Mentorship, Music, and Mindset: Kumi on Empowering Kids with Disabilities

Kumi: 00:00:00

I think having the mindset of being able to be passionate and having

Kumi: 00:00:05

the capacity to allow yourself to be passionate about more than one thing

Kumi: 00:00:08

in life and the thing, those multiple things for me, our community and the

Kumi: 00:00:14

arts, um, in addition to, of course, like my family and things like that.

Kumi: 00:00:17

But I think.

Kumi: 00:00:19

It's completely possible to exist in multiple worlds, I guess,

Kumi: 00:00:25

professionally, you know, when the opportunity for Wish came along, um,

Kumi: 00:00:29

that was just another testament to God providing for my performer's soul.

Kumi: 00:00:36

I never really closed that door, right?

Kumi: 00:00:39

Um, mentally or emotionally.

Kumi: 00:00:41

Um, after I got over the identity crisis, I was like, well, I can be both.

Kumi: 00:00:46

And.

Kumi: 00:00:47

That's exactly the way that I live.

Kat: 00:00:58

Today's guest is Jennifer Kumiyama, really known as Kumi.

Kat: 00:01:03

She's a friend of mine and I worked with her together on the show Aladdin

Kat: 00:01:06

at Disney California Adventure.

Kat: 00:01:08

She was born with anthrogryposis and uses a wheelchair daily.

Kat: 00:01:13

Um, she earned a spot on Warner Brothers reality TV show, Pop Stars,

Kat: 00:01:17

and earned national accolades from many publications, including Variety

Kat: 00:01:20

Magazine and TV Guide, referring to her as the girl in the wheelchair,

Kat: 00:01:24

whose voice blew everyone away.

Kat: 00:01:25

Everyone out of the water and she really does have an amazing voice.

Kat: 00:01:30

If you get to hear her, listen to her in the movie, wish she is the voice of

Kat: 00:01:34

Dahlia and she also won Miss wheelchair, California and Miss wheelchair,

Kat: 00:01:39

America in 2011 as first runner up and.

Kat: 00:01:44

During her reign, she really spread the message of hope through her platform,

Kat: 00:01:47

empowering children with disabilities to make their own dreams come true.

Kat: 00:01:52

And we are just so excited to share Kumi with you.

Kat: 00:01:56

She is currently the City of Long Beach Citywide Accessibility Coordinator.

Kat: 00:02:00

And I promise you, I know the cat is in front of our camera right

Kat: 00:02:03

now, and it's jiggling the camera.

Kat: 00:02:06

But I promise you watch this on YouTube, you'll see the cat.

Kat: 00:02:09

Um, you are not going to want to miss this episode.

Kat: 00:02:12

She is incredible.

Kat: 00:02:14

Hey, my name is Kat.

Lee: 00:02:16

And I'm Lee.

Kat: 00:02:17

And welcome to the

Lee: 00:02:18

Wildly Wealthy Life podcast.

Lee: 00:02:21

In this show, we explore the journey of what it means to live a truly

Lee: 00:02:25

exceptional and fulfilling life.

Kat: 00:02:27

Each episode focuses on how a foundation of brilliant minds and

Kat: 00:02:30

brave hearts Nurtured through the arts leads to lifelong success.

Lee: 00:02:34

Get inspired with actionable tips to foster a growth mindset,

Lee: 00:02:38

leadership values, and creativity in children and adults, turning

Lee: 00:02:41

their potential into lasting contributions for their communities.

Kat: 00:02:45

We hope you embrace the challenge to shift your perspective as we equip

Kat: 00:02:49

you and the next generation for a

Lee: 00:02:52

Wildly Wealthy Life.

Kat: 00:03:01

Well, in a moment, we're going to bring Kumi in, but before we

Kat: 00:03:04

bring her in, babe, what was your favorite part about that interview?

Lee: 00:03:08

I liked Kumi's heart for people and her, her willingness to like, really

Lee: 00:03:15

serve her community, but also just people at large, uh, her connection.

Lee: 00:03:20

To the youth also was really touching.

Lee: 00:03:23

I think seeing her come alive when she's working with those kids and the messaging

Lee: 00:03:31

that she's able to share with them.

Lee: 00:03:33

There's just so much in there that is, is really special.

Kat: 00:03:36

Yeah, I really love, you know, I know I've known Kumi through our work

Kat: 00:03:41

together on Aladdin, um, but I, you know, You know, I don't, I know her from there,

Kat: 00:03:46

but it's not like we talk every day.

Kat: 00:03:47

So I didn't even know, um, the stuff that she does with the youth and,

Kat: 00:03:51

um, especially, you know, youth with disabilities and how she's really giving

Kat: 00:03:56

them a way to know themselves a way to also exercise their leadership values

Kat: 00:04:01

and skills, a way to help them, uh, know who they are as people and their worth.

Kat: 00:04:07

And so I just really love what Kumi is doing.

Kat: 00:04:10

So if you're a parent, uh, or an educator, and you just want some

Kat: 00:04:14

tips on how to mentor the youth, this is an episode that's for you.

Kat: 00:04:27

Well, Kumi, I want to get started with, um, you have done some pretty incredible

Kat: 00:04:31

things and it's really awesome to just watch you and just be such an inspiration

Kat: 00:04:37

to so many people around you, you know, knowing you from Aladdin, like everybody

Kat: 00:04:41

just loves you cause you are truly like an inspiration to everybody growing up.

Kat: 00:04:47

What are some of the leadership values that you feel like you

Kat: 00:04:51

learned as a child that you carry on?

Kat: 00:04:55

To now as an adult that has allowed you to accomplish so many things.

Kumi: 00:05:00

I'm the oldest of six kids and my father was in the military and the

Kumi: 00:05:06

mindset in my household was you all either swim together or you sink together.

Kumi: 00:05:12

And I think that really made us as threatening and, and, and traumatic

Kumi: 00:05:17

as that sound, I think that really made us six kids learn how to.

Kumi: 00:05:22

Live as a unit and a team.

Kumi: 00:05:25

Um, and I think we really did develop those, uh, those team skills.

Kumi: 00:05:31

You know, we were there for each other.

Kumi: 00:05:33

Chores had to be done by a certain time.

Kumi: 00:05:34

So if one person was finished before they'd help the other

Kumi: 00:05:37

person and vice versa, we were all responsible for making sure that

Kumi: 00:05:41

our homework was done before dinner.

Kumi: 00:05:43

Um, so it was a lot of us sitting around the table and helping

Kumi: 00:05:46

each other complete homework.

