.safe-us.com/
Hollywood Reporter Interview 2024
Female Disrupters, Authority Magazine
Fox News Interview 2024
I decided to take a new assignment. I moved up the West Coast and that's kind of what brought me out to Idaho and Washington area and Montana, and when I was there I think it's a whole different world in California. So I had a chance to self-reflect. I worked at had similar holes and issues and you know, being a traveler, you work there, you know a couple people complain about things, you move on and you go to the next place and then you find this pattern, and so I wanted to come up with a solution to some of these things and I'm a big believer in processes so that you can fix it from.
Speaker 2:You know different levels. You know different levels. Brandon is an award-winning licensed financial planner with over 10 years of experience and millions of dollars managed for his clients all over the US. Don't worry, we leave all the intimidating finance mumbo-jumbo at the door. Stick with us as we demystify the realm of dollars, so it all makes sense, while giving you a glimpse into our relationship with money and each other. We are so glad you're here. Let's get started.
Speaker 3:Hey babe, what are so glad you're here?
Speaker 2:Let's get started. Hey, babe, what are we talking about today? Today we are talking about entrepreneurship with Naomi Corby, and I'm excited to speak with her because she was brought to our attention, if you will, through who I consider my work husband no offense to my real husband out there or right next to me, actually but my work husband was like you have to talk to Naomi, she's amazing. And I instantly emailed her and here we are, because this is how life works our six degrees of separation. So, Naomi, we are so excited to have you on the Sugar Daddy podcast today. Thanks for being with us. Well, thank you both so much. I are so excited to have you on the Sugar Daddy podcast today, Thanks for being with us.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you both so much. I'm so excited to be here and I'm laughing because your work husband and I have been friends and we have this thing where we don't outwardly give each other compliments, even though he's great, and I shouldn't say hopefully he doesn't see this and if he said to you that, I'm amazing. I'm taking notes now and I will be calling him after this, but anyway, yes he was he was raving.
Speaker 2:He was raving about you and how amazing you are and your story and and all the things we're going to get into today. Um, which is so funny that you say that you guys don't outwardly give each other compliments, because I find him to be one of the most complimentary people I've ever met Like sometimes I'm like, okay, slow down, because you're doing too much.
Speaker 1:He is, but I think we've got this like sibling relationship. I call him bro and it's been like this for like 10 years and we just pick on each other and it's what we do. So even when you want to give a compliment, it has to be strategically delivered. So you know, it doesn't actually sound like a compliment and it's been our little thing forever. So I'm sure he's going to be biting his fist when he hears this, but that's okay.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. Well, that's so funny. He did say that you're like his sister, so that sibling interaction, I totally get that. We both have siblings and you know we got to keep them in line. So I totally get that. We both have siblings and we got to keep them in line. So I totally get that Right, right. Well, for everybody listening, that has not gotten all the rave reviews like we have. We're going to get into this bio and then we'll talk about your first money memory, so everybody knows who we're speaking to today. Naomi Corby was born and raised in India until the age of 14, where she graduated with a degree in biology not at the age of 14.
Speaker 3:I'm going to start over see.
Speaker 2:All right, we're going to give it a two count and wow, okay. Born and raised in India until the age of 14, naomi Corby has an undergraduate degree in biology with an emphasis on animal science. She used her degree to work with freshwater and endangered sea turtles in Greece and Costa Rica and has since become a world traveler, with 32 countries visited. That's amazing. After going back to obtain her RN degree, she became a travel nurse and worked in Southern California, washington State, idaho Montana, washington DC and Connecticut. In 2022, naomi started a medical consulting business called Vital RN that has since acquired 27 clients and has contracted 12 nurses nurses Recently married. She has also taken over partial operations for her husband's company, safe, which provides bespoke architectural security solutions to ultra-high net worth individuals globally. For over 50 years, safe has been featured on the Oprah Show, abc and CBS News, larry King Live, usa Today, the Wall Street Journal and more.
Speaker 2:Vital RN's focus is to provide tailored health care solutions and nursing services to clients. They specialize in business-to-business and business-to-consumer solutions to advance health care delivery to patients and optimize our clients' overall practices. I might need some nursing because I'm falling apart over here. Naomi, thank you for being with us. You are clearly doing all the things, oh my goodness. And 32 countries visited. I'm so jealous. That's amazing. Well, thank you.
Speaker 1:It was. It was fun Most of it. I did get pickpocketed once, but we'll get into that another another episode.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. Brandon and I just went to Seattle a little bit ago and that was our first time in the Pacific Northwest and we loved it. Did you like your time out there? It's special.
Speaker 1:I mean I want to go back there. You know I never thought I'd love Idaho or Montana as much as I did. And actually I know it's crazy because if you know me, you know from, I guess, my younger years I've been more like of a Southern California type of girl and I go up there and it's just magical and now I want to live there if I can. So we actually, al and I just got back from visiting Montana for a few weeks, so it's wonderful, wonderful.
Speaker 2:My brother is a professional photographer and he does a lot of landscape photography. And wasn't he just saying that utah is his favorite state?
