24 – Passion to Publishing: Marthe’s Alive Journey

0:05Shailia StephensDid you, did you do it on your side as well?

0:06Marthe Van CampenhoutI'm doing it.

0:07Shailia StephensOkay, great. All right, so here we are, guys, and, um, welcome back to Time for You, where we nurture love and presence and well-being, and we talk about the 3 principles, um, as discovered by Sydney Banks. And my name is Shaleia Stephens, as you hopefully already know. Leah can't be joining us today because she's got some other responsibilities. So we have a beautiful guest. It's Marta. Hi, Marta. Please help me with your last name because you're from the Netherlands and sometimes Dutch names are a little difficult for me.

0:45Marthe Van CampenhoutBut I'm from Belgium, actually. But that's fine. We are— yeah, we're neighbors. So that's—

0:51Shailia StephensI thought you were in the Netherlands.

0:52Marthe Van CampenhoutNo, it's close. It's close. But I'm from cute little Belgian. And you know what, my name is Van Kampenhout, but please just don't remember it because it's too complicated in English. So sometimes people say, the other day somebody said Marte Kempenhout or something like that. So that comes close, but just call me Marte and then everything's fine.

1:18Shailia StephensVery good. So I wanted to just give a little backstory, like how we know each other. And so we met last year in 2023. '23, Marta and I were on a mastermind with Michael Neal. Um, I think the title was Effortless Success, right?

1:35Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah.

1:36Shailia StephensYes. And we were 7 months in the group together, and we had just the best group. I mean, just the most beautiful people, the deepest souls. And what I really enjoyed about the mastermind with Michael was that he really made it a mastermind. It wasn't just about him and what he was teaching, but rather everyone got to speak a lot on a lot of our calls that we had. And we would meet like for 5 hours every month, like at one batch, which I remember when I first saw that, I thought, how am I going to make it through? Did you have the same thought, Martha?

2:13Marthe Van CampenhoutOh yes, yes, absolutely.

2:16Shailia StephensYeah, but it somehow, it flew by every time. And we had some other calls a month. And I don't know, Martha, but for me, you were just like a grounding energy in the group. And I, I loved your energies. You know, I was like looking so forward when we had our own, our little buddy call, and then I like talked your ear off while we were on it. So I thought today I get the chance to listen more to you. And maybe some, just a little background to Marcia, what I know, you know, she's a content coach, and she is also a ghostwriter and helps people also with publishing their books.

2:54She's now got her own publishing company, which we're going to talk about a little bit today as well. It's just a new exciting development. But maybe, Marta, give us also some insight, like, about your regular life, like, with your family, and just so that people can get to know you a little bit.

3:10Marthe Van CampenhoutYes, first of all, thank you. Thank you so much, Shelly, for having me here. And I also enjoyed our previous conversations, so I'm really happy we can talk some more today. And yes, I'm a mother of one child, a girl. She's turning 12 in September. I live in Belgium near Leuven, which is a very cute city that you should absolutely visit if you come to Belgium once. I live near a forest. I love the countryside, but I also love the city. I really like the combination of both.

3:53When I'm not working, which is not very often lately, you can catch me reading or just wandering around. Yeah, I like books. I think I'm a bit addicted to books. But also, yeah, the way we met doing these masterminds, discovering what else is there. what does it all mean? How does it all work? You know, constantly figuring it out. So, um, I think that sums it up.

4:26Shailia StephensYeah, very cool, very cool, very cool. You know what I wanted to ask you, and I think this would be interesting for the listeners, like, you know, we, we keep talking about this understanding of the 3 principles on, on the podcast, and I'm always curious to know, like, How did you stumble across this understanding, and like, what was it that drew you in to start looking in this direction for yourself?

4:54Marthe Van CampenhoutI love that question, because I'm also very curious always when I meet other people who are playing with it. For me, I was already, I think since I'm a child, I'm wondering about how how does it work and why is it like that and why do I feel this and why do I think this. So this has always been this constant question in my head. And then years later, I think I was about 40 years old, I had a coach and she also was on a journey and she was also figuring things out and I remember we read similar books, and then COVID came, so we lost a little bit, we lost track of each other.

5:48But then I contacted her, and then she mentioned, look, I'm doing, because of COVID I'm at home now, but I'm doing this online course, and it's amazing. It feels like I'm on a journey, I'm traveling even though I'm homebound, I'm discovering this new place. It's inside of me. And I was like, whoa, tell me more. And so she told me about Michael O'Neill and the Space Within. I think back then he had a course about it. So I was very intrigued, and I think I bought all of his books because the person who I was talking about, I know when she's onto something, I'm also going to enjoy that.