Kumi: 00:05:47

And of course our parents were there to guide us and, and, and what have

Kumi: 00:05:50

you, but Um, you know, because there was six of us, there was somebody

Kumi: 00:05:54

at the table who knew what somebody might need help with in homework,

Kumi: 00:05:58

um, aside from me being the oldest.

Kumi: 00:06:00

So, um, you know, it was very much, um, that mentality in the

Kumi: 00:06:04

household that we are a team and that we need each other to thrive.

Kumi: 00:06:08

And when somebody, um, needs help, you're always there for

Kumi: 00:06:12

that person and vice versa.

Kumi: 00:06:14

Um, so I think that really, really, um, helped develop my mentality of kind

Kumi: 00:06:19

of, um, Really focusing on community.

Kumi: 00:06:22

I'm very, very close with my community outside of my family.

Kumi: 00:06:26

Um, the people that I live next to and with each other in this great city, like

Kumi: 00:06:31

it's the same thing when we were kids.

Kumi: 00:06:33

Um, you know, what does somebody need?

Kumi: 00:06:35

How can we help?

Kumi: 00:06:36

How can we connect them to the resources that they need to thrive?

Kat: 00:06:39

Now that you're sharing this, I could totally seem like, Oh

Kat: 00:06:41

yeah, that's exactly how you were when we were working together.

Kat: 00:06:44

That's really awesome.

Lee: 00:06:45

Do you see yourself like as the big sister when you step

Lee: 00:06:48

into the room for everybody or?

Kumi: 00:06:50

So funny that you asked that because, um, when I started working after

Kumi: 00:06:54

Latin closed in the local councilman's office, I was a 36 year old intern.

Kumi: 00:07:00

Like that is not something that you really hear of.

Kumi: 00:07:02

That's not normal.

Kat: 00:07:04

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:07:04

It's not typical.

Kumi: 00:07:05

I don't want to say normal, but, um, so I found myself really learning

Kumi: 00:07:08

people and having to be okay with, I don't have an issue with how

Kumi: 00:07:13

old you are, how old you're not.

Kumi: 00:07:14

Um, but if, you know, if you can help me learn, better understand something,

Kumi: 00:07:18

um, so I can therefore help somebody else and do my job better, then, then

Kumi: 00:07:22

that's the kind of relationship That I'm open to work wise, but sometimes

Kumi: 00:07:26

I, you know, where I do definitely feel like sister, especially when I see

Kumi: 00:07:30

chaos and people stressed out, I'm like, everybody, stop, what are we doing?

Kumi: 00:07:34

What needs to be done now?

Kumi: 00:07:36

What can we not help that?

Kumi: 00:07:38

We just, we just have to let it go.

Kumi: 00:07:40

Cause there's not, sometimes there's nothing you can do about things.

Kumi: 00:07:43

So my mentality is always to help people differentiate.

Kumi: 00:07:47

What is worth stressing out about and what you have to kind of let go.

Kumi: 00:07:52

We can't have control over everything.

Kumi: 00:07:54

And, you know, we live in such an urgency culture and it's so

Kumi: 00:07:57

unhealthy, you know, what needs to be done right now in this moment.

Kumi: 00:08:00

Not everything is a priority.

Kumi: 00:08:02

We have to learn how to set realistic priorities.

Kat: 00:08:06

Yeah.

Kat: 00:08:07

And that's already, again, another leadership skill that you have

Kat: 00:08:10

actually being able to pinpoint, um, what is actually important right

Kat: 00:08:13

now that's going to move the needle.

Kat: 00:08:15

And then the other thing that I really love is, uh, humility.

Kat: 00:08:18

I think humility is such a, uh, leadership trait that I think gets really overlooked

Kat: 00:08:24

and, uh, you know, going back to what you said about being an intern who's older,

Kat: 00:08:29

then that's not usually the case, right?

Kat: 00:08:32

But you stepped in being fully okay with learning from someone younger than you.

Kat: 00:08:36

And that really goes back to growth mindset, you know?

Kat: 00:08:39

And so as a child, just looking back, how did you develop that growth mindset?

Kat: 00:08:45

Especially, you know, with your situation, right?

Kat: 00:08:48

Like, how did you grow up?

Kat: 00:08:49

thinking, okay, I am enough.

Kat: 00:08:51

I can do things.

Kat: 00:08:52

I am capable, like all of these things.

Kat: 00:08:54

How did you develop that?

Kat: 00:08:56

Or did you have a mentor aside from your parents?

Kat: 00:08:59

Like, did you have like a mentor that really helped you

Kat: 00:09:01

and guide you through that?

Kumi: 00:09:03

Yeah, I think it was really fortunate to grow up in an environment

Kumi: 00:09:06

outside of like my immediate, immediate where like my extended

Kumi: 00:09:10

family was like, that's just Kumi.

Kumi: 00:09:13

That's how she, she's in a wheelchair.

Kumi: 00:09:15

She just thinks differently or sometimes she needs help.

Kumi: 00:09:18

Um, I think, I really found myself in kind of exercising growth mindset when

Kumi: 00:09:23

I hit about my thirties, right after I took over the Miss Wheelchair California

Kumi: 00:09:28

Foundation, um, and was working at Disney full time, I was juggling multiple tasks,

Kumi: 00:09:33

including my day to day job, which, you know, was the primary source of income

Kumi: 00:09:38

for, um, Me to do things outside of that job, like, like Miss Orchard, California.

Kumi: 00:09:42

So I think just relocate, well, I have to do the show now.

Kumi: 00:09:45

It started really simple.

Kumi: 00:09:46

I have to do the show.

Kumi: 00:09:47

Now I have to do these four shows.

Kumi: 00:09:48

What can I do during break?

Kumi: 00:09:50

I'm during breaks.

Kumi: 00:09:50

I prioritize things that I need to do, phone calls that I need to make.

Kumi: 00:09:54

And even today, like, you know, as a former legislative staffer, um, I had

Kumi: 00:09:58

a great experience and I'm not knocking that experience at all, but I think, cool.

Kumi: 00:10:02

Working in the political realm can really lead to like an unhealthy

Kumi: 00:10:09

lifestyle of, you know, again, like living in that urgency culture or,

Kumi: 00:10:14

you know, prioritizing work over self and health and things like that.

Kumi: 00:10:18

Um, I think that's where I was like, okay, what can I do now again?

Kumi: 00:10:22

And then what, what can I focus on later?

Kumi: 00:10:26

Because not everything is going to be, you know, the best that it

Kumi: 00:10:30

could potentially be unless it's.

