Stepping into 2026 with Athena & Yolanda Dobson

To kick off the very first Girls in Property podcast episode of 2026, I am welcoming back someone I know so many of you absolutely love. My mum, Yolanda Dobson.

She is very much a firm favourite in this community, so it felt only right to start the new year with her. 

This episode is all about keeping it real.

As we step into a brand-new year and welcome in the year of the horse, this felt like the perfect time to pause, reflect and gently look ahead at what might be possible. Not in an overwhelming way, but in a grounded and honest one.

Me and mum chat about setting intentions for 2026, celebrating the small wins, and finding calm when life feels busy. We talk about curiosity, positivity, family, and staying connected to yourself while juggling work and home life.

You will hear the real dynamic between us. The laughter, the honesty, and the values that sit at the heart of Girls in Property. We also explore what success really means, the role joy plays in our lives, and why genuine connection always matters.

A heartfelt and honest start to 2026, and one I hope makes you feel grounded, inspired and welcomed into the new year with Girls in Property. 

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Transcript

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0:01

Good morning everyone and welcome back to 2026 and the beginning of the year for the Girls in Property podcast. my goodness, we are officially in it everyone. We are in the year of the horse. How's everyone feeling? If you're anything like me, I feel like ready to get back into it now. I feel like we had a really fantastic Christmas and New Year. I actually had some real time off with family, which was absolutely beautiful and friends actually. and really took some time off and I had no idea how much I actually needed it. I slept in, I got lots of rest and now I'm thinking, right, I've had my rest, what is next for 2026? So however you're tuning in today, whether you're back at work, taking the kids to school, whether you're still off and thinking, Athena, I've got another week to go, let this be kind of your ease in for the podcast for 2026. And when I was thinking about the podcast and I was thinking to myself, who do I want to be my first guest for 2026 for the podcast? know, the podcast is going to be celebrating its third birthday on the 15th of January this month, which I can't believe has been going for three years. And when I think about all the guests that I've had on and all the conversations that I've had over the time, I thought to myself, who's really the best person to set this off with a bang for 26? And who do I think would be great fun? And who do I think would bring lots of energy into the conversation? And of course, you'll all know that I am now living at home with mum and um honest to God, I feel like we should have a camera follow me and mum throughout our day and our life. It would be like the Osbournes, but better. And at each moment, it's just so entertaining and so hilarious. And I just laugh all day. And so I thought, do you know what? Each time I have conversations with this person, I think we need to get this person on the podcast. And I know you all love her. I know you all have, have as much love for this person as I do. And what better person to bring on for 2026 than the iconic and only Yolanda Dobson, AKA my mum. So welcome Yolanda. Welcome mum to the girls and property podcast once again. Thanks, Athena. See, I just have to say something and then you just burst into laughter. So that's a bit strange already, isn't it? Do you remember we did a podcast together? I think it was about over a year ago, a year and a bit, and we were actually in Bournemouth. We did it face to face that one in Poole. And what's hilarious about this one this time is you're actually upstairs and I'm downstairs, but we're in the same house, but on different devices recording this podcast episode. for next year, mum, I'm hoping we're going to be back in the studio again, recording face to face, which is super exciting. sure that whatever it is that you envisage that you are going to do Athena you will do it. I'm pretty sure of that, yeah. let me ask you this then mum. So you don't see this. I sometimes put things on my social media that you then find out that I've put on my social media and all I hear is, Athena why is that on social media? think that's probably fair and I think, you know, why is that on social media? Exactly as you've just said. That's me, that's private. I'm going to claim IP. Fair enough, mom, you should claim IP. But with it, the girls and guys, but mainly girls, absolutely love you for it because I think what is so brilliant, and I was talking about this actually to you, is you have this zest for life, which I love. I love your zest for life. And you inspire me through that. And so, for example, when I put up that New Year's Eve video of you dancing, which... which some of you would have seen and some of you haven't, if you haven't let me know. And you know, the messages I was receiving from everyone was this word iconic, icon, iconic, amazing. They were like, Athena, where did she get her energy from? I was talking to Emma Finn about your human design and I was like, I'm convinced she's a generator. She has to be a generator. She has her own human battery. And so they love it mum, and they love you. So why don't you, for anyone who hasn't, heard your podcast episode before, which I recommend that you go and listen to because it was hilarious. um And I like, Athena, tell us a bit more about your mum and why you decided to have her on for 2026 episode. Mum, what do you think from listening to this podcast as my avid number one fan that you do, what do think everybody would want to know about you? I'm not sure. I really don't even understand why you've got me on here, Athena, but there we go. But, you know, as an example for the dancing, we were celebrating the end of 2025 and I was letting go everything that I didn't want in 2025. And that's why it was quite effervescent, if I can call it that. But going into 2026, which is going to be you know, a wonderful year. So it was just letting go and it was quite out there, I suppose. But there you go. Sometimes I can't be the celebrity, strictly come dancing advocate, but it would be amazing if I could do that and be a better dancer. definitely and they loved your shoes. You got so many compliments on your shoes as well. Mum has very vibrant out there shoes, lots of colour, colourful, yeah. is lovely. What was I watching the other day that was full of colour? it's, yeah, rooms which are full of colour and happiness and joy. that's all you need mum. Joy. Exactly. No. No. You definitely couldn't. No. You are colour. You're Mediterranean. That's why. You need colour. is it. Sunshine, joy. And indeed, you've got to find the positives in everything. And if you're not finding positives in everything, I think you're not looking hard enough. Love it mum. That is a mantra for 26. And I, you saw me writing my 12 wishes, which was an exercise. I don't