6:31So I go all the way. And so I started reading Michael O'Neill's books. And that's how I ended up in these courses. I just, I must admit, Shaleia, that when I hear other people talk about the principles and when it becomes a little bit more theoretical, I'm not sure if I'm still connected because I'm a very practical person. I don't really like theory, and that's why I like Michael's approach, because the way he explains it, it's really... Practical.

7:04Shailia Stephensaccessible.

7:04Marthe Van CampenhoutIt makes so much sense. So, and ever since then, I, yeah, I'm still hooked and I still love everything about it.

7:14Shailia StephensSo what would you say, like, was the first thing? And it doesn't matter if it was theoretical or practical, like, what did you see for yourself that where you say, okay, that was like a pretty big insight into how we work and who we really are on your journey of these 3 principles?

7:36Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, for me, what's really still mind-blowing, it's all created in my head, you know, there's no such thing as the world, reality, it's not true, I'm the one who's creating it, I'm the one who's inventing it, So my reality is completely different from yours, and when I say it now, it sounds really, yeah, like so obvious. But I remember the moment I realized it, like for instance, my partner or my child or my mom or my friend, they don't see what I see.

8:17They don't live what I live. They live in a completely different world, and it's their created world, and I'm creating my world. And then when you start to think about it, you can go so many ways with it because that also means if it's all just created, I call it the virtual reality you create yourself, if it's all just that, you might as well create something beautiful, you know. If it's all fake and not real, why not just make it beautiful and nice even if the circumstances— because of course life is life, there are things that happen to us, there's something out there, of course.

8:54I'm sitting on a chair, I'm in this house, I'm on this globe, that's all real. But what I make of it, the way I play with it in my head, once you realize that there is so much creativity there and you can see it in so many ways, that for me was really mind-blowing. I really remember it It wasn't a sudden insight, it came to me gradually, and I think that's a good thing. But sometimes, and even today, I'm like, oh, this is huge. Does everybody know this? You know, that feeling.

9:33Shailia StephensYeah, yeah. No, they don't know. Most people don't know. Most people don't know. And that's why we do this podcast, to let them know. And so, like, very practically, how did seeing that for yourself changed the way your experience of life was, how you showed up in the world, how you interact with other people? Like, what, what was it like before and what changed afterwards because of that insight?

10:03Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, well, I think I can now— I take much more risks, especially business-wise, because that's my playground and I don't harm anyone. if I do crazy stuff there. So that's my laboratory where I just do my stuff and I follow my hunches. So definitely in my business, it's completely changed me. I'm much more— I've always been an intuitive person, but the voices in my head were also very strong and I tend to listen to them. when I was younger, and now today I think I'm much more, I rely much more on my intuition, I follow my hunches.

10:57So that's for me personally, and I'm not sure if people around me noticed a difference. I've never asked that question actually, but I think they have. In my business I also noticed that I attract some some, yeah, certain type of people who are also very intuitive and also, you know, maybe not even if they're not playing with principles or not aware of the way we talk about them. So yeah, I think that's the biggest change.

11:31Shailia StephensYeah, so what I'm hearing is You, you woke up to the fact that you don't have to listen to the doubting thoughts in your mind, the, um, the things that are making you put the brakes on the ideas you want to play with. It just opened up a bigger limitless space where you play in your business. Did I, did I understand you correctly?

12:03Marthe Van CampenhoutYes, yes, exactly. Yes, and I'm so happy that I have my own business because I wonder if I would still be— until my, let's say, I've been in companies, working in companies for 20 years, and I always loved my career. I was always so lucky because I had this one opportunity and then I jumped into another, and it was always flowing until I was fired. And that was like, whoa. And then I started my own business. It's a very cliché story, but I've always been happy working.

12:40But still, the freedom I experience today, that's like, whoa. And I know I can never go back because once you felt this, and even though it's scary because I don't have a hand above my head, I don't have anybody else protecting me. except me. But still this confidence and this knowing that it will all be okay, even if I don't always understand where I'm going, even if it's sometimes chaotic, and it's okay, you know, because I just see my next step and I trust my inner knowing and the inner compass we talked about in the Mastermind.

13:24And once you In the beginning, it's like, am I going to trust it? Am I going to try it? Okay, let's go. And then you say, oh my God, this works. The more you rely on it and the more you see it actually works, the stronger it gets. And that's a really cool observation.