Kumi: 00:10:32

Receives the amount of focus that it deserves

Kat: 00:10:36

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Kat: 00:10:39

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Kat: 00:10:45

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Kat: 00:10:47

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Kat: 00:10:53

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Kat: 00:10:55

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Kat: 00:11:06

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Kat: 00:11:09

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Kat: 00:12:29

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Lee: 00:12:33

I have a question because being in, in the politics side

Lee: 00:12:36

of things and then, um, the Ms.

Lee: 00:12:40

Wheelchair also with Aladdin, um, You've been just exposed to different levels

Lee: 00:12:45

of theater, of play, of creativity, just solving different problems in

Lee: 00:12:48

different creative ways in that.

Lee: 00:12:50

When did that creative bug kind of come to life for you?

Lee: 00:12:54

Like, where did that start in your life?

Kumi: 00:12:57

I grew up in a very musical family.

Kumi: 00:13:00

instrumental vocal and creative too.

Kumi: 00:13:04

Um, like my mom was a very great artist that can paint, you know,

Kumi: 00:13:07

drawing and things like that.

Kumi: 00:13:08

Um, but I think it really hit me like in middle school, uh, when we started

Kumi: 00:13:17

doing like curriculars, um, like the choir joining the band and things like

Kumi: 00:13:21

that, and, um, I grew up in a Catholic church choir, um, and singing there.

Kumi: 00:13:29

And that was really fun for me.

Kumi: 00:13:31

Um, I learned a lot there.

Kumi: 00:13:32

Um, but then in the summer when I'd visit my mom's father, my grandfather, um, he

Kumi: 00:13:37

was Southern Baptist and we would go to a Baptist church and then I would sing

Kumi: 00:13:41

with the choir at the Baptist church.

Kumi: 00:13:43

Now that's two.

Kumi: 00:13:43

Two completely different types of music.

Kumi: 00:13:48

I think realizing that there is more types of music out there really

Kumi: 00:13:54

sparked this and I think, you know, my parents were like, okay, uh, uh,

Kumi: 00:13:58

every, every one of the kids had.

Kumi: 00:14:01

Something to do after school, um, it, most of the time it was

Kumi: 00:14:04

sports and with me, they were like, well, what do you want to do?

Kumi: 00:14:07

And you have to do something.

Kumi: 00:14:08

You can't just do nothing.

Kumi: 00:14:09

I think essentially they're like, you have to get out of my house

Kumi: 00:14:11

after school because we need time.

Kumi: 00:14:13

All these kids need to go do their extracurriculars, but

Kumi: 00:14:15

I think it was really at that time where I got bit by the bug.

Kumi: 00:14:18

You know, making friends and choir and theater and going to, um,

Kumi: 00:14:24

other shows, you know, like, uh, community theater or high school.

Kumi: 00:14:27

And then, you know, in high school, going to like regional

Kumi: 00:14:29

theater and so on and so forth.

Kumi: 00:14:31

I think that's when I really realized that, um, singing and performing

Kumi: 00:14:36

was something that I could not live without and be happy and be satisfied.

Kumi: 00:14:41

Yeah.

Lee: 00:14:42

Cause you have such a, There's like a presence about you that I always

Lee: 00:14:45

loved when I got to go to watch you guys do the Aladdin show and that, and just

Lee: 00:14:50

having you come out and just like your facial expression, just the joy of that,

Lee: 00:14:54

but it's also like now thinking back, it's, you know, you really paved a way

Lee: 00:14:58

for other, other people to have that.

Lee: 00:15:00

And then now too, with.

Lee: 00:15:03

Uh, Delia in, in Wish, there's just that extra layer of like your, your

Lee: 00:15:08

voice coming through to this like character on screen and when we went

Lee: 00:15:12

to go see Wish and like, you were there and just like the audience

Lee: 00:15:14

erupting and screaming and all that.

Lee: 00:15:16

How have those happened?

Lee: 00:15:17

Moments kind of inspired you to, to keep going, to live your best life, you know,

Lee: 00:15:23

to really kind of raise the bar in, in your own, um, process of doing life.

Kumi: 00:15:29

First of all, I was so grateful to share that with both of you at theater.

Kumi: 00:15:32

And I really loved having like my Aladdin fair and, you know, the extension of that

Kumi: 00:15:38

for others and kids and, you know, um, even mothers and fathers of, of our former

Kumi: 00:15:44

cast mates were, were, um, in attendance.

Kumi: 00:15:46

Um, and.

Kumi: 00:15:48

I think that, you know, I had a real identity crisis when Aladdin

Kumi: 00:15:52

ended because I was no longer singing and performing every day.

Kumi: 00:15:58

So for 13 years, people would ask you, what do you do?

Kumi: 00:16:02

I'm a singer.

Kumi: 00:16:03

I'm a singer.

Kumi: 00:16:04

I'm a performer.

Kumi: 00:16:04

That's what I do.

Kumi: 00:16:05

And then all of a sudden it just stops like cold turkey.

Kumi: 00:16:07

There's no phase out.

Kumi: 00:16:09

Nothing.

Kat: 00:16:09

I'm having chills thinking about it.

Kumi: 00:16:12

Yes.

Kumi: 00:16:12

You remember that?

Kat: 00:16:13

Yeah.

Kat: 00:16:14

I just have chills of that, that identity crisis.

Kat: 00:16:16

I it's so real.

Kat: 00:16:17

Yeah.

Kat: 00:16:17

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:16:18

I went through that for a long time while, um, being an intern.

Kumi: 00:16:25

At city hall, I was like, what do you do now?

Kumi: 00:16:29

I'm not just an unemployed person.

Kumi: 00:16:32

Like, you know, I'm volunteering.

Kumi: 00:16:33

I'm a community member and I'm still a singer and I'm still a performer.

Kumi: 00:16:37

And I think having the mindset of being able to be passionate

Kumi: 00:16:42

and having the capacity to allow yourself to be passionate about

Kumi: 00:16:45

more than one thing in life.

Kumi: 00:16:47

And the thing, those multiple things for me are community and the arts.

Kumi: 00:16:52

Um, in addition to, of course, like my family and things like that.

Kumi: 00:16:55

But I think it's.

Kumi: 00:16:58

Completely possible to exist in multiple worlds, I guess, professionally,

Kumi: 00:17:04

you know, when, um, the opportunity for wish came along, um, that

Kumi: 00:17:08

was just another testament to.

Kumi: 00:17:10

God providing for my performer's soul.

Kumi: 00:17:15

Um, I never really closed that door.

Kumi: 00:17:17

Right.

Kumi: 00:17:18

Um, mentally or emotionally, um, after I got over the identity crisis,

Kumi: 00:17:24

I was like, well, I can be both.

Kumi: 00:17:25

And that's exactly the way that I live.