Speaker 3:he said utah is his favorite state, which actually kind of surprised me because he's very well traveled and I was yeah I've heard that utah is beautiful, but I was very surprised that he said overall it was his favorite state I can.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can see that, though I've spent quite a bit of time in Utah and I think the people there are just so nice that there's this aura in Utah when you're there and it is beautiful. But yeah, that's interesting, that's an interesting pick. I'll have to think about that.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, he lives in Atlanta, georgia, and he was like Utah is my absolute favorite state, so it's just we need to get out there. We haven't seen the beauty for ourselves outside of pictures, so, yeah, we need to to get out there did you guys like your trip? We loved it. We it was. It was great. I mean, we stayed downtown in the city, um, I had a conference there, and then we went to leavenworth, washington, for oktoberfest and that was just very picturesque yes, it was very cute, very cute so we had a good time yes, exactly yeah, and I grew up in germany, so it was very much.
Speaker 2:You know, the german vibes were there for sure.
Speaker 3:So she's half german, so.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah so it was great Well what talk to us about.
Speaker 2:So obviously you're a world traveler, but tell us about. All right, I'm getting off script here, naomi, what is your first money memory?
Speaker 1:So I think, initially, moving to this country at 14, you know, you know things at that age and you were. You know you come into, like I was. I came into the middle school life where, um, you know, people have their clicks and their trends and everyone's wearing like Abercrombie, Hollister, all these things, and it's like you know, you start wanting to be a part of that. Um, just so you fit in almost. And I think when I was 14, I first realized, you know, I was talking to my parents what the conversion was from um Indian rupees to dollars and I was like, so we have no money because literally it's like 80 rupees to a dollar and it's probably worse now, but anyway, um, so that was when I first started kind of thinking about it.
Speaker 1:But you know, my parents were working and handling things and we were just going to school and it. But really it was when I graduated from nursing school. It was like my second degree, so I was so looking forward to that first paycheck. At that point I had done the math so many times. I'm like this is going to be great, Not working these odd jobs while going to school. I'm working full time. I even threw in a couple hours of overtime, those first two weeks in training, full time. I even threw in a couple hours of overtime, that those first two weeks in training, and I get that first paycheck. And I was startled, I thought for sure there was a mistake, but I hadn't thought about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but in like a whole new tax bracket and all of these things that adults have to think about. And I remember sitting there going, oh my God, I bought a car last week a brand new car and like, didn't think this through, I still don't have enough money. So that was when I was like, oh my God, something has to be different and my wheels started turning in a different direction.
Speaker 2:That's, yeah, all the the taxes, the health insurance, the social security, the everything that comes out. And you're like, okay, I had one paycheck that was in my mind. And then here's the reality of my net paycheck, which is like, oh my gosh, let me go curl up in a ball right.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, Taxes shock everybody.
Speaker 1:I know it was like, do I have to do this? And anyway it was. It was such a scary moment because, you know, I had also taken out college loans to go back and get my second degree and it was like, oh, no problem, I'll just pay these off. You know, no big deal, I'm going to be making a real paycheck. And then, when I saw that, I was like, wow, this is a big deal. They don't teach you about this in school. When I saw that I was like, wow, this is a big deal.
Speaker 2:They don't teach you about this in school. No, absolutely no, they don't teach you about it in school. Okay, so you got your nursing degree. I'm assuming you then worked in like a traditional nurse setting. I want to take a step back real quick.
Speaker 3:Oh, what prompted your family's move from India to the US?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so my dad's family my dad's got six other siblings, you know their total of seven and his mom as well had immigrated to the U? S God years ago, before I was even born, and she had sponsored them. And it was one of those things where you know it had taken so long and you know for like the paperwork and everything to go through, and when it finally came in it was after 9-11. Wanted to be closer to family and you know it goes without saying. But schools are generally better in this country and there are more opportunities as far as careers go for my brother and I. So that was a big reason why they moved, but it was not an easy decision.
Speaker 3:I can imagine, I can just imagine that cultural shock of you. Know it'd be something different, obviously, if you moved here when you were, like you know, five. But you were already a teenager and you know, coming over to the US, I'm assuming that you are. What age did you start learning English?
Speaker 1:Luckily, we spoke English our whole lives because we'd gone to an old British Catholic school that's, you know, still running there. So we spoke English and we grew up speaking it and my parents grew up speaking English. So it wasn't that part of it was an easier transition. But you know, it's little stuff, right, like you learn a different, like you learn Britishish english, so you're spelling words differently and all of a sudden I get, you know, my test back and they're like points taken off for spelling things within you in there and all those little things that you have to start getting accustomed to yeah I always because, uh, jess has a funny story because she moved to the U?
Speaker 3:S when she was 10 from Germany and the spelling of the word Island and how she cause like in German. I learned that German is very phonetic, so pretty much the way that it's written is how you pronounce it, as compared to English Never doesn't make any sense where you have silent letters and stuff like that. So she was pronouncing the word Island as Islin and her whole class just started laughing at her and she didn't like it yeah, because I came over in fifth grade.