13:39Shailia StephensYeah. And I remember during the Mastermind, you had some moments, correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember you speaking up and you were talking about every once in a while your brain comes up and says, can this really be true that it's this easy just to follow, you know, my inclinations, my intuition, the thing that's guiding me? Is it okay? Is it really enough to have like not a plan here or a plan there, but just kind of go with what's calling me forward? And always seeing you come back to, yeah. it's fine, it's good the way it is, right?

14:20Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, yeah, that's true.

14:23Shailia StephensYeah, so it's not that your brain is not doubting sometimes, every once in a while, you just are not—

14:29Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, and you know, that still happens. I still have these voices in my head, and, um, yeah, and sometimes they make sense. So it's not that I don't listen to them, it's more like, okay, I hear this voice, but I also feel this feeling, and You know, you play with it and it's more, yeah, you start to feel what is right, what is mine. I also discovered recently in another coaching thing with Michael Neill, he mentioned we have our own original thoughts and then we have thoughts that are not ours, you know, they're just They ended up in our head, but they're maybe our mother's thoughts or our parents' thoughts or something we saw on social media, something we heard somebody else say, something we learned in school when we were little.

15:25So many thoughts that are not ours, you know, and once you make the distinction, then you know, okay, this is mine, this is something I can trust, and okay, this is not mine, this is insecurity, this is conditioning. And you can just let go. And that is, that is so freeing.

15:42Shailia StephensTotally, totally. I want to come back at the end of the conversation. And I want to talk a little bit like, because I know you just were in Prague and met with Michael. And I read your newsletter on that. For, for you guys who don't know, like you can, you can subscribe to someone's newsletter and just have ChatGPT translate it for you every time it comes in your inbox. I do that with Marta's email newsletter, because I really love to read your weekly wonderings. And so that's how I kind of stalk you a little bit and know what you're doing. I always write back to you as well, as you know.

16:14Marthe Van CampenhoutI love it.

16:15Shailia StephensYeah, yeah, it's so cool. And, you know, you, you and I had some like back and forth emails as well, like leading up to, um, this conversation today. And you told me that also one of the big things that had an influence after coming to this understanding is like it really changed the way that you saw marketing. And I, I want to— I want you to talk about that a little bit as well. But, you know, it's one other thing interesting to know about you, which I thought was just totally fascinating, is how quickly, like, Mata left the corporate world and came into her business and like within the first year or two was already like doing high-priced coaching and having her practice running, which is really not typical.

16:59So I'm pretty sure even before the understanding, you already were following your instincts without even realizing it, you know, from a subconscious space. Because that's for me an indicator that you were coming from here.

17:11Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah.

17:11Shailia StephensYou know, but what did you see about marketing after coming to this understanding?

17:20Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, actually, I've been in marketing all my life, all my professional life, and I always loved it until I didn't love it anymore. And that was the moment I had my own business. I had to become visible myself. I started reading all these books and I started following all these people. And the more I learned, the less I loved it and the more I started I hated it. It felt so artificial. There were so many tricks, you know, it's all about, to me, sales and marketing is actually, for me, it's the same.

17:54It's just variations on the same theme. It's about influencing people. It's about creating scarcity so they will want to buy you more. And it's not so difficult if you use all these techniques. To trick people into buying your stuff, but I don't want to do that. And then I think it was a one-on-one talk with Michael that my eyes went open. And I'm, yeah, you know when they say once you've seen it, you can't unsee it? I had such a moment. I was looking through my Instagram feed and I saw a lot of marketing messages.

18:32For instance, I've been struggling with my weight for a long time. And I have done— name a diet, I have done it. You know, I've done every possible— because when you see an ad for a diet or a new way to lose weight, it's always like, okay, you could look like this, but you look like this, but if you do this, then— so they actually, what these ads are telling you, and I use the example of weight loss, but it's also about whiter teeth or shiny hair or a growing business or a lighter personality or whatever they are selling, they give you the feeling that you're not good enough.

19:17And the message is always, hey, poor you, you're not good enough because you look like this, but good for you, we have the solution, just buy our stuff and we will fix you. And you know, that's the main message that is spread today by so many companies and so many people. A lot of them don't realize that they are doing harm, and I truly believe that a lot of them really think they are doing a good thing and they are helping, but they don't realize that by sending this message to so many people through all these devices and platforms, you're telling people they're not okay.

19:58And that's something that's— whoa, once I realized it, it was like, oh my God, I don't want to contribute to that anymore. And I have done it myself, Shadia. I've done it myself. When I started my coaching business, I was like, hey, does your content suck? No worries, I can help you. I didn't say it literally like that, but that was the tone of my message, you know. And I was pushing on the pain like, oh, and you don't have enough visitors on your website and it doesn't, you know.

