Merle Tracey Galloway

Full transcript: Merle Tracey Galloway on London Real

1:14 This is London Real, I am Brian Rose. My guest today is Merle Tracey Galloway, recent graduate of our Business Accelerator. Welcome. Thank you, Brian. Tell us about you. Where are you from? What do you do? I’m from Montserrat, a small, beautiful island in the Caribbean, with only 5,000 of us there. And you may know us from the volcano, because we had a volcano in 1995. So that disrupted about two thirds of the population.

1:37 And so we were about 12 before, I know it’s a small block in London. But we were about 12,000 before and now we’re down to five. And we’re still a colony of England actually, so we’re British. Wow, and so what’s that like? So it went from 12,000 people down to 5 because of the volcano eruption? Right, so about two thirds of the island became like exclusion zone because of the damages that happened to the island.

1:59 And then now it’s moving back, where you can now inhabit some of those areas that were considered exclusion before. But it disrupted economy, it disrupted schooling, it disrupted families, because a lot of people actually moved here to England just to create a semblance of a life. Because there was so much uncertainty that happened because of the volcano. And I guess that trauma probably carries over to today’s life and culture.

2:22 Yeah, it does, but also too there’s a certain resilience in the people of Montserrat. So when people come there it’s just amazing. Because on one hand you see the grey from the volcano, but then you see green on the other side, so you see nature in all its transformation. And then it kind of just helps you, you know what, this happened and now I’m going to rise up from the rubble type thing. Yeah. So it’s kinda like a modern day Pompeii. Where it’s just transformation happening before your very eyes.

2:49 Yeah, and you describe that whole tragedy with this Caribbean smile, so it’s like you’re talking about it like it was this bad event, but it wasn’t necessarily bad. Right, because it’s like being able to see a country build again from scratch. So now you can put things in place and make things the way you want them to be made.

3:05 Right, right. And what was going on in your life to seek us out in the Business Accelerator? What was going on personally, and with your business and externally, to come to London Real? Well, for me I had a lot of ideas in my head, but I didn’t really have that kick in the, can I say ass? Yes. I didn’t have that kick in the ass to actually make me put things in place. So it was always very airy-fairy. It was always up here.

3:31 And what I really liked and wanted was the accountability, and I wanted that team around me to kind of make things happen. Because it’s nice to like, oh, I’m going to do this later, and you have forever, and then 2014 passes and you’re where you are. 2015 passes and you’re where you are. I was like, you know what, my 2018 isn’t going to be like my 2017. I’m going to make things happen. I’m going to make things real.

3:54 I’m going to stop being in my head and actually just take the plunge and go forward. And did you have a business or business idea when you started? Yeah, I did, I had, I used to help women before in terms of health goals. But it was something I did, but it wasn’t as fast moving and it wasn’t as on track as I, in my head, wanted it to be.

4:16 Okay, and so you kind of knew what you were gonna go in. And what were your friends and family thinking? Or were you worried about what they would be thinking when you pulled the trigger on the course? Not when I pulled the trigger, I was more worried when I was doing my masterclass. I’m like, oh my goodness, they’re going to see me present this masterclass and I’m going to be judged, and that was my biggest fear, of them thinking I don’t know what I’m doing. And then there was this part of me with the imposter syndrome. Thinking, should I really be doing this? You know, am I qualified to be sharing this information? So that was my biggest fear.

4:52 Okay, and why London Real? I liked the testimonials, I liked what you put out there. I was following you for a while in terms of some of the episodes you put forward. And I think our stories are kind of similar in terms of not being happy with what we are doing and wanting to do something else. And so that’s why I chose it.

5:11 Okay, alright, you pull the trigger and you’re dropped in to the Business Accelerator. You got all these people from around the world that are now your classmates. You’ve got these modules, I’m asking you to do this stuff. The accountability doc, the live calls. What’s that experience like for you? I actually realised a lot about myself in terms of me working well with deadlines.

5:33 And I liked that the deadlines wrapped into the programme, because it actually made me do it. And I also realised how much I put pressure on myself to be overly perfect. I still haven’t gotten out of it completely, but I’m a lot better. Okay, so the perfectionist in you wants to spend a month on the website and I’m giving you seven days. Yeah, exactly, yeah. So you did it, but you noticed that normally that would be…

5:57 Right, and I’ve been counting on getting my website done for years. And so I’m able to get it done in a week. It looks great. And it’s functional, you know, it gets the job done, which is the point. Before I was like, I need to pay somebody 5,000 dollars to have it right. You need to go take a photo shoot. I need to do all these things, and it’s not that difficult.

6:19 Yeah, and not only is it functional, it actually is generating you leads, and so it’s an incredible business tool. So that’s awesome. What did you struggle most with in the course? What was the toughest part? I struggled most with module five, because I was changing my business concepts. Because as I said earlier, I came in kind of thinking I knew what I wanted to do.

6:38 And then when I did my blogs, people were responding to me sharing my story in terms of getting rid of my fibroids. You know, there was just so many questions in terms of, am I on the right track? So for me it was moving back and forth. Because my passion is that you share when you getting people out of their head in terms of health, and so in module 5 I just felt uncertain, am I choosing the right niche, and after I spent so much time going on in module 0 and module 1, I just felt uncertain if this is right path. Okay, what did you decide? To really go forward and follow that passion in terms of really helping people feel empowered about their health and wellness.

7:21 Okay, talking about the community, what’s it like having all these people from around the world you never met going through this with you? And then what’s it like to be here in London and meet them? It’s like a crash course in life. Because I’ve learned so much about movement, about languages, you know, because everybody has a different niche, but then you realise that everybody really wants to help people.