Kumi: 00:17:31

You know, I still do have a regular nine to five job and I do go to school

Kumi: 00:17:35

and, you know, I still audition.

Kumi: 00:17:38

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:17:38

I audition, um, often, very often.

Kat: 00:17:42

I love that.

Kat: 00:17:43

Oh gosh, there's so many there to unpack.

Kat: 00:17:46

Just the, even just the process of going through the identity crisis and, and,

Kat: 00:17:50

and all of that, and the realization that we are multi multifaceted beings.

Kat: 00:17:55

And just because we connected with being a singer as our identity, doesn't mean that

Kat: 00:18:00

that goes away when that job goes away.

Kat: 00:18:02

And it's really incredible that you share that.

Kat: 00:18:05

Now, leading up to let's, the, the project would, would wish, right.

Kat: 00:18:09

Leading up to that, um, Obviously, like, like, I feel that too, like, if I haven't

Kat: 00:18:13

done a performing job in a while and I go to audition for something, right?

Kat: 00:18:18

I have a lot of fears, right?

Kat: 00:18:19

It's like, do I even know how to do this?

Kat: 00:18:22

Do, do I, do I even belong here still?

Kat: 00:18:24

You know?

Kat: 00:18:24

So there's a lot of limiting beliefs.

Kat: 00:18:26

Can you pinpoint maybe a specific limiting belief that really maybe gripped you?

Kat: 00:18:34

And how you overcame that in the process of auditioning?

Kat: 00:18:38

Getting into the movie wish

Kumi: 00:18:40

it's exactly that.

Kumi: 00:18:42

Like I don't sing every day, this instrument does not work the way it did.

Kumi: 00:18:46

You know, when we ended in 2016, but you know, I speak at a lot of schools, like

Kumi: 00:18:52

grade schools, and I think the one thing that I tell kids who are on that path to

Kumi: 00:18:59

be in this industry is that as performers, your only job is to do your best.

Kumi: 00:19:06

Your best.

Kumi: 00:19:07

You'll hear many, many no's, but there's no room to take those no's

Kumi: 00:19:11

personally because It's a very limited amount of people's like, dislike.

Kumi: 00:19:17

So I always see them as

Kumi: 00:19:23

like little gifts, right?

Kumi: 00:19:24

I, you know, it's so funny that just to go back a little bit, we always

Kumi: 00:19:28

think that we want what's best for us.

Kumi: 00:19:30

And we think that we know what's best for us, but I am a firm believer

Kumi: 00:19:34

that God will provide what is best for you when the time is right.

Kumi: 00:19:39

And I think that is very much so my, um, frame of thought.

Kumi: 00:19:46

When I go to these types of audition, and especially for Wish, I was like,

Kumi: 00:19:50

Oh gosh, first of all, I was really, I was really intimidated because they

Kumi: 00:19:55

were like, Oh, they're all teenagers.

Kumi: 00:19:56

I was like, I was like, I don't think I sound like a teenager, but okay.

Kumi: 00:20:00

So, you know, the best thing you can do is, you know, I, I got coached.

Kumi: 00:20:04

You have to hone your craft constantly.

Kumi: 00:20:06

And I think that people in this industry, even like people who are

Kumi: 00:20:09

super successful in this industry, um, still training with people.

Kumi: 00:20:14

It's so important to remember that there is no like, cap for training

Kumi: 00:20:18

when you're a performer, it's, it's kind of like working out, you have to

Kumi: 00:20:21

keep working out those muscles in your memory and in your, in whether it be

Kumi: 00:20:26

vocal or your movement to keep them at your best, at your personal best.

Kumi: 00:20:32

So,

Kat: 00:20:32

yeah.

Kumi: 00:20:33

Oh, I love it.

Kumi: 00:20:35

It was so awesome.

Kumi: 00:20:36

Like I was so shocked.

Kumi: 00:20:37

I remember I was working for our former mayor at the time.

Kumi: 00:20:41

And my email went off on my phone.

Kumi: 00:20:43

It says audition Disney cartoon, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Kumi: 00:20:46

And I was like, Oh, that's cool.

Kumi: 00:20:48

And then I remember going back and my agent called me right away.

Kumi: 00:20:51

And I was like, what is going on?

Kumi: 00:20:52

Everybody's calling me right now.

Kumi: 00:20:54

It was just blowing up.

Kumi: 00:20:55

And she goes, Oh, there you are.

Kumi: 00:20:57

I called her back and she was like, they want you to audition.

Kumi: 00:20:59

I was like, well, what is it?

Kumi: 00:21:00

She was like, well, we don't know.

Kumi: 00:21:01

And I was like.

Kumi: 00:21:03

So, you know, and I also, I also make it a point like after auditions to make a plan,

Kumi: 00:21:09

like I, you know, auditioned virtually, but I also made a plan afterwards to

Kumi: 00:21:13

the person that helped me audition to go out and see a movie, like just to get

Kumi: 00:21:16

distracted and not, I don't want to allow any like downtime for my brain to start

Kumi: 00:21:21

spiraling because that's just who I am.

Kat: 00:21:24

Yeah.

Kat: 00:21:25

And I love that, you know, that about yourself and you know how to kind of.

Kat: 00:21:29

Navigate through all of that because I think as performers, as artists,

Kat: 00:21:34

we there's so many things going in the brain and, you know, and,

Kat: 00:21:38

and the stuff that we, I mean, the imposter syndrome is, is huge, right?

Kat: 00:21:42

Like that it's, it's just so real and that's just us in the artist world.

Kat: 00:21:46

But I think with, with everybody, I think we just, there's just this

Kat: 00:21:49

epidemic of, we feel like we're never enough, you know, because of everything

Kat: 00:21:53

that we see on social media, it always feels like we're not enough.

Kat: 00:21:56

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:21:58

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:21:59

There's this like unhealthy perfectionism that comes along with,

Kumi: 00:22:05

I mean, not just this industry,

Kat: 00:22:06

right?

Kumi: 00:22:07

It can't just be this industry.

Kumi: 00:22:09

Um, and I think it has to do with the culture of work in this country.

Kat: 00:22:14

Yeah.

Kat: 00:22:14

Awesome.

Lee: 00:22:15

So with the, um, more on the, the political realm that you're in right now,

Lee: 00:22:20

um, do you feel a lot of similarities between that, uh, Cause you said you

Lee: 00:22:26

were a 30 plus year old intern, kind of a new, new area, new ground now, you

Lee: 00:22:33

know, with the work that you're doing, um, do you feel like a lot of those

Lee: 00:22:38

same fears and kind of burdens you have to kind of press through every day?

Lee: 00:22:42

Do you feel confident now where you're at?