20:25Shailia StephensYeah.

20:25Marthe Van Campenhoutall these classical ways to make people uneasy and uncomfortable and then saying, but look, I'm here to help you, I'm here to save you, I will fix you.

20:35Shailia StephensYeah.

20:35Marthe Van CampenhoutI've done it before and then, yeah, so I'm not— and sometimes it creeps up on me, so I have to be really careful because I'm so conditioned.

20:44Shailia StephensYeah.

20:45Marthe Van CampenhoutBecause of everything I've learned in school, by watching marketing myself, from business coaches, it's everywhere. So I still have to be very conscious not to go down that road, but there is another way. And so at a certain point, I realized, okay, you can just tell people like, you're okay, you're really okay, but I can see there's potential there. Do you want to go there with me? Can I help you? Can I lift you up even more? That's a totally different message, and that's the kind of marketing I would like to you know, spread into the world.

21:21And by doing that, that's a really cool thing. On LinkedIn, on Instagram, other people who are doing the same— I'm not the only one, luckily, who saw that and who is doing that. So we are reinforcing each other and already spreading that vibe. So I hope it will spread even more and become the norm. That's what I really hope.

21:46Shailia StephensYeah, me too. And thank you for sharing that. And Leah and I are exactly on the same space. And me too, like, I worked in advertising agencies for 15 years and as a strategic planner, and it was all about, you know, creating the avatar. What are the pain points, pushing on the pain points, offering the solution, you know, like creating a problem and being the white knight to come ride and get it. And Right now I'm like taking part with Lea together on a course by Simone Soule.

22:20And I don't know if you know her, but she's a wonderful marketing expert. But she talks about the dehumanization of people through the way we've been conditioned to market and what's all abundant. And she's very much trying to change that in the world. And it's all about, you know, really seeing each other as human beings and like, how would you talk to a friend, you know?

22:46Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah. Yeah.

22:47Shailia StephensYou wouldn't, you wouldn't like say, oh, well, I don't know, your hair is looking kind of off. Like, here's my shampoo. You know, you wouldn't do that. You, you, you would lovingly, you know, just be like, hey, I've got this new shampoo. Do you want to try it out? Let's see. You know, it's a whole different approach to conversations. And me too. I am so conditioned the old way, like almost 30 years of it. And sometimes it's so hard and I don't even notice it. Sometimes I'm even blind to it. it. And because it's so prevalent. So I'm so glad you're on that path. And we are also on that path and trying to get a little bit better every day.

23:29Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah. And I will definitely— I don't know Simone, but I will definitely— she sounds like somebody I would really like to follow and be inspired by. Yeah. And that's really nice that a lot of people already see it in a different way and already are trying it. And a lot of people who are still doing the old way, I know they don't mean harm, you know, but it's just like you say, it's conditioning. It's what we've all— yeah, we just don't know any better.

24:02So I think we also have to be kind and patient and not— sometimes when I'm blabbing about this topic on social media, I'm like, oh. In Dutch we say, she's on her high horse. I think the expression also exists in English. It's a topic that once you get me started, once you awaken the beast, I can't stop. But yeah, it's necessary because I don't know how it's in Germany or in other parts of the world, but in Belgium, mental well-being is a big thing.

24:36Shailia StephensYeah.

24:38Marthe Van CampenhoutA lot of people are not well. A lot of people are not well, and I think part of it is because of this constant washing over us, all these impulses. And individually, they don't mean harm. Some, maybe some do, but if you combine it Yeah, I think it's something we should try to shift.

25:08Shailia StephensYeah.

25:08Marthe Van CampenhoutAnd I think there's a lot of potential there if we can shift, because that's the beauty of it. I used to have a love-hate relationship with social media because it can be very powerful, but it's also slightly addictive and not always good for us. But I now choose to appreciate the strong and powerful side of it. And I think we should really just see it as a beautiful connecting platform that can do really good stuff for us. So that's also what I wanted to do when I contribute as a content creator, just always put nice things out there, don't expect anything back.

25:49That's also something I like to teach in my marketing approach, just Put yourself out there, share what you know, don't expect anything, and then the clients will come. As soon as you make it like, okay, you can download my workbook for free, but you have to give me your email address and then I will send you 25 emails every day. No, that's just not how it works. If you just drop it out there and people will, the right people will find it and they might need some time to process it, but they will come to you if you just You know, so that's how I try to do it and it works.

26:28Shailia StephensIt works so well. Yeah, yeah. It's like that non-transactional attitude, just, you know, showing up and being of service with no expectations. Yeah, yeah. I love that.