know if everybody saw it on social media. So what I did was, and actually I have to the credit to Stacey on this one, Stacey Clatt, who is my gorgeous executive assistant. She actually sent this to me on Instagram and she said to me, Athena, you, we should give this a go for the accelerator girls. And as I was doing it, I thought, well, why don't I share this with everybody? so that if everybody would like to do it, because everybody has the right to do it, let's do it together. And I had such an amazing response to it. And what it was, was the idea was to write 12 wishes and to take each wish that you write, or 12 wishes, and to scrunch them up and put them in a jar or a bowl that means something to you. And then over the course of 12 nights leading up to New Year's Day, you would burn one night. And the essence of it was, that each time you're burning something or leaving it to the universe to decide what you don't need to really worry about this year, that the universe is going to take care of for you. But that one wish that you open on uh New Year's Day is your responsibility and it is your wish for 2026. And mum, you watched me do this and you thought, what are you doing? And I told you about it. And then I said, do you want to get involved? or actually it was more than I said to you, should get involved, mum. Well, you are getting involved, because that's what we do for each other, And you wrote your 12 wishes, didn't you? I I did write them. Folded them all up very neatly, put them in a beautiful crystal bowl and each evening we would burn whatever it was. It very cold out there but yeah, absolutely. And we, yesterday on New Year's Day, we opened our wishes and my wish, which I revealed to everybody, was the fact that I wished that I was going to be abroad for and will be abroad for my 35th birthday in September. So that was my wish. I will mum, 100%. You're coming with me. And what you wouldn't reveal was what was your wish. And I put out a poll that said, right, who wants to know mom's wishes? Mom, we had over 30 votes for everybody wanting to know what your wish was. Well, perhaps you should put up a selection of what it was, but yeah, mean, those wishes are now, I think we should keep them to ourselves or not. What do you think? Or I don't even know what your wish is, so if you want to keep it to yourself, that's your wish, Mum. Yes, I think I do for the moment. Maybe I'll put it in a cake. are you going to put it in a cake? just cook the cake and put the wish in it. And if it comes out again, maybe that is it, but I've got to act on it, as you said. So, yes. that's the main thing is whatever your wish was, that is the wish that is intended for you for this year. And you have to make it happen because as I've always said, mom, and you say this to me all the time, all the time is we always say, no one's going to do it for you. We've got to do it for ourselves. So whatever our wishes are, that's what it is. And I had so many other wishes as part of my 12 and I'm excited to... to see all of them hopefully come through to fruition, I hope. um But yes, watch this space. I'm gonna be abroad for my 35th birthday, which I will make happen 100%. think it's just seeking adventure going forward as always because we're a long time dead, right? So filling every day, making each day count is going to be continuing and I can do that. Where I'm really lucky is I do love what I do in my job anyway. I love doing that. I love mixing it in with the adventure that we've got. doesn't, it's just having that positive mindset I'm hoping. that I can reach people to try and be the best version of themselves really and finding that positivity and everything that they do. I've been challenged this year as well, like, you know, when we were coming back on the train after New Year's Eve, there was a lot of people on there that we thought, gosh, okay, this is a lovely evening, but there was a lot of people that had too much to drink, for instance, that weren't being the best version of themselves. Perhaps it was very noisy, very loud. and a bit wild, but was that them just being exuberant as I was on that evening? Do you know what it is that I watched with you actually in those moments? I'm still getting used to London. London I have a love-hate relationship with. I've obviously lived in London my whole life. I left London, I went to the countryside around cows and horses and wonderful old people on scooters and it was lovely. And now I've come back to the big smoke. Oh, I loved it, mum, honestly. I loved it. There's like 80 year olds on the scooters. Apologies if you're 80. But you know, it was really calm, get milk in three minutes, you you don't have to hold your bag at the front in case someone's gonna rob you from behind. It's a lovely way of life, you know. And I know that you want that as well, mum. And for me, I'm still trying to find my peace with London because I still am on high alert in London and I feel that my nervous system is literally like thinking that everybody is about to rob me or kill me. Well, that's not true, it? That's the point. uh Christmas is a really busy time. There's a lot of people who've had too much to drink and the calmness of it is turned into exuberance and craziness. And I think that's what you've just seen in the last two months. But it's a wonderful city. Of course mom, it's a beautiful city. what I'm saying is what I watch you do is when you're in those moments in those situations, I watch you regulate your emotions or like language and you desperately try and calm me down. You're like, Athena, breathe, breathe. And I'm like, no, mom, they're going to kill us. They're going to stab us. They're going to gun us down. But you regulate and you're very calm and you're very centered. And that's something that I'm really trying to find as well, is in moments. Because you're very, very out there. People that know you know that you are one of the most exuberant people, I think, that anyone ever meets. You're very out there, you're full of colour. For me, anyway, I believe you're the life and soul of a party. But then in moments, you can be very calm, collected, regulated. like you have the best of both and I think that I watch that and I think we should all be more like mum. I'm regulating. to say. Yeah, I suppose that I've lived in it so I don't get fazed by it. But there are, and sometimes a conversation with somebody can calm somebody down. And you see, it's very difficult to take myself out of it when I'm in it and talk about me as a person, if you see what I mean. thanks for your positivity and what you call out. Yeah. So mum, what would you say? So there's podcasts. So I should just say, by the way, before I ask this question, so I know that mum listens to nearly every single episode. So if you've ever been a guest on this episode, chances are that mum has listened to you on the podcast. And the reason I know this mum is because you send me wonderful long emails, don't you? After each episode, giving your constructive feedback. as you call it, as to each episode and how it can be improved. Well, I can't remember