Kumi: 00:22:45

I do feel confident where I'm at, but there's always room to learn more.

Kumi: 00:22:49

In my day to day job, I'm the Citywide Accessibility Coordinator

Kumi: 00:22:53

for the City of Long Beach.

Kumi: 00:22:55

This, um, role requires me to make sure that the city is in

Kumi: 00:22:59

compliant with specific titles of the Americans with Disabilities

Kumi: 00:23:03

Act, which is pretty much basic.

Kumi: 00:23:04

people with disabilities civil rights law.

Kumi: 00:23:07

And I don't have a law background.

Kumi: 00:23:09

So of course, it seems very intimidating, but I feel like I

Kumi: 00:23:13

learned something every single day.

Kumi: 00:23:16

If you know, Sometimes even from hour to hour, and it's just great to be able

Kumi: 00:23:22

to build that like toolbox of things that I need to help me do my job, um,

Kumi: 00:23:26

at the level that I need to, to better serve the community, but I definitely do

Kumi: 00:23:29

feel a lot more comfortable navigating, um, you know, the local government.

Kumi: 00:23:34

Process and helping people navigate the local government process on

Kumi: 00:23:37

the other end, a government phone.

Kumi: 00:23:40

You'll find very often that people are calling you at their very last straw.

Kumi: 00:23:46

Like, they've talked to everybody and gotten nowhere at all.

Kumi: 00:23:49

So I think.

Kumi: 00:23:50

You know, it's really helpful to have had that experience of, you know, knowing,

Kumi: 00:23:56

um, how to dispatch issues to different departments in the city, um, into how

Kumi: 00:24:03

to really talk to, and I like people, I've always liked people, so how to talk

Kumi: 00:24:06

to people and kind of bring them down a little bit and help them figure out the

Kumi: 00:24:11

issue, but also empower them to be able to address issues on their own in the future.

Kat: 00:24:16

Yeah,

Kumi: 00:24:16

I think that's where I feel really confident.

Kat: 00:24:19

I love that.

Kat: 00:24:20

When it comes to creativity, what do you think is, um, you know, your kind

Kat: 00:24:25

of like your definition, your view on creativity and how does that help you,

Kat: 00:24:30

especially in your position right now?

Kumi: 00:24:32

So when a lot of people think about government, they

Kumi: 00:24:34

think about so boring, right?

Kumi: 00:24:37

So, um, and it can be.

Kumi: 00:24:40

If you deliver it in a boring manner, and it's so interesting because I'm

Kumi: 00:24:44

taking this communications class at school right now, and I'm reading

Kumi: 00:24:47

this book called to facilitate student success and lessons from instructional

Kumi: 00:24:51

communication and educational psychology.

Kumi: 00:24:54

So what can I do to make this information both for people and as you

Kumi: 00:25:01

know, When we were locked down in that dungeon, we are very creative beings.

Kumi: 00:25:06

We made all kinds of videos.

Kumi: 00:25:08

We, we, you know, and I think, you know, it helps to have that

Kumi: 00:25:10

entertainment background and to be able to facilitate meetings that would

Kumi: 00:25:15

typically seem kind of boring and make them more interesting for our audience.

Kumi: 00:25:20

A wide variety of people, and I think that really helps, uh, my job also, um, entails

Kumi: 00:25:27

a lot of event planning and executing and that for me is where I feel like it can

Kumi: 00:25:31

really execute like, or you utilize my creative side, you know, and making sure

Kumi: 00:25:37

that, you know, People feel welcome and prioritized when they come to, you know,

Kumi: 00:25:42

they take these courses or these classes or attend these meetings and are, are

Kumi: 00:25:47

connected to these resources and programs.

Kumi: 00:25:49

But, you know, it's been really helpful in the smallest of ways too.

Kumi: 00:25:51

Like one time we were planning to have a state of the district event at night

Kumi: 00:25:57

outside and nobody thought that we would need a spotlight , but for months

Kumi: 00:26:01

I said we need a, we need a spotlight.

Kumi: 00:26:04

And we were going the two days before and they were like.

Kumi: 00:26:07

It's dark.

Kumi: 00:26:08

I was like, you think ? What do we need?

Kumi: 00:26:11

And everybody was like a spotlight.

Kumi: 00:26:13

I was like, alright, thank you, . They're just simple things, you know?

Kat: 00:26:18

Yeah.

Kat: 00:26:19

They're not listening to the one who's had years performing.

Kat: 00:26:21

Come on guys.

Kat: 00:26:22

No,

Kumi: 00:26:22

nobody's gonna look at somebody in the dark.

Kumi: 00:26:26

So it's just funny.

Kumi: 00:26:27

And of course, you know, the One Spotlight was one of our former cast members.

Kumi: 00:26:31

Oh.

Kumi: 00:26:31

So it's nice to be able to, you know, bring that.

Kumi: 00:26:35

entertainment side to this work that doesn't seem too

Kumi: 00:26:41

interesting to people who aren't.

Kumi: 00:26:43

Typically involved like this.

Kat: 00:26:45

Yeah.

Kat: 00:26:46

Was it Elijah?

Kat: 00:26:47

It

Kumi: 00:26:48

was.

Kumi: 00:26:48

It was like, Elijah, I need a photo booth, I need a stage, I need a spotlight,

Kumi: 00:26:55

I need a DJ, and I need microphones.

Kat: 00:26:58

He's got everything.

Kat: 00:26:59

If you want, you know, costumes, he's got everything.

Kat: 00:27:01

So,

Kumi: 00:27:01

yeah, he asked, he's like, do we need any wigs?

Kumi: 00:27:04

I was like, no, Elijah, it's not that kind of party, but hold that thought.

Kumi: 00:27:07

Let me just ask really

Kat: 00:27:09

quick.

Kat: 00:27:09

That's for the next one.

Kat: 00:27:10

Okay.

Kat: 00:27:11

Oh, I love that.

Kat: 00:27:12

That's awesome.

Kat: 00:27:14

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memories around the world.

Kat: 00:29:01

Kind of going back to you said you talk a lot to children.

Kat: 00:29:06

Um, you know, one of the reasons why we are putting the show back on.

Kat: 00:29:10

We had this idea about our podcast, but.

Kat: 00:29:12

You know, I think everybody in 2020 started something and then

Kat: 00:29:15

stopped and just kind of faded off.

Kat: 00:29:17

Right.

Kat: 00:29:18

And so that's kind of what happened to our show, but then I'm doing

Kat: 00:29:21

this sort of shifting in like the way I teach my piano lessons.

Kat: 00:29:26

And one of the reasons why we brought this show back on is because I really

Kat: 00:29:30

want to explore with kids, right?