26:41Marthe Van CampenhoutThat's so powerful.

26:42Shailia StephensYeah. And I think we can change something. You know, recently I was watching another podcast and you know, we, we have so many issues globally, you know, just this— we're talking about one of them. There's so many other things going on. And sometimes we tend to lose hope and that it can never be changed. Like we're too deep down the rabbit hole, like there's nothing that we can do. And everyone— it's all prevalent. It's a total bombardment or, you know, that's how we can think.

27:09And I was listening to this guy talk and he was like, no, there is hope. And he, he grew up in Great Britain and he was born in the '60s. And there's this picture of his mother And she is breastfeeding him and she's got her, like, cigarette pack balancing on his stomach. Like, he's laying there doing it. She's got it on top of them. She's smoking while she's breastfeeding him. And fast forward to today, you know, there's no smoking in Britain in public places.

27:44And, you know, there was— there came a ban at some point because of a fire on the subway, on the Tube. They stopped having smoking there and it just led to a domino effect. And now it's a pretty, you know, smoke-free environment. And, you know, so he's saying like, he was, he was bringing a lot of examples, but that was one that really stuck in my head. And I was like, yeah, no, it's true. And there is hope and we, we can make a change. We can make a shift.

28:09And all, you know, what we can do as content creators, as people who bring out like things like these podcasts, is we can, we can contribute in that positive way and we can share with others that they do too, that we raise our consciousness around that way.

28:26Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, I'm totally with you. I know I sounded a bit negative earlier because I think we have to say, we have to make clear what is happening and how damaging it can be, but at the same time, yes, I'm also a very positive. Sometimes I even get people tell me I'm too positive because I, yeah, that's also something I like to inspire people to like just say positive stuff. You don't have to rub in the pain or rub in the negative. So I'm all about positivity, not toxic positivity.

29:04Is that even a thing? But just, you know, there is so much to be positive about. Why not just talk about it? You know, if you see the front page of a newspaper, I'm always wondering This is just something that happened in the world today, but what about all the positive stuff? Why don't you talk about that? Yeah, it's this negativity bias. It's happening, it's a thing. But I totally agree, and that's also something I learned from the principles, and that's such a relief when you realize that we are all okay.

29:37Even when we're not okay, we are okay. And even when we're not okay, we will find this balance again and we will heal and we will— yeah, we are designed to be okay. And that's such a nice empowering thought and such a refreshing given.

29:59Shailia StephensYeah, totally, totally. Even collectively, even collectively we're okay. I'm telling this to myself to be—

30:07Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, sometimes we need a little reminder. I totally—

30:08Shailia Stephensyeah, yeah.

30:11Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah.

30:12Shailia StephensWell, I mean, let's see where my curiosity is taking me. And I know exactly where it's going next because speaking of your newsletter, you wrote a newsletter a couple weeks ago where you announced to your list that you have become a publisher. And I really would like you to just talk about how that unfolded because the way you're doing things, as you were talking about there is like different than other publishers are doing. What led you— how did life lead you to that direction? Like, what are you doing there? How is it different?

30:49Marthe Van CampenhoutOkay. Yeah, I love the question because it's very trending for me and happening right now. So I think it started when I was a little kid. And I— yeah, it's a story my mom told it recently in a family gathering. I was 4 or 5 and I learned myself how to read with the Scrabble, the little Scrabble stones. So reading for me was like, oh my God, it's an opening to a whole new world. And then going to the library as a kid, it was like, whoa, okay, I can take 5 books.

31:28That's not much, but my parents took me very often. So And yeah, when I started reading, I never stopped, and I still read. I love reading, and I really love books because I think a book is such a unique way to express a vision, to tell a story, to connect with the person who's reading, because it's always co-creation. It's you put the words on a page, but the person who is reading it also does something with these words, you know, and maybe he or she will talk about the book or give it to somebody else or be inspired to write something himself or herself.

32:07So that is, yeah, for me, it's really powerful. So that has been there all my life. And then when I started my business, I started off as a copywriter, then I became a content coach, then I missed writing. So I started ghostwriting books for other people, and that's how I ended up in the publishing world. I also wrote my own book with a publisher, a well-known publisher in Belgium. So, and I saw something funny because as an author, this book is your baby, but the publisher takes over and makes decisions.