Speaker 2:I started fifth grade in the us and we would do. We would like read out loud from like the textbook and it was my turn and I just yeah. I literally will never forget I was. I sounded out the word island and everybody was like that's island. And now our daughter is five and she's learning to read and write and when we're correcting her, she's like but that doesn't make sense. And I'm like yeah, the English language literally doesn't make sense. I'm sorry, but this is how it is.
Speaker 1:I know it's a tough one. I mean, you know, hats off to the people that come here and learn it as adults. But thankfully we didn't have to do that. So that was a huge um you know thing right off the bat where we were. We had sort of a leg up in that realm and could only focus on the culture shock. Yes, only the culture shock.
Speaker 3:As a teenager.
Speaker 1:I remember so clearly. Clearly, you know I don't want to go too far off topic, but your story reminded me when I was in. So we moved here and it was right like the tail end of seventh grade and two things happened when it was my first day of school in middle school. So everyone's staring at me like I'm an alien, because word got out that this girl moved from India. No one even knew what that was. Word got out that this girl moved from India. No one even knew what that was. So she had me stay at she will. She called out, you know, spoke to me directly and the school I went to, catholic school If your teacher speaks to you, you stand up and like you don't just sit down and talk to them.
Speaker 1:So I stood up and she was like appalled, she goes, you know why? Why are you standing? And I was like, oh, why am I standing, I guess. So I sit back down. And anyway, she had the kids take turns trying to me and she gives me these brochures, and I know she meant well. But she was like here you go, honey, you can take these. There's a place you know, the road kind of gave me directions where they teach you how to speak English. And I thought, oh god, um, you haven't even spoken to me. So at this point I start. You know, I told her I didn't need those and I spoke the language. I just didn't really have a lot of occasion to speak during that class. So, anyway, that was my story that just grinds.
Speaker 2:That makes me so angry because I taught middle school and high school for a total of seven years and you hear stories and, like you said, they're well-intentioned. There's no malice behind it Right. But give somebody an opportunity, right Like. Give them an opportunity to show you what they're capable of, before you start going and judging or before you start handing out brochures that somebody doesn't need. Right Like? You're already getting off to the wrong start.
Speaker 3:I also think that's a thing for like the US, because, like, if you're not, unfortunately a lot of people in the US aren't well-traveled Right.
Speaker 3:So if you're, someone who has not traveled outside the US. You might think that, but as we were fortunate, both of us, we were able to travel from such a young age. Think that, but, as you know, we were fortunate, both of us were, we were able to travel from such a young age, you know, going to other countries. Us, or americans, are kind of the dumb ones when it comes to the internet, when it comes internationally, because we're the only ones we speak one language, while most other countries speak multiple languages, like the majority of people speak experiences exactly, yeah it's so true, but we can talk about this forever.
Speaker 2:I know amazing Talk to us about then going back to nursing school. Why did you? Pick nursing. And then what was that experience like for you? Because I'm assuming you were maybe not planning on being an entrepreneur, so we'd love to hear about that trajectory and how Vital RN came to be after you started your nursing career.
Speaker 1:So I initially, when I, you know, went to school for biochemistry, the plan was I wanted to go the med school route, and so I was working at our local hospital. That was one of my first, you know, full-time jobs at the time, and so in fact my whole family worked at that hospital. So it was just kind of, you know, it was ingrained in us in a way, and I was going to school up the road and I was going to get my degree and then go to med school. That was the plan. And then one of the criteria usually to get into med school is, you know, they want you to have some sort of research. And that's what brought me to the sea turtles, because I wanted to get involved in a research project.
Speaker 1:And anyway, when I started doing that I traveled so much and I loved it because I love animals I thought, oh my gosh, I can't commit to, like, another seven years of school, you know, to come out and do my residency or whatever it is I decided to do then because I actually want to still be able to do this stuff, which is the animal conservation part. And so in this moment it was kind of lonely because I had committed to the outside world, that I was going to med school. You know, everyone knew me and knew that that was my trajectory and my family and everyone just kind of presumed that that's what I was doing, because I always said I was. So it took a little while of kind of battling with myself Like do I want to, you know, say I'm not doing this? And anyway, I put a lot of thought into it and I enjoyed working in the medical field. So I started doing some research and I found travel nursing and I figured you know I love to travel.
Speaker 1:Found travel nursing and I figured you know I love to travel. Um, I can take time off between contracts. So I need to put my time in in the trenches and get this degree and you know, stay here, work floor, nursing, whatever it is, to get my experience and then go be a travel nurse. So one day I was my dad and I were going to lunch and I just kind of blurted it out. It was like I'm not going to med school anymore and he was like okay, and I remember just staring at him going. So you guys like that's fine, you're not upset or anything. And he was like well, we didn't tell you to go to med school. I mean, you wanted to, yeah, so that's what you know, brought me down the nursing path and I was like so relieved, took this big breath of fresh air and I was like, wow, I can do this thing and, like you know, live a life that I want to live and find balance with my conservation work. So that's what, yeah, and I know they're more. No, that's great, Because.
Speaker 3:I guess you, like you know, you might assume from a stereotypical standpoint that, like you know, your parents might be upset because they had this image of what your life would be and you kind of deter slightly from that path.