Kat: 00:29:33

I think some people are born with an aptitude for leadership.

Kat: 00:29:36

But it's not something that, you know, it's impossible at all

Kat: 00:29:39

for for everybody else, right?

Kat: 00:29:41

I think it can be learned and I think I do think it starts

Kat: 00:29:44

with a growth mindset, right?

Kat: 00:29:46

Like if you have a growth mindset and you know, you're you can always learn anything

Kat: 00:29:50

then you can learn how to be a leader So when you talk to kids, you know, what are

Kat: 00:29:55

some of the things that you feel like?

Kat: 00:29:57

They really need help with the most when it comes to growth mindset

Kat: 00:30:02

or maybe a lack of leadership skills or values that they have.

Kat: 00:30:06

Um, what is that thing that you feel like they need the most?

Kumi: 00:30:10

I think there are two things that are really needed when we talk about kids

Kumi: 00:30:15

and developing growth mindset and skills.

Kumi: 00:30:18

One, it's the, their capacity to believe that.

Kumi: 00:30:24

They have what it takes and to their access to things that they think or know

Kumi: 00:30:33

will help them become better leaders.

Kumi: 00:30:36

So when I talk to kids, we spend a lot of time first, we talk about our dreams

Kumi: 00:30:41

and our hopes and our wishes, right?

Kumi: 00:30:42

Because we're all responsible for that wish.

Kumi: 00:30:45

Um, Yes.

Kumi: 00:30:47

Yes.

Kumi: 00:30:47

We're all responsible for all of that.

Kumi: 00:30:49

But then we talk about things in their life that they see as potential

Kumi: 00:30:54

roadblocks to becoming whatever it is that they want to be, um, and

Kumi: 00:31:00

being the leader of their own life.

Kumi: 00:31:02

Right.

Kumi: 00:31:02

Because there's some part of, you know, our day to day life where we

Kumi: 00:31:07

just have to lead for ourselves.

Kumi: 00:31:08

Everybody does.

Kumi: 00:31:09

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:31:10

And I think.

Kumi: 00:31:11

You know, sharing not only the good life, but the really hard things about life

Kumi: 00:31:15

and the potential hard things about life.

Kumi: 00:31:17

It's really important too, right?

Kumi: 00:31:19

Because I think there's, yes, people connect on the level of, um, positivity,

Kumi: 00:31:25

but we also connect on the things that brought us here and sometimes

Kumi: 00:31:31

that's not all, you know, Positive or even things that we want to remember.

Kumi: 00:31:36

Um, so acknowledging those traumas, maybe, and those scars and packing them away

Kumi: 00:31:42

in a healthy manner and just remembering that, that those are just steps is.

Kumi: 00:31:49

I know it sounds really complicated, especially for children, but, you know, we

Kumi: 00:31:52

do a lot of, um, exploring, we talk a lot about, um, what their home lives are like,

Kumi: 00:31:58

you know, how they perceive themself and how they think people perceive themselves

Kumi: 00:32:05

and how they want people to perceive them.

Kumi: 00:32:08

Um, we talk a lot about school, um, you know, the hardships in

Kumi: 00:32:12

school I'm finding more and more.

Kumi: 00:32:15

And I think it has a lot to do with the use of technology and just how much.

Kumi: 00:32:21

This generation has become dependent on it.

Kumi: 00:32:24

There's like a huge gap in, um, being socially, I don't want to use the word

Kumi: 00:32:29

trained, but just socially being okay.

Kumi: 00:32:33

And social matters, social settings, right.

Kumi: 00:32:36

Versus text mailing or talking through a screen.

Kumi: 00:32:38

Like a lot of people get a lot of anxiety and just the thought of

Kumi: 00:32:42

talking to somebody face to face or simply making a phone call.

Kumi: 00:32:46

So we, we address those things.

Kumi: 00:32:49

Um, and we talk about them.

Kumi: 00:32:51

Um, I love making lists.

Kumi: 00:32:53

Um, I share with them that lists are my way of making sure that, um, I do

Kumi: 00:32:59

everything that I need to do in order to have a successful day or event,

Kumi: 00:33:04

or do great on a test for school.

Kumi: 00:33:06

You can use lists for everything.

Kumi: 00:33:08

And then we also talk about journaling, you know, um, if kids don't feel That

Kumi: 00:33:14

they confidently can confide in somebody.

Kumi: 00:33:17

There's always a journal.

Kumi: 00:33:18

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:33:19

We talk about journaling.

Kumi: 00:33:20

All right.

Kumi: 00:33:20

We're wrong way to do it.

Kumi: 00:33:21

Just, you know, I call it mind dumping, soul dumping, whatever,

Kumi: 00:33:27

whatever you feel needs to be.

Kumi: 00:33:29

Put out on a piece of paper for you to visualize and see.

Kumi: 00:33:32

So we talk a lot about that when I talk about, when I talk to kids, I'm

Kumi: 00:33:35

mentoring an amazing student who's in the fifth grade, who is neurodivergent.

Kumi: 00:33:42

And they're starting their own little business to get other students that.

Kumi: 00:33:48

Um, have neurodivergence together, um, in a setting where they can just talk

Kumi: 00:33:52

about their life, you know, the joys, the sadness, the highs and the lows.

Kumi: 00:33:56

And, and how leaning on your community is really more helpful than people sometimes.

Kat: 00:34:03

Wow.

Kat: 00:34:04

That's amazing.

Kat: 00:34:05

Yeah.

Lee: 00:34:06

Question with.

Lee: 00:34:08

That role, was that something that you like volunteered to step into?

Lee: 00:34:14

Is it something that came from your time in the theater?

Lee: 00:34:16

Is it time that came, or is it a position that came from like

Lee: 00:34:19

the work that you're doing?

Lee: 00:34:21

In the political realm, how'd that come to be?

Kumi: 00:34:24

So I, um, founded Long Beach Disability Pride toward

Kumi: 00:34:29

the end of the pandemic, right?

Kumi: 00:34:30

We were all finding ourselves isolated and people, many people,

Kumi: 00:34:34

disabilities already live isolation.

Kumi: 00:34:36

And that was just compounded by everything that was going on with the whole pandemic.

Kumi: 00:34:41

So sometimes at these events, um, I'll have people come up to me and

Kumi: 00:34:44

say, you know, I'm doing this project.

Kumi: 00:34:46

I would really love if you could take a look and you know, I'm very

Kumi: 00:34:50

realistic My schedule and my time.

Kumi: 00:34:54

And I don't want to half give myself to somebody as a

Kumi: 00:34:58

mentor or anything like that.

Kumi: 00:35:00

So some of these meetings turn into a mentor mentee type of relationship.