32:45And yeah, it's a very commercial world. Yeah, quality is sometimes to be discussed. For instance, the COVID of a book for me is extremely important, but a lot of books, I'm sorry, I think they're really ugly. A lot of ugly babies out there, and I think, oh my God, it's important. The COVID is also important. It's a whole package, you know, the paper, the quality, that you should cherish a book. So yeah, that got me thinking and fantasizing, you know, if I would have my own publishing company, how would I do it?

33:22You know what happens, you start talking about it to other people and they go like, But go for it. Other people want what you describe. Why don't you? And then I'm, okay, why don't I? Okay, I've got this. And then I was thinking about all the steps that make part of publishing and I could cross off, okay, I know people who can do this. I know a printer, I know a graphic designer, an editor, you know, and then, okay, distribution. That was the biggest challenge and I'm still learning, but it it's also not that complicated.

33:56And yeah, and then one critical moment was when somebody I'm working with on her book, and she already— she almost signed the publishing contract with another publishing company. It was a really good deal, and I nudged her to go for it, you know, this is a good deal. And she said, no, I want you to publish my book. I want you to do it.

34:19Shailia StephensAww.

34:19Marthe Van CampenhoutI want your love and passion and care And I said, okay, but you know, I haven't done this before.

34:24Shailia StephensI'm totally new.

34:25Marthe Van CampenhoutI'm completely naive. Maybe I'm saying stuff that's just, you know, uh, whatever. I want you to do it. And so book number 1 is in the making and will be published, uh, normally October, uh, this year. And then, um, book number 2 is already, uh, happening, uh, will be a little later. And then Yeah, the ball just started rolling. And, you know, they say when you engage with something, with an idea, and you go for it, stuff happens, you know, crazy stuff happens, and you meet people randomly and you end up with— yeah, it's so— I haven't talked about it a lot yet because I'm still figuring a lot of things out.

35:12It is a big deal, it is new, and I don't want to go too fast because I want to do it right. But if I, yeah, every day people come to me and say, wow, the way you publish books, I'm really interested, tell me more. So I have to, I had to say, give me a moment now. Yeah, for now, if you go to my website, there's no way you can get an appointment with me at this very moment because I just, I need some time to figure stuff out. And you can get in touch with my online business manager, and she takes notes of everything and she contacts everyone.

35:52But I had to shut down the whole thing because, yeah, it's going so fast and I just need time to process and I want to do it right. That's really important for me.

36:02Shailia StephensThat's so cool. So what is the name of the publishing company?

36:05Marthe Van CampenhoutWell, actually, my company now is called Content Atelier, which is basically a Dutch name. And then I realized, uh, it was also an insight I had. I have to— I want to make this international. So I started thinking about names, and I had a million names, and then all of them were already taken or just not that cool. And then somebody said to me, why don't you just keep your company name? Um, because content and atelier are both, you know, they're international.

36:36Content, they're international. Yeah. Exactly. And they, yeah, it covers so well what I want to do because content is okay today, it's books, but maybe in 20 years it might be something else. I don't know, but there will always be content, you know, whatever the form is. And atelier for me stands for the craft, the art, you know, the love, the passion. It's not something you just throw in ChatGPT and it's generated.

37:04Shailia StephensNo.

37:05Marthe Van CampenhoutIt's handmade with love, you know. I always compare, you know, you have cheese you can buy in the supermarket in plastic, or you have the cheese you buy in a little French village, you know, made by a farmer with his love and with his bare hands. That kind of cheese is what I want to sell. So that's what it stands for. So it's still Content Atelier, but then the international version. That's so cool.

37:33Shailia StephensAnd, you know, when you were talking about it, and I think, I think that what really hit me when I read the newsletter was it just felt so alive, you know? And that was like one of the big insights that I had in the Effortless Success Mastermind is, you know, when we create things from aliveness, it's a whole different way of being in the world, showing up to our, to our business, to whatever we're creating. If it's coming from that which is alive for us.

38:04You know, and it doesn't matter if you're creating cheese or if you're creating content for social media, if you're creating a publishing company, it's that aliveness. And that's what I felt when you were talking about it in the newsletter. And that's what I hear again today. Or how did you experience that?

38:22Marthe Van CampenhoutOh, it's so, it's so lovely to hear you say that. For me, it's a given. And, and when I hear you say it, it's really good for me to hear you say it because then I know it's it's a given and it's a gift. And for me, when I don't feel the aliveness, it's like it's not alive, and so it's dead actually. And I can't pursue that anymore. I was able to do that previously, like we all, a lot of people are, but today the aliveness for me, it's like Yeah, a must-have. I don't function without it. It's either it's on or it's not, you know. And when the button is on, I'm, you know, I'm all the way and I know I can go fast. And, um, but when the button is not on, nothing happens.

