Room Mates

Natalie and Cigi invite in Sarah Cripps, a local attorney in Smithville TN to share about her life and the way she has overcome challenges. Sarah shares her story from being born completely blind, becoming an attorney, advocating for those who need help and even her adventures with driving, jet skiing and sky diving. Nothing holds Sarah back and the Room Mates think her story is going to invigorat...

The Room Mates get a chance to sit down and talk with the pride of Dunlap TN, Morgan Kilgore. When Morgan was faced with the new reality as an amputee, he didn't let that hold him back from what he believes God has called him to do. Morgan shares about how the world seems to be opening up to him with new opportunities in business and ministry. Morgan also touches on the need for some reform in how...

The Room Mates invited in Natalie's business partner that started The Realty Firm with her eleven years ago! Kim Maynard-Means sits down and talks about humble beginnings, the struggle women have leading in the real estate industry and what is on the horizon for The Realty Firm in the future. Kim also shares some personal stories about an overworked Natalie that simply needed to leave the office a...

The Room Mates sat down with the woman who helps identify and communicate Cookeville's Lifestyle through her quarterly magazine. Chelsea Dartez hasn't been featured in her own magazine yet, but she is quickly becoming one of Cookeville's most influential people who is moving and shaking! Natalie and Cigi ask about what brought Chelsea to Cookeville, her past in the music business and what to expec...

The Room Mates had a chance to sit down with the founder and CEO of Duck Pond Manor. They discuss all the things Duck Pond, and there are a lot of things: Full Service Wedding/Event Venue, Catering, Flowers, house flipping (!!)... Terra and her family have their hands in a lot of entrepreneurial endeavors. Take a minute to listen to the wisdom of a boss babe that even through significant personal...

The Room Mates invite Natalie Fletcher to join them and talk all about the adventure she has been on for the last year that has taken her around the world and back. They talk about her dad and the huge impact he made on so many lives, and she shares how spending a year in his shoes has made her understand his life in a much deeper way. Large animal veterinarian by day and confetti engineer by nigh...

Natalie and Cigi sit down with the true Livingston Wunderkind; Hannah Rose. Hannah Rose launched "Mane on Main" a new breed of hair salon that challenges everyone else in the industry to level up. The Room Mates and Hannah Rose talk about starting young, taking advantage of educational opportunities and balancing life/work schedules. Fair warning, this episode might make you want to switch salons...

(**Proceed with caution. This episode has discussion around body dysmorphic disorder, bullying and attempted suicide.) The Room Mates had the chance to sit down and chat with, Nurse Practitioner, Blakelee Paige Smith. After Cigi was done fan-girling, Blakelee shared her story of growing up in the Upper Cumberland, moving away, and vowing to never return. Well, welcome back! Blakelee, following her...

"Scared money don't make money." The Room Mates get a chance to sit down with Natalie's, always winning, man! They grill him about all his rodeo success, the farming business, being a constant entrepreneur and venturing into Real Estate in Smithville. Clark is pretty amazing, but he comes by it honest!   If you want to connect with Clark, reach out to him through the Realty Firm or C&S Farms .   ...

The Room Mates sit down with Cigi's husband, Michael England and talk about all things Michael. From running in the Boston Marathon, Managing the Exceptional Bean and what life is like after alcohol. Michael also tells us all about Dually and his tragic end at the Hog Barn - and how the world is better now! Always positive, always hopeful... Michael is the best friend you wish you had! If you want...

The Room Mates get a chance to sit down with Dawn Fry. Dawn talks about her choice to head to law school and how being a mother of a child with special needs shaped her journey of practicing law. Whether it is her work with the Putnam County School Board, Teaching at TN Tech, helping with adoptions at Hope Center or advocating for the Exceptional Bean - Dawn's ambition is focused on the opportunit...

Natalie and Cigi reflect on the second Room Mates sale and how successful it was. They also look at the huge differences between it and the first one. Cigi talks a little about how they are starting to see some patterns, even though some items that sold great the first time didn't win this time. Natalie also brings up the possibility of holiday specific decor starting to roll out in the fall.   Fi...