Speaker 2:The sacrifices they made to bring you to the US to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer. Just going stereotypical Indian Right.
Speaker 1:And yes, it's so funny because my parents are like, like, so the opposite of stereotypical Indian parents and they have never once, you know, cursed me to do anything of that sort. It's just I fell into that mindset where I wanted to do that because there's so much disparity in healthcare in.
Speaker 1:India, you know, I mean, if you don't have money and I mean cash they will just let you perish in the waiting room. So you have to pay for your healthcare if you're going to get it. There's no after. You know payment plans and things like that, and I that kind of sat with me and that's what made me decide this Never once. But it's like you know, you feel so committed when you say things out loud, which is a good thing sometimes but you can't be making these life altering decisions because you feel the sense of like you have to do it to please someone else.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. It's so much of what you said I feel like parallels my brother's life because he was in nursing school and for the same exact reason, right, yeah, you can do your your hobbies on the side, but if you do travel nursing, you'll make good money. You get to see the world or you know the country at least why would you not? And so he made it pretty much. I think he had like one semester left, maybe maybe a little more, but he was already in clinicals doing great. He hated like the classroom portion of it, but he was like crushing it in the clinicals, right when he was actually on site with patients, and so he ended up, he ended up dropping out, and I just remember my parents being like this is not the move.
Speaker 2:What are you doing? What are you going to fall?
Speaker 3:back on Opposite response that you got.
Speaker 2:Yes, my mom very much was like how are you going to get health insurance? What are you doing? And so he was like I can't just do this, because I said that I would. So just very parallel to you. And now he's living a great life, you know, making great money on his own terms. He leaves for New Zealand today. Right, he can take his camera anywhere, work from anywhere, totally loving his life right now. Good for him, absolutely. So you started travel nursing. And then what happened in 2020 or 2022?
Speaker 1:So I, um, you know, I started travel nursing and I I moved out to Southern California when I started and, uh, that was an interesting shift.
Speaker 1:It was like, you know, you go from Connecticut and traveling and coming back home to like living now in a place. That's like the fast lane lifestyle, if you will. You know, I meet all these new friends and I'm just going to work making decent money. Then, you know, travel nurses get paid quite well and had all this expendable income and I was just kind of doing this little cycle on repeat with the parties and whatever, shopping, traveling, doing whatever I wanted. And at some point in there, you know, I realized I was never going to break out of this cycle. Like I, I always look at homes and I wanted to maybe buy a house in California and looking at the actual numbers and my lifestyle and my patterns, my spending habits, I was like this is never going to happen and I think, um, so that was when I decided I was going to leave California and, just, you know, take a little break from that lifestyle and just go focus on myself. Um, I loved my job and I loved being a nurse, but I knew I wanted something more. I just I needed something more challenging. It was like work was becoming too mundane and, like you know, just second nature almost, and I think in the medical field, when that happens, that's when mistakes happen and you really need to check yourself. So you know, it should never be too easy, you should always be learning and like trying to improve your techniques and ways of doing things.
Speaker 1:So I decided to take a new assignment. I moved up the West Coast and that's kind of what brought me out to Idaho and Washington area and Montana, and when I was there I think it's a whole different world in California. So I had a chance to self-reflect and I found that a lot of these different healthcare facilities I worked at had similar holes and issues. And you know, being a traveler, you work there, you know a couple people complain about things, you move on and you go to the next place and then you find this pattern, and so I wanted to come up with a solution to some of these things and I'm a big believer in processes so that you can fix it from. You know different levels and I started thinking about this and one of my employers at one of my previous assignments contacted me and asked if I would assist with a mentoring program they were starting and this was like right up my alley. So I, you know, I coined my business. I was sitting on the front stoop and I was like right up my alley.
Speaker 1:So I, you know, I coined my business. I was sitting on the front stoop and I was like what am I going to call this thing? And anyway, I'm doodling logos and names and that's how I came up with it. And it was kind of nerve wracking at first because I'm like I don't even know what I'm doing. And so I go online and start doing all this research and figuring out all these things you have to do to actually start a business. And I just did, and I, you know, I just kind of threw myself into it and I usually learn better when I'm actually doing something. So that's kind of how all this went into play. I just kind of threw myself into it and said I'm doing it and just got out there and made it a thing.
Speaker 2:What holes and gaps and problems were you trying to solve, that you were going to solve in your business?
Speaker 1:Well, I think one of the big things that I've seen, you know, is case management and that's a broad term because it's just a big umbrella used for several you know different, smaller niches and I think with patients these days, navigating this medical jungle is really so difficult and you know we see this all the time but health insurance dictating a lot of their plans of care as opposed to their medical professionals.
Speaker 1:So one of the bigger things I do is I'm an advocate for them, for patients, and I even work for insurance companies. You know whether it's workers comp and someone's off of work and it's like a catastrophic injury. There are so many components that go into it where not only this person is affected, the one that's gotten injured, but you know they've got family members that depended on them and their entire lives and the trajectories of multiple people that are connected to them's lives change from that one event. So being a medical professional and a case manager and kind of helping them navigate all these changes has been my calling in a way, and I found an area where I can do it, you know, lucratively and work with insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, high net worth families that need the service and even, just, you know individual providers and patients.