39:15Shailia StephensSo, uh, yeah, it's not a given, I think, for a lot of people. And that's why it makes sense to, you know, highlight it again because, you know, Yeah. For me, I spent so many years before the principles creating things by thinking them up in my head. And things that you think up out of your head are per se dead because they're on a computer, which is your brain. They're just things saved there that have happened in the past and that you're just calling up again. I mean, I don't want to say dead. That's— that maybe that's a little bit over you know, not alive. Overzealous. Yeah. Over—

39:52Marthe Van Campenhoutnot alive.

39:54Shailia StephensBut I really was— it was my modus operandi was to just, when I needed to create some things, to go there into my head. And I didn't have any awareness of, no, there's a place in me that is alive, that where things want to come through me, express through me in the only way that they can come through me because I'm unique on, you know, this planet or in this universe. And And so because I operated so long like that, sometimes I'll go a good span of time in aliveness, and then someday it will come, and then I'm back into my head thinking things up.

40:36And so I had to really develop a compass to feel the difference between when is something coming from my thought-up thinking and when is something coming from a deeper alive space in me, and being able to tell the difference. Because I would just sometimes go marching down the opposite direction. And then I would wonder, like, why is this so hard? Why is this such a struggle to keep this going? Why do I need so much willpower and strain in my brain to get this done?

41:04And it was because it wasn't coming from that space of aliveness for me. So it's so cool that you have that, like, on autopilot and you feel it, like, the majority of the time. But I think a lot of people listening do not know that they can come from aliveness? Or what do you see when you work with clients and things like that?

41:23Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, I think I'm very blessed that the people I attract— but that's also what happens when you start to follow that guidance, you automatically attract people who are also drawn to that kind of modus operandi. So And for me, it's really easy when they talk because that's how I work. I listen, especially in the content coaching, but also in the ghostwriting. I listen and I can so hear the difference between, you know, the made-up stories and the brainy stories or what's real and what's alive. It's not so hard. Everybody can hear the difference or feel the difference. It's more, I think, a matter of feeling.

42:09Shailia StephensYeah.

42:11Marthe Van CampenhoutSo yeah, that's something I really enjoy in the conversation, and then I can really point out what you just said now, was it you or was it— no, no, even sometimes I have clients who say, oh no, this was my dad, or oh no, this was my former manager who's still in my head and making me insecure. It's amazing how insecure we are all made by the voices of other people who don't even realize that they're still influencing us. So, and I can just cut right through the bullshit and say, you know what, I'm not interested in that crap.

42:52But what you just said there, and you can see it, you know, when people light up and like they forget they're actually talking and they just start rambling, and then the beauty comes out. And that's real, you know. That's That's the aliveness you talk so beautifully about. And yeah, that's what I'm after when I work with people.

43:11Shailia StephensYeah, I love that. Yeah. And me too. And any, like you said, any baby can see it. You know, like, I could always see it in my clients, what's alive for them and what's not. But sometimes you can't see it for yourself, you know? Isn't that crazy? So, okay, now we're coming a little bit to the end, and I want to at least hear a little bit about Prague. Because I was watching on social media. I don't know if you know, but my, you know, Michael Imus from our group, he was at my house recently and we went to dinner here in Epstein.

43:43We had a lovely evening. And then he was telling me he's going to Prague. And I learned through him that it was even happening. I don't even know how I couldn't— I could have missed it, but I was like in my own little world. And after the event, which was, I think it was called the Listening World, I think was the name of the conference. And everyone was just so flashed by the event and like found it so beautiful. And I know you were there and at the conference and you met with Michael Neal. So like, what would you like to share about that experience in Prague that might be like interesting or impactful for others?

44:19Marthe Van CampenhoutBut actually, I didn't go to the conference, but Michael Neal had a small group coaching event after the conference. Conference, and I also learned about the conference after I registered for that event. And I practically, I wanted to be at the conference, but it was just too challenging. But I met up with Michael Eames and other people who were at the conference on Sunday evening when it was all finished. And it was such a beautiful experience, Shelly, because all these people I already, like you, I've met online, I had never met in real life.

44:56So we were in this beautiful little restaurant in Prague, outside on the terrace, and so we knew each other but not really, you know, but kind of, and then we started talking and there was this vibe, and I have never felt so listened to in my whole life, surrounded by these people. I didn't really know, and I think it was because they just, they were fresh from the conference and they were all so immersed with this understanding, and I was really touched by that.