Natalie and Cigi talk a little bit about Michael J Fox and his words on gratitude. When faced with hardship, he says "With gratitude, optimism is sustainable." Cigi talks about the pressure of negative emotions, but the power of choosing positivity. Remembering, and focusing on, the positive helps you to sustain optimism when choosing a negative outlook on life would be easier.  Everybody gets str...

Natalie and Cigi challenge us to ask the question: "What do I want to get out of life?" Cigi talks about how she was intimidated by successful people and never felt like she belonged - but as she stayed committed to her work this started to fade away. Natalie talks about how success in business requires commitment and conviction to keep going and understanding that over time commitment breeds succ...

Cigi and Natalie talk about how they have seen their businesses grow because of the opportunity they have created. Cigi also talks about the importance of young people understanding that their jobs are great opportunities to learn new skills and hone their talents. Remember, creating opportunities for others - creates opportunities for you as well. Find us online: www.roommateshomedecor.com and on...

Natalie and Cigi talk about the importance of focus when you are starting a new business or accomplishing anything in your life. Natalie offers up the idea that you need to have tunnel vision, focused on the goal, to ensure success.  Check us out online: https://www.roommateshomedecor.com/ or on instagram: @roommateshomedecor  

Natalie and Cigi talk about their business experiences with "connectors" and how they have found that being connectors is a great way to find success. Natalie shares the keen wisdom that "connecting people makes you future money, not now money" and Cigi adds some context that seemingly small connections can end up being a lot bigger wins in the future. The theme of the whole episode is that if you...

Cigi and Natalie spend time discussing what good customer service looks like as they share an epic fail they experienced with a Room Mates vendor. They both agree that good customer service, and being willing to go the extra mile, not only makes you a successful business - but also a successful employee. The Roommates also talk about how in the early days of starting a business, you need to be put...

Nat and Cigi talk about how success looks different for everyone and that we all have to figure that out and pursue it. Although success might look different, the results seem similar: Happiness and Joy. You are the one that defines what a good balance looks like. Natalie talks about the power of understanding the enneagram for a team of people and they both discuss the timeless truth that no one...

Cigi and Natalie discuss the importance of helping other people - especially when they are starting out with a new business opportunity. The investment in helping others ALWAYS comes back around. Nat shares a quote with us this week as well: "Who you are, while you do what you do, is more important than what you do."   Find Room Mates online: Room Mates Website : roommateshomedecor.com Room Mates...

Natalie dives right in sharing an analogy pulled from her calf roping experience to help her develop as a business owner. You only have control over so much, and both Cigi and Natalie encourage us to practice, practice, practice that which we do have control. This means focusing on the things you do well and developing them, but also focusing on the things within your control that you've maybe nev...

After the first sale, Natalie and Cigi sit down and debrief. What worked, what didn't work, who said they were quitting first, and the impact of all those who have been supporting them. Spoiler: It was an outstanding success. 

No one likes failure, but when you face it - you can fail forward. Cigi and Natalie talk about their own failures they have faced over the years with their business ventures and share how they were able to DETOUR to make sure their failures were helping them move forward. Natalie makes a great book recommendation for Matthew McConaughey's "Greenlights". Matthew isn't a sponsor, but if he is listen...

Natalie and Cigi realize that this new podcast has attracted people asking their advice on starting a business. They thought the best way to be the biggest help they could is by addressing the questions they have received right here in the podcast. Sit back and take note of this great Q & A episode - and if you didn't hear your questions all answered - submit them for the next installment!

Cigi and Natalie talk about the importance of KNOWING & STAYING IN your lane. This is especially true when you are looking at a partnership. Not staying in your lane definitely reveals you as a know-it-all and that stigma is damaging. Also, when the hard days come - staying in your land and remembering why you do what you do will help you succeed. Cigi recommends evaluating your strengths and hiri...