Speaker 3:I love how you well, two things I love how you.
Speaker 3:Your business plan started from you being a travel nurse and having a unique perspective as compared to someone who's a stationary nurse.
Speaker 3:You were seeing the same problem over and over again, whereas you know someone that works at one hospital may think, oh, maybe it's just our hospital, a few hospitals but you kept seeing the problem over and over again and from there you were like I'm gonna try to fix this problem. But you kept seeing the problem over and over again and from there you were like I'm going to try to fix this problem. So I love that aspect, because I think some of the best businesses come from like just genuinely seeing a problem that needs to be addressed. And then the second part I love that you are calling out when it comes to, for example, like you know, workers' comp with an injury, someone having a catastrophic injury, how it doesn't just affect that person but it also affects the family members and friends around them, because I'm not going to try to compare the two per se, but like sometimes a catastrophic injury could almost be worse than death because, death is finite.
Speaker 3:It's finite as compared to if you have a catastrophic injury from a financial standpoint. That person is still there, but they're not bringing in the income and they have an expensive care that's going to continue. Also, in addition, that person is not probably going to be the same person that they were beforehand. So you have to deal with, for example, spouses. If your spouse has this happen to them, you have to deal with who this new person is, and it might not be the same person that you initially married.
Speaker 1:So there's just so many different components that make it extremely, um, difficult situation to deal with.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's, it's so dynamic and I found that you know um providing care at the bedside in a hospital or you know wherever it is.
Speaker 1:It is great and very much needed, but a lot of times the focus is to stabilize this patient and get them back home, or, you know, to a facility, wherever they're going, but someone needs to follow them through, because what happens is these patients end up coming right back into the hospital, a lot of them with chronic injuries, because the bulk of their issues are on the home front, whether it's even something as simple as their diet, you know, and that's what brought me into home health and kind of gave me this idea of providing this service on a more tailored level of, you know, for individuals, where we tailor almost everything these days in our lives if we can and I think healthcare being so important, should very much so be tailored.
Speaker 1:And I can't tell you how many times I read care plans that come through, and I work with attorneys now too. So you know malpractice suits and all of that, and it's like, you see, this stuff, you know, being auto-generated by certain systems for documenting, and it's a real shame because these patients go home and it could be one little tiny thing that was missed on there that can cause this infection to start brewing and then all of a sudden they lose that body part and it's just this landslide effect. And you know that's just one person, but it happens across the board more than you would think, and I think that is something I feel so strongly about and that's the direction I wanted to take my business in.
Speaker 2:How did you find your, your first patient or your first client? And then how did you also start working with the insurance companies, the lawyers, the pharma companies? I mean, that's a big undertaking.
Speaker 1:Well, my first um, my first client, came to me and in that moment I was, like you know, on the phone, feeling somewhat underqualified but also very flattered that they came to me. And, uh, you know, I it was one of those like I need to just have more faith in myself. I know I can do this and I just need to take a leap. Um, and I said you know I'm, I'm, can do this and I just need to take a leap. And I said you know I'm, I'm, I'm going to do it. And I just told the client I was ready and I was, I had a plan and I delivered on it and it was a very successful pilot program that we ran together. So when that happened, I think I got the confidence I needed to launch this thing and, you know, find it in myself to follow my passion really. But with the other part of your question, with acquiring additional clients, it wasn't always easy in the beginning. You know, because you're being a small business, you're very much reliant on a word of mouth sort of thing. I'm not reaching out to big companies and like marketing my brand or any of that, because being so small, I mean you don't really have a budget for marketing.
Speaker 1:So I started out with, you know, one client and then, word of mouth, they got my second client. And then one day, you know, someone else called me and said hey, I heard you were, you know, doing whatever it was and we're looking for this. And that's how I got my first legal client. And then I started to do more research and realize that there was so much more of a need for this service than I even thought. And then I started to reach out to people clients and let them know what I was doing. And you know, it wasn't like an aggressive marketing platform or plan really, and I just kind of let it sit and slowly. I mean, it wasn't like an aggressive marketing platform or plan really, and I just kind of let it sit and slowly. I mean, in less than a year I just had people reaching out and all of a sudden I couldn't handle the volume myself. And I think the scariest thing was taking the leap where I decided what was that?
Speaker 3:A good problem to have.
Speaker 1:Yes, but it's so. You know what I was doing too. Um is working full time still as a travel nurse while doing this. So it was like long days and nights, and this was when I was in Montana, so you know, I just started an assignment there but I didn't know many people, so there were all of those things going on. I had my dogs with me, so it was the three of us and I just like had to find a system that worked where I could do both jobs do my day job, and then I was even on call some nights working hospice. So you know, if someone passed away or something, you had to go pronounce it and work for my company, because you just I didn't have access to, you know, cash flow or any of that sort of capital, and I was. I didn't want to get involved in financing and loans for a business, so I just did both until I couldn't anymore and then I was like that's it, You're going to take the chance and do it, and it was the best thing I ever did.
