Meet Shannon Vogel | Business Owner and Avid Joy Seeker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Vogel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work-life balance has changed significantly over the years. I was raised by perfectionist entrepreneurs in a family business and my Dad was in the military. That meant, no matter what the category, it was never enough. There was always more business to get, more dreams to chase, more opportunities to discover and more business ideas to try.

I remember my Dad telling me that you should be open during normal business hours and also open on holidays and weekends to give the people with full-time jobs the opportunity to shop with you. When he was awake he was working and when he was asleep, he was trying to figure out how to get his subconscious to work for him to sort out problems at work. One day, he dreamed of a simple retirement where he sold boiled peanuts and fresh tomatoes by the side of the road.

Then, unexpectedly, he died.

Since then I have learned that we are human beings, not human doings. You have to slow down or you will miss all of the goodness that life has to offer.

I learned that I don’t want my headstone to say that I serviced XX number of social media clients rather than my quest to find joy. I want to be remembered for my contributions to humanity through kindness, empathy and compassion, not how much money I made or how many hours I put in at the office.

I learned that the more you give people, the more they will take. Elon Musk said, “If you died tonight, your employer would advertise to fill your job role by the end of the month. But your loved ones, chosen family and friends would miss you forever. Don’t get too busy making a living that you forgot to make a life.”

So many people work so hard so that they can buy “stuff” so they can relax. They buy a boat so they can relax. Or a vacation home so they can relax. If we all had better work-life balance, we could relax every single day along the way and not have to pay taxes on the vacation home or store and maintain the boat! I found myself working nights and weekends so I could get ahead in order to be able to have the time to relax. Now, I make time for balance and I’m not constantly exhausted and unfulfilled.

I implemented some ideas from a book called The Miracle Morning. I now get up first thing in the morning and do whatever in the world I want to do for an hour. This has helped prevent burnout and tiny resentments that grow into gigantic resentments. I have more energy, more creativity and more stamina.

I learned that perfectionism robs you of joy. When you can’t ever win or meet the goal, because it’s never enough or the target is always moving, you’re always doing instead of being. It sounds cliche, but when you realize that the small things in life are the big things, your perspective shifts.

Finally, the quote that resonated the most is from Brene Brown. She says, “It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.” Wow.

What should our readers know about your business?
My story summed up here! http://voyagedenver.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-shannon-vogel-reach-social/

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Food! D Bar
Steubens
The Greenwich
Marcyzks
Linger
Root Down
Apple Blossom
Mercantile
Osaka Ramen
Sushi Rama
Chook Chicken
Snooze
Guard and Grace
Osteria Marco

The Source
Stanley Marketplace
Walk down Larimer

Day Trips: Breck, Winterpark, Aspen, Vail, Boulder (Pearl Street Mall)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Books: Know Thyself by Kerry Pastine (local, Denver author!)
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
the Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
More Myself by Alicia Keys
How to do the Work by Nicole LePera
Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

My village including: 100% my Dad, My sweet and patient husband, Kate Wilkonson, Kerry Davis, Melanie Towey, Aunt Libby, Julie Fawks, Pippa Gile, Lisa Bailey and Keegan Gerhard, Lisa and Simon Gordon, Lisa and Nate Vogel, Lynn and Mark Dragonette, Shannon Dwyer, Gina Selby, Karina Vogel. And Audrey Hepburn – she is a work-life balance inspiration!

Website: https://reachsocial.media/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reachsocial.media/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonvogel/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReachSocMedia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetSocialWithReach/

Image Credits
Amanda Marotta