Kumi: 00:35:05

And some of them, you know, it's just a one off.

Kumi: 00:35:07

Do you have any advice for me?

Kumi: 00:35:08

That's it.

Kumi: 00:35:09

Um, there is someone that I met through Long Beach Disability Pride.

Kumi: 00:35:13

Um, and right now I have three mentees.

Kumi: 00:35:16

Um, uh, one is in college and they're neurodivergent as

Kumi: 00:35:20

well, and they're an author.

Kumi: 00:35:21

And then the other one is actually a parent who's significantly older

Kumi: 00:35:25

than me of a child with a disability, um, who really wants to get into, you

Kumi: 00:35:31

know, voiceovers and things like that.

Kumi: 00:35:32

And, um, so it just, it varies.

Kumi: 00:35:36

Um, I tend to go with my heart.

Kumi: 00:35:38

And typically my heart is pretty much.

Kumi: 00:35:40

Right.

Kumi: 00:35:41

You know, um, I don't just mentor everybody.

Kumi: 00:35:44

Like I, if, if I feel that the person is really, really like dedicated to doing the

Kumi: 00:35:50

work and, and, you know, being present, making the meetings and things like that,

Kumi: 00:35:53

then, you know, we, it's, it's give and take, but you know, somebody did it to

Kumi: 00:35:57

me when I was younger and many mentors, whether they were teachers or people

Kumi: 00:36:01

at church or people in the community.

Kumi: 00:36:03

So, and that's what.

Kumi: 00:36:05

Communities for,

Kat: 00:36:07

you

Kumi: 00:36:07

know, and we're there to lean on each other and be there for each other

Kat: 00:36:12

and talking about mentorship and, you know, coaching kids, right?

Kat: 00:36:16

Being there for them and being that kind of guide for them.

Kat: 00:36:20

Why is it important to, for kids to have that?

Kat: 00:36:24

Because, you know, versus like looking up to their parents and

Kat: 00:36:28

letting the parents to be the only guide, you know, why is it important

Kat: 00:36:31

for a child to obviously have that?

Kat: 00:36:34

Amazing parents, but also have a great mentor.

Kumi: 00:36:37

So when I was younger, my dad would come see my, my little concerts, right?

Kumi: 00:36:43

And he would say, you're the best.

Kumi: 00:36:44

And my response was, you have to say that because you're my dad.

Kumi: 00:36:49

You know, I think that, um, it's important for kids to have, you know, connection.

Kumi: 00:36:57

With people outside of just their family because human connection itself

Kumi: 00:37:00

is important and vital for life.

Kumi: 00:37:02

Right.

Kumi: 00:37:03

But also because to provide different perspectives, you know, and I'm not saying

Kumi: 00:37:08

that all perspectives matter, but, um, You know, I, I also think it puts the

Kumi: 00:37:14

onus on the child to become a part of a community to learn more and then turn

Kumi: 00:37:21

it, I always tell people, if somebody is pulling you up the ladder and there's

Kumi: 00:37:25

comes a, there will come a point where you feel like you can let go with one hand

Kumi: 00:37:29

and reach around and gritty behind you.

Kumi: 00:37:31

And that's always what the.

Kumi: 00:37:33

The mentor mentee relationship should look like, right.

Kumi: 00:37:38

Um, so, you know, I'm grateful for what my parents did 100%.

Kumi: 00:37:43

Um, but I'm also really equally grateful.

Kumi: 00:37:46

They pushed me to go outside of the home, to do community theater, to join

Kumi: 00:37:50

these choirs, to attend, you know, and perform in these concerts with friends,

Kumi: 00:37:53

et cetera, et cetera, and at church.

Kumi: 00:37:55

Um, it's just a part of, of life.

Kumi: 00:37:58

Two churches,

Kat: 00:37:59

Catholic and Baptist.

Kat: 00:38:02

One, it was not enough.

Kumi: 00:38:04

Yes.

Kumi: 00:38:05

Two churches.

Kumi: 00:38:06

Um, and my c I've definitely found like a church in my community, you know?

Kumi: 00:38:13

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:38:13

Mm-Hmm.

Kumi: 00:38:13

So I want kids to be able to feel like they can rely on their

Kumi: 00:38:15

community like that as well.

Kat: 00:38:18

Yeah.

Kat: 00:38:18

That's

Kumi: 00:38:18

great.

Kat: 00:38:18

Wonderful.

Kat: 00:38:20

Do you have any more parting questions for Kumi as we're wrapping it up?

Lee: 00:38:23

I was going to, oh, yeah.

Lee: 00:38:24

Okay.

Lee: 00:38:24

I wasn't sure.

Kat: 00:38:25

Go for it.

Lee: 00:38:26

Feeling the vibe between the two

Kat: 00:38:28

Go for it when not to.

Lee: 00:38:30

Um, no, I just, I, it's more of like a comment and I don't know

Lee: 00:38:33

if there's like feedback that you have on the end, but it's just.

Lee: 00:38:35

It's awesome to hear, like the experiences that you've had, they've

Lee: 00:38:40

all accumulated into where you are now.

Lee: 00:38:42

And I'm sure it's going to continue on, um, going through and the gifts

Lee: 00:38:46

that God has given you, um, in voice and talent and patience and, um,

Lee: 00:38:51

leadership has really just accelerated, you know, as, as you go on with life.

Lee: 00:38:57

And now what I'm seeing is.

Lee: 00:39:01

The, the gifts that you were given, you're sharing that downstream, so to speak,

Lee: 00:39:05

but those kids now, like the one that you mentioned is starting your own business

Lee: 00:39:09

or starting their own business, like that acceleration, you know, and the impact

Lee: 00:39:13

that I think you're having without, maybe, you know, it, maybe not, but, um, the

Lee: 00:39:18

impact that you have by giving back, you know, um, it's such like, uh, you know,

Lee: 00:39:24

we can be that little pebble in a pond or we can be like a big boulder and throw

Lee: 00:39:28

it down and huge waves and everything.

Lee: 00:39:30

Um, it's just.

Lee: 00:39:32

Yeah, it's just, I don't know.

Lee: 00:39:33

It's, it's inspiring just hearing the way that you look at life, the way that

Lee: 00:39:37

you're sharing your life with others and, and really pulling people up.

Lee: 00:39:41

As you said, it sounds like almost like you're grabbing them and like really

Lee: 00:39:45

nice hard whip to send them forward.

Lee: 00:39:50

But, um, Yeah, I just wanted to comment on that.

Lee: 00:39:53

That's all.

Kat: 00:39:53

Yeah, for me too, Kumi.