Speaker 2:Wow, I love the side hustle to main hustle stories because that's exactly what you just described, right, like working early, working late night, and then you get to a point where you're like, okay, I cannot survive like this, but I'm going to take a chance on myself. I think that's great.
Speaker 3:Also, too, like you know, the not feeling qualified when you first start out. I feel like anyone that's starting a business like, if they feel like they know everything, chances are they are missing some really, really key parts. I think all the people that I've ever you know um interacted with that are business owners that are good business owners all have the same feeling of imposter syndrome upon initially starting and it even still creeps in and certain aspects after you've even been doing it for a while.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 3:I mean, I still have my moments where I'm like you know, is this the way I should do it, or should I do it differently? You know, even now, you know 10 plus years into finance. You know, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's true, I think it comes from a good place.
Speaker 3:It comes from a good place as far as wanting to be the best for your clients, and that's why you're always questioning certain things about your business, because you just want to if there's a way to make it better, you want to make it better factor that plays into everything.
Speaker 1:So if you are going to go out, you know like the no good deed goes unpunished kind of thing If you have good intentions it doesn't really matter you have to make sure that you're kind of covering yourself, especially if you're dabbling with things like finances and the medical field. You know where lives are at stake. So there was that component, and then also being you know not as experienced really. And then back to being first generation. You know your parents are working and my parents are wonderful people and they've been so supportive through all of this and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. But you know, when people's parents have maybe lived here their whole lives, they have networks and people they can reach out to to call in favors and you know, kind of get you routed into like the fast track.
Speaker 1:but uh, I didn't have that.
Speaker 1:So it was all just lots of groundwork that had to be done and while trying to save and, you know, cut cost and start this business without any borrowed capital, um, I was doing a lot of stuff myself, like I was the assistant and the nurse and, you know, the CEO and all I was wearing all the hats, but it was fun.
Speaker 1:And then, you know, it got to a point where I had to sort of have this mindset shift. That, I think, was very important for me and you know, I hope if people take anything away from this, it's how important this part is, because I one day I finally realized that, you know, you maybe do have to pay for a service in order to grow your company. And I think when I realized that I started to, you know, kind of battle with myself, I'm like, do I hire an assistant or do I just do this myself? Kind of battle with myself. I'm like, do I hire an assistant or do I just do this myself? And I hired an assistant and it was the best thing I did, because you can't spread yourself too thin and you can't pour from a cup that's empty, so that was something I needed to have happen.
Speaker 3:Yeah, one of the hardest things I hear is the delegating. You know, once you get your business to a certain point, you know you were obviously wearing all the hats before but, like you said, you know now you need to start using your time to its best and highest use and some of those other tasks that can be delegated need to be delegated. And in the end you, you know, paying for somebody else to do something should hopefully yield a higher you know revenue that you have coming in overall.
Speaker 1:Right. And it's like I realized I didn't want to trade. I couldn't trade hours for dollars anymore because there were only so many hours in the day and, you know, the lifestyle I wanted and the financial freedom I wanted to attain would not. I wouldn't get there if I was still following this model. So when I got it to a point where I had a system in place and I could actually, you know, break it out and assign tasks, that's when my business actually started growing.
Speaker 2:How? What was the process of bringing on additional nurses? Because now your nurses are kind of all over the country, right, and you're, you're like you're, I mean you're their leader and their trainer, and you're setting the expectation of how things are done, because now they're representing your brand and your company. So what's that process been like?
Speaker 1:You know, in the beginning it was a little difficult, I think, because you're going through this thing where you're still learning and you know you realize you're hiring them. Where you're still learning and you know you realize you're hiring them, so you're kind of the boss and you have to play that role. But I still wanted to be the friend and like not do the things that I didn't, like some bosses did to me sort of thing. But I stopped battling with all of that, you know, and I just honesty is the greatest thing. So right from the get-go, you know, during the interview process, it's like this is what I need from you and this is what working here looks like, and can you do this or not?
Speaker 1:And if you can't know hard feelings, you know, and life happens and I know that and there's a big emphasis on that. So I'm very understanding when things happen. But I think one of the biggest things I look for is reliability and, um, when you have that conversation you can kind of tell right off the bat I think I got burned with just one hire, but everyone has been great overall and a lot of people that have come to work with me have been like word of mouth. So someone that already works with me has told a friend sort of thing and they've reached out. So it's been great and honestly that whole the hiring process with nurses has been somewhat seamless because I think to some level they are very structured and have really high integrity and so they've just been really great to work with.
Speaker 2:Do you hire them for specific cases or are they full time with you? And how do you? Because I mean hiring 12 nurses I'm just think I have a lot of friends that are nurses I mean like that's a lot of salary. Where is that money coming from now?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so, they're not salary, some of them are working up to 40 hours. But just the way the company is structured, they're all contracted and are free to do whatever else they want to do. But typically the nurses that work for me all happen to have little kids or also traveling with their spouses, and so most of the work that they do for me is remote or if they are out in the field, you know they can kind of work it around their schedule, which they love. So they can work it around picking kids up from school and you know they don't have to commit to a 12-hour shift and if something comes up and they need to cancel it or you know I can find coverage there's just there's less pressure involved that way, so they're not committed. And these cases that I work on too, like the catastrophic injuries and you know just case management in general, they can change on the daily, so I can't necessarily commit to 40 hours of this one patient because you know anything could happen to that patient between now and the end of the week.