45:34So if there will be a next conference, I really hope next year I will be there. So I wasn't there, but I have had a little bit of the vibe, and I saw, of course, I saw some stuff online. You can still buy the recording, I saw. So yeah, I think magic was shared these days, and I think it's spreading into the world, even the way we are talking about it now. And I think listening is maybe the biggest superpower that can change so much for us today and in every following day. So, so yeah, I had a lot of FOMO when I heard about it and I was like, oh man, I had to be there. So I hope there will be a next time.

46:27Shailia StephensI had FOMO as well. I was like so much in FOMO. And I mean, I couldn't have even gone because we had other plans and I was going toward driving toward Holland the days after. But yeah, I saw you can get the recordings for like €40.

46:41Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah.

46:41Shailia StephensSo it's really, really affordable. incredible price. So I will drop the link underneath here to have a look at it.

46:48Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah.

46:49Shailia StephensAnything else you want to share from your meeting with Michael or anything that went on there?

46:53Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah. So after then, we were 3 days in a very small group. Yeah, it was lovely. It was really— yeah, for me, a lot of people ask me, what was your big insight this time? You know, because I have, you know, when I engage in these conversations and there usually is something I didn't know before or something new I saw or in a different way, and there isn't something new for me except that, yeah, the theme of the coaching was something about infinite possibilities.

47:36and something else infinite, or yeah, you know, the main message was we are all infinite and everything is possible. It's just the only thing that stands in our way are we, and more specifically the way we think about ourselves. And so for me, it was a beautiful reminder and also a confirmation of I'm in— I think I said at the end of the first day, I'm in the right place, not only there in that hotel in Prague, but just in general, you know, things are the way they are and the way they unfold, and that's cool, and at the same time there's so much more possible.

48:17So at a certain point I was sitting there in my chair, and it was really nice and stuff, but I had just, I had to restrain myself from not jumping up and go outside and go do stuff, you know, because that's what we are here for, we just have to do stuff and follow our hunches and create and inspire and do crazy stuff and not think too much about it. So that's the vibe I brought home with me, as you can see.

48:45Shailia StephensYeah, that's so cool. I love that. And that's a really fun direction for me too, to be looking in the last couple of months. It's just like, we are creators. Like, just like go out and create that beautiful life, like whatever that looks like for you. Like, you and I are, you know, business owners. So a lot of times We create in the framework of our business because that's where we just like to play. But like, whatever it is that you got— you're up to in life, you know, just go create something beautiful, whether it's a relationship, whether it's, you know, I don't know, a doily that you're crocheting.

49:23It doesn't matter. And yeah, go do that. I love that message. That's so cool. So, thank you Thank you so much for your time today. Yeah, I think you are the second guest only we've had on the Time for You podcast, so it's a kind of like almost still the premiere of guests being on board.

49:43Marthe Van CampenhoutWhat an honor.

49:44Shailia StephensIt was so cool that you came and shared your time and your insights and your energy with us. And where can people find you if they want to connect with you? Or somebody else might want to do the same as I do, get on your e-newsletter. letter list and put the— it's Dutch though, right? It's Dutch because in Belgium.

50:03Marthe Van CampenhoutYes.

50:03Shailia StephensThat's probably why I had that saved in my head that you're from the Netherlands.

50:06Marthe Van CampenhoutYeah, that's fine.

50:07Shailia StephensTo put the Dutch in ChatGPT and have it done.

50:11Marthe Van CampenhoutSo yeah, where can you actually— I'm already playing for a while with the idea of also translating stuff into English. So you make me— you're tempting me there too. But in the meantime, yes, they can you can easily translate, and I just love the fact that you do that and you take the time to do that. It's so nice. So my website is www.contentatelier.be, so it's still a Belgian website. I'm looking into the possibility to make it more international.

50:44I'm on LinkedIn, I'm on Instagram. I always love it when people connect and come say hi, uh, whatever country you're in or whatever you're doing or whatever part of the world you're living in. Uh, yeah, I always, I always love it when people do that.

51:00Shailia StephensVery cool. Well, I'm sure people will come and visit and see, see what you're publishing is up to and what you're creating. It's so exciting. And I will put those links underneath, um, this video in the show notes so you don't have to remember them off the top of your head. And, um, yeah, Thanks so much. Have a wonderful day, everybody, and continue to nurture love, presence, and well-being in your life. And we hope you'll listen in again soon on Time for You.

51:26You can follow us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or anywhere else you hear your podcasts. And tell a friend if you feel like this is helping you to have a moment to come down in your day, to calm your mind, and you're getting— having joy doing Share it with somebody else. Spread the love. We'd love it when people come on board. So thanks so much. Bye, guys.