7:42 And that even though they’re using different tools like language, and movement, and food, and just the different topics, they all want the same thing. They really want to make a difference. And so it’s kind of surreal seeing people from class live in person, but it’s like coming home, it’s like being with your family. It’s like coming home, I like that.

8:07 How was the masterclass for you when you had to actually get out there and sell your product to people on a live situation? I put too much pressure on myself. You’re a perfectionist. It was actually fun doing it. But before I did it I broke down. I was bawling, I was like, oh my God, you know, I just put way too much pressure on myself, I was crying, I was extremely nervous, but in the end it came out, and it was actually really empowering, where people were saying, wow, thank you for sharing this, I really enjoyed it. I want to learn more.

8:43 So for me that was a really good chance to listen to what people wanted and really to give them more information. Now, I called you out on a live call and asked you to basically teach the class a lesson in hustle, and can you talk about how you hustled for that webinar? Yeah, I actually sent out, it wasn’t annoying. I think my messages were good. Of course they were. But I message every single person on my WhatsApp list, and it wasn’t just like a global WhatsApp.

9:09 I actually spent the time selected each person, message them, and I tried sending messages on Facebook, but Facebook blocked me. That’s a good sign. It just, my eyes are killing me at the end, because I was just glued to my screen, and I would just do it in half hour segments. Sending messages, sending messages. But I felt like, wow, I’m actually really reaching out. And really sharing valuable information.

9:34 So I felt like, at first I was like, if I send a message they’re going to judge me and they’re going to think, what is she doing, and they’re going to think I’m spamming them. But at the end I was like, if I don’t share my message, who will? And if I keep this inside, my 2017 is going to be like my 2018, and I didn’t want that. So you always went back to your why, and then you reminded yourself of the pain point to get over through fear. Exactly.

9:58 Okay, and how many courses did you end up selling? 11. Wow, so you got a class. Yeah. That you’re taking through. Yeah. When does the class start? It actually started, my masterclass finished on Saturday, and my class started on a Monday. And for me one of the things I said was, Merle, why do you put so much pressure on yourself? I could have delayed it for another couple of weeks or a month, but I went head on in terms of having it start.

10:24 And that put way too much pressure on myself. Okay. But they’re enjoying it, people are getting good information, and so… Yeah, you actually did the right thing. I think postponing anything, what’s the point? You’re going to deliver wow, your students are going to be there, you’re going to learn more, and you’ll be in a position faster than anyone else to do the next course or your prime offering. So why does Merle put so much pressure on herself? I don’t know, I think it’s just a Caribbean thing.

10:50 I think it’s just how… Is it? I think it’s just a Merle-ism. I think it’s just something I do. Wanting to make sure that my customers get the best value. But I think people just appreciate me sharing the information, and once I get past that I’ll be fine, but I put the pressure on and then I learn whilst doing it.

11:07 Okay, next 12 months, we’re obviously going to be watching you, you’re in your team. What are the plans for your business? Well, definitely in the next couple of months I want to get some help in terms of a lot the administrative things. But I want to do a lot of joint ventures, and I want to definitely expand my reach to over 200,000 people in terms of just sharing information. And helping people get out of their own way. I want to be back on your show. All right.

11:32 And I also want to do that Speak to Inspire, because I do see myself on a public platform doing a lot of speaking and just sharing a lot of knowledge, but really just mainly adding value and just helping as many people as I can. Okay, have you done public speaking before? No. Yeah, you definitely need to do public speaking. Yeah, it’ll be scary as well, but once you master that you’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Thank you. I believe. Tell me about Merle herself.

11:57 If we went down on the street and we bumped into the Merle who didn’t take this course, how is she different than you? The Merle who didn’t take this course, still very concerned in terms of what persons think and in terms of having things just perfect. And in her head a lot. The Merle took this course realises, just do it, just get it done, you know, it’s going to be okay, and people appreciate me being genuine and me sharing versus me having everything perfect and playing that part of perfectionist.

12:30 Yeah. Biggest takeaway from this course that you can share with other people. Biggest lesson you learned that can help other people. My biggest lesson is that I’m adding value and that people appreciate the value I’m adding, you know, and that what I have to say, because my thing is, oh, you could just YouTube it, but you can’t, because the way it’s coming from me is very different from how it’s coming from anybody else, and so that my message has value.

12:57 Yeah, and your customers connect with you, so that way you delivering the message is different than anyone else. Correct. I learned that too, you know, when someone relates to me as London Real they’re more open to listening and getting the messages, so yeah, that’s an amazing lesson to learn. To the people that are out there that are on the edge, they’re thinking maybe I’ll join the Accelerator, or maybe I’ll start a business, or maybe I’ll wait till next year, what do you tell them?

13:22 Do it and do it now. Reason being is team is extremely important, and so doing it on your own can be frustrating. Plus you don’t have that push to get you started. Whereas here you have the accountability. Which for me made me realise that I need team around me to help me get things done. So you have the accountability and you also have the talent, and you have somebody who actually did it. And so definitely pull the trigger. Don’t wait.

13:50 You sound like… Merle, it’s been amazing having your energy on this course. You are hustling like crazy on week seven. And you are an inspiration to everybody. Of just like, if you hustle and you put the work in, you going to the fear. I appreciate you telling the whole course that you were breaking down before the webinar, you know. I mean, I used to do the same thing. And so it’s just practise, and that means you’re doing something right.

14:12 So welcome to the family. For the next 12 months let’s build something really big, so big that you’ll be back in this chair. That’ll be cool with me. But again, I think anyone watching this now can feel your vibe and your energy, and they probably want to be a part of whatever you have to teach them. So, you know, thank you so much. It’s been great having you, it’s been an honour having you in our academy. And let’s do some big things, shall we? Yes, we shall. Alright, thank you, Merle. Thank you very much.