Speaker 2:And that makes a lot of sense. It sounds like a great model because that way you can get the nurses that you need all over the country to assist, and it sounds like it's a very flexible opportunity for them because they could still maintain maybe full-time work and then pick this up on the side kind of PRN status, which is fantastic.
Speaker 3:Also, too, does it help with like you think maybe it helps with burnout, because, like from what I hear is that there's high burnout rate within the medical field.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely, and that's what I've been hearing a lot of too. So every time you know they come to me or reach out, it's because of burnout. People are just tired of committing to these long, long shifts. And you know, even something as simple as being able to work from home and like turn around and pet your dog for a couple of minutes me personally, it makes me happy that I just get to like put my eyes on them when they're home, when I'm working from home. So it's, you know, culturally, I think people just think if you're a nurse and in the medical field, there's no shot that you're going to be working from home. But I started doing more and more research and found that there was a need for it and there are all these different things that can be done remotely, and I think it's a great way for them to supplement their overtime or whatever it is they're looking for, to make that extra money by not necessarily having to go clock in and out and spend a large block of time in a hospital.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, and obviously this is taking a bulk of your time, but you're now also doing a lot of work with your husband's company as well. What does that look like for you, and how are you finding that balance?
Speaker 1:It's been really exciting and really fun. I, you know, I've always been fascinated by the whole security world and that's what he does, so his job is a lot more fun. But we found a way to synergize with our companies. You know, because he builds these extravagant like safe houses that are I mean, they look like something out of you know video games. French TV just interviewed us for one of his designs that you know they're working on things just wild.
Speaker 1:But even though these structures are so needed and are nuclear proof and emp proof and all of these things, if, if, these clients ever need them, um, and if they are debilitated in any way, shape or form, the structure itself will keep them safe. But it doesn't provide any medical offerings, and so that's where vital RN comes in, and I've now been providing that component of it within the safe house. So it's been really fun and I found a creative way to kind of add that to the mix. And my company, vital RN, sort of runs itself in a way, and I'm working on perfecting that model. So it's given me more time to invest into safe, and safe also requires us to travel a lot, so we're on the road a lot.
Speaker 3:Well, it's obvious that safe is doing well by the size of that rock in your finger. No, but now we have to ask now.
Speaker 2:We have to ask because we had on Aaron Thomas, a family family law attorney, and we had an entire episode about prenups and we went into it with, like prenups are for people who are planning on getting a divorce. Like, why would you need one? Or hey, we're not multi-bajillionaires, why would we get a prenup Right, totally enlightened about how it can really help you structure a really great partnership and teamwork and set expectations and how it can help you build a healthy relationship right, Whether it's pre-marriage or post-marriage, because obviously we've been married for years. So I have to ask did you guys have a prenup? Because he was so established? No prenup.
Speaker 1:Okay. Did it come up at all. Okay, well, I brought it up briefly because I thought, you know for sure, he would want this, but he didn't.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow, that's so intriguing because now that my mindset has shifted so much around prenups and I'm like oh everybody needs one, you know, or or a postnup in our case. I just thought I'd ask because I know that there's a pretty significant age difference too right between you and your husband.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, and it's funny, he wrote. He wrote a book about down to my last Ferrari. He wrote a book about not um, down to my last Ferrari. He wrote a book about not ever wanting to get married again. He was never going to get married again because, you know, he had a marriage years ago that went South and um anyway. So he swore that he was going to be the bachelor that he was when I met him and then in two months we got married, which I was never going to get married. You can ask your work husband. You know. We joked about that, about both of us standing at the back bar with dry martinis in our hands at my brother's wedding or whoever's wedding we were attending, because it was never going to be us.
Speaker 2:And here we are yeah Well, you just have to find the right person, right. First of all, never say never. And then, if you find your right match and you're entrepreneurial, he's entrepreneurial, you're building your businesses. You know, if you find the right person that challenges you and holds you accountable and and makes you better, then why would you not want to commit to that person?
Speaker 3:I could be wrong, but I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Speaker 1:No, no, I was going to just say it's the craziest thing, you know. Everyone says, oh, you'll find the right person, but when it happens, it literally just clicks and you're like I can't imagine not being with this person anymore. And every single day of our lives is fun, even when we're working, because we like feed off of each other's energy and we're both entrepreneurial and you know, it's like everything turns into almost like a game of sorts, because we're trying to build together, but it's fun while we're doing it one.
Speaker 3:I love what you said about the whole building together. I think that is such a key point. But then also, like um, I always thought that maybe people who said like, oh, you know, I'm never going to get married, I always thought that maybe people who said like, oh you know, I'm never going to get married, I always thought that those people thought that marriage meant that the person changes you, and I think that's a big misconception. Maybe against some people were like when you find the right person, they're not trying to change.