Kat: 00:39:55

I mean, you know, it's, it's not, we don't really talk a lot, you know,

Kat: 00:39:58

so it's like, I mean, yeah, we work together, but it's not like we talk a lot.

Kat: 00:40:01

So it's, I was just telling Liam, like, I really, I'm excited about this idea

Kat: 00:40:05

of like, Putting up the podcast again, because it gives us an opportunity to

Kat: 00:40:09

kind of just talk to people and like, Hey, learn a little bit more about them.

Kat: 00:40:13

And, you know, so some of the things that you shared, you know, today, I

Kat: 00:40:16

mean, I didn't really know about you, you know, and so it's just incredible

Kat: 00:40:21

to, to learn that and to just hear of all your experiences, a lot of it, right.

Kat: 00:40:28

And, um, and where you are now, it's, it's really incredible.

Kat: 00:40:31

So thank you for being here.

Kat: 00:40:33

Do you have any sort of, um, if you were to tell, you know,

Kat: 00:40:37

especially parents, right?

Kat: 00:40:39

What is like the one thing that they can do for their kids to really help

Kat: 00:40:44

their kids grow up into this growth mindset and having a growth mindset and

Kat: 00:40:51

and be leaders for life, not just in the future, In the present in there.

Kat: 00:40:55

You know, how is this relatable to a third grader?

Kat: 00:40:58

You know, like, how can a parent help that child become the leader that they need to

Kat: 00:41:03

be in the present, not just in the future?

Kumi: 00:41:05

Yeah, I think it's really, I think it really boils down to providing your

Kumi: 00:41:11

child with the tools to recognize their leadership skills and opportunities

Kumi: 00:41:17

to use their leadership skills.

Kumi: 00:41:19

So that can be anything from, you know, You know, making sure you carve

Kumi: 00:41:23

enough time out to finish your homework before you go outside and play, or if

Kumi: 00:41:27

you want to join that extracurricular sport, you know, making sure your

Kumi: 00:41:30

grades are at a certain level.

Kumi: 00:41:32

And, you know, even like having friends over, like, is your room clean?

Kumi: 00:41:35

Is the bathroom clean?

Kumi: 00:41:37

What do we typically offer people when they come over to our house?

Kumi: 00:41:39

Something to drink, maybe some snacks or something like that.

Kumi: 00:41:43

Like giving them.

Kumi: 00:41:44

Real situations and treating them like they're in charge of their own life,

Kumi: 00:41:49

because at some point or another, they will be, you know, and I think it really

Kumi: 00:41:53

shows when people allow their kids to find that side of themselves, that leader

Kumi: 00:42:00

and that little adult who, you know, is good at planning and considers, you know,

Kumi: 00:42:05

what it takes to even play or work with other people is really, it really shows.

Kumi: 00:42:11

I

Kat: 00:42:12

love that.

Kat: 00:42:12

And what is your definition of a wildly wealthy life?

Kumi: 00:42:17

I think my definition of a wildly wealthy life is being

Kumi: 00:42:21

immersed in having access to endless amounts of what makes you happy.

Kumi: 00:42:30

It could be love.

Kumi: 00:42:31

It could be laughter.

Kumi: 00:42:32

It could be friendship.

Kumi: 00:42:33

It could be traveling.

Kumi: 00:42:35

It could be nature.

Kumi: 00:42:37

Wealth can come in many different forms.

Kumi: 00:42:40

We just have to realize that for ourselves.

Kat: 00:42:44

Yeah.

Kumi: 00:42:44

What makes us happy.

Kat: 00:42:46

I love it.

Kat: 00:42:48

Thank you, Kumi.

Kat: 00:42:49

Thank you both so much.

Kumi: 00:42:50

This is so great.

Kumi: 00:42:51

I love spending time with both of you.

Kat: 00:42:53

It's really

Kumi: 00:42:54

fun.

Kat: 00:42:55

Kumi, I forgot to ask one more question.

Kat: 00:42:57

Um, where can people find out more about you, and if there's

Kat: 00:43:01

anyone that wants to kind of get involved with what you're doing?

Kat: 00:43:03

What you're doing, um, you know, how do they, uh, keep in touch with you?

Kumi: 00:43:08

Sure.

Kumi: 00:43:09

Um, uh, you can, um, visit my Instagram at Kumi rocks, um, and send me a

Kumi: 00:43:15

message or you can email me at J N Kumiyama, K U M I Y A M A at gmail.

Kumi: 00:43:23

com.

Kumi: 00:43:24

Awesome.

Lee: 00:43:25

Is it rocks?

Lee: 00:43:26

R O C K S.

Lee: 00:43:28

Yes, R O C K S.

Kat: 00:43:30

Because she rocks, you know?

Kat: 00:43:32

You have to believe it, or else you're doing it.

Kumi: 00:43:37

Exactly.

Kumi: 00:43:37

100%.

Kat: 00:43:39

You have to say it all the time.

Kat: 00:43:40

I rock.

Kat: 00:43:41

I freaking rock, okay?

Kumi: 00:43:43

You have to wake up, look in that mirror, and be

Kumi: 00:43:44

like, Good morning, beautiful.

Kumi: 00:43:47

That's how you start your day.

Kumi: 00:43:48

Then that's how you start your day.

Kat: 00:43:49

Exactly.

Kat: 00:43:51

Awesome.

Kat: 00:43:51

Well, can we thank you again for just being with us?

Kat: 00:43:55

I really appreciate your time.

Kumi: 00:43:57

Thank you all so much.

Kumi: 00:43:58

Have a great one.

Kat: 00:44:00

All right, friends.

Kat: 00:44:01

That's a wrap on today's episode of Wildly Wealthy Life.

Kat: 00:44:04

We hope you're feeling fired up and ready to take on the world with

Kat: 00:44:07

your brilliant mind and brave heart.

Lee: 00:44:09

If you love this episode, make sure you hit that subscribe button on YouTube

Lee: 00:44:12

or your favorite podcast platform.

Lee: 00:44:13

It helps us Keep bringing you the good stuff.

Kat: 00:44:15

And Hey, while you're at it, drop us a rating or review.

Kat: 00:44:18

It takes like what 30 seconds and it makes a huge difference for us.

Lee: 00:44:22

Also, if you know someone who could use a little guidance on growth,

Lee: 00:44:25

mindset, leadership, and creativity, share this episode with them.

Lee: 00:44:28

Sometimes that one conversation can spark up a whole new direction.

Kat: 00:44:31

Thanks for hanging out with us today.

Kat: 00:44:33

Go out there, live wildly, be wealthy in all the ways that matter to you.

Kat: 00:44:36

And we'll catch you on the next one.