Speaker 1:That's true. But I think so many people do try to change people and you know, and I think we, many people do try to change people and you know, and I think we changed too. I mean, you know, five years ago I was a different version of myself because I was still growing into this version of myself. And then, you know, life experiences and things change us and if you're with someone that grows, is growing with you even, you know, not necessarily morphing into the same person, but we're growing together. Through whatever experiences life is throwing at you. It's so much more fun and rewarding and it just, you know, it makes for a more interesting everyday life really.
Speaker 1:So the other thing, too, that I'm a big believer in and he happens to be too is building work around our lives. You know, and I think in this country especially, so many of us build our life around our work schedules and we're so committed to this long day of work. And then you know we've got whatever little things we want to do for fun that we fit in on the weekends or in the evenings or whenever it is, and everything turns into a chore at that point because you're, you've got this big block of time that you've dedicated to this thing, that you may or may not even be. You know, you may or may not even like what you're doing. And I took that model and I reversed it and I started thinking about the lifestyle I wanted and what that looked like and what that would cost. And then I started to build my business model around that and it's worked really well.
Speaker 1:So smart, not live to work, but work to live, right when it's like yes, we have bills, we have needs and necessities that we have to cover, but it shouldn't be our end-all be-all right right and and figuring out like really mapping out what actually makes you tick and makes you happy, and you know what those needs are. What those wants are for some people they're expensive sports cars and sports cars and for other people they were like a trick somewhere or memory and whatever that looks like. You know, if you need to be traveling all the time building your career around, maybe something that allows you that flexibility to travel instead of feeling so stuck and committed to these four walls, and then you know, just doing this until you retire. But I do not support that model.
Speaker 3:And even to tie it back into you know us being a financial literacy podcast, everything I just heard you say is planning, planning, thinking about what it is you want your ultimate goal to be, and not just going day to day without actually knowing exactly what it is you ultimately want to build. So, like, you've decided what type of life you want to have as your end goal, and then your plan was focused on building your company around reaching that goal, Working backwards Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah exactly, that's exactly it. That's what's worked for me, and not even so much saying you know, I want this like mega mansion or whatever this is. It's like thinking past that point too. Okay, if I did get this mega mansion, what would that cost me? You know, I'd be in debt, x amount of dollars and have this kind of mortgage that I'd be paying off, which would then result in me having to work more. So, bigger picture, what you want, you know, like what really kind of feeds your soul.
Speaker 3:Yeah, like, what type of life do you want to live? Cause you know, for me, the biggest thing, when I sit down with someone, the first thing I want to know is how do you envision the life that you ultimately want? Like, I don't need to know. Like, oh, I want a million dollars, no, I don't. What do you want your life to look like? Do you want to travel? Do you want, you know? Do you want to have the Ferrari?
Speaker 3:You know, whatever it may be, but it all starts with really envisioning what it is you ultimately want to do. Right, and I love that part. I think a lot of people, I think majority of people, don't do that. Majority of people get a job and they're living just day to day, doing their 40, 45 hour work week and just going through the actions without even really thinking about is this what I want to do? Is this leading me towards what I ultimately want to do? And so many people who need to just take the time to take a step back and really assess their lives and see what it is they want to achieve and what they got to do to do that.
Speaker 1:Right, and they, you know I get it. People feel stuck and they feel committed and you know it's. It's a risk when you're giving up your, your standard paycheck that you're going to get every week or every other week and your health insurance and retirement benefits. But you know, some good things come out of taking risks. Sometimes I believe in that. I'm a very unconventional person, and so is Al, and I think that's why it works so well.
Speaker 2:Well, I think that's a great segue into asking what do you want to leave our listeners with? Could be entrepreneurial, could be love, could be whatever you want it to be. What do you want to leave our listeners with? Could be entrepreneurial, could be love, could be whatever you want it to be. What do you want them to take from our conversation today?
Speaker 1:I think that there's a yes in everything. So you know, even if it starts out as a no, there's a yes in there somewhere. You just kind of have to work your way to it and find out what. You just kind of have to work your way to it and find out what you know will get you there. So just not giving up and I think having that mindset and knowing that there's a yes in there and remembering that every single time has been what's brought me to this point. So, if anything, I hope that they hold on to that and use it in their day-to-day lives.
Speaker 2:Love that. Find the. Yes. Naomi, thank you so much for being with us today. We could talk to you for hours, but we're going to respect your very busy schedule and just say thank you for spending time with us today and helping us learn and grow with you. Well, thank you both for having me. This has been wonderful, don't forget. Benjamin Franklin said an investment in knowledge pays the best interest. You just got paid Until next time. Thanks for listening to today's episode. We are so glad to have you as part of our Sugar Daddy community. If you learned something today, please remember to subscribe, rate, review and share this episode with your friends, family and extended network. Don't forget to connect with us on social media at the sugar daddy podcast. You can also email us your questions you want us to answer for our past the sugar segments at the sugar daddy podcast at gmailcom, or leave us a voicemail through our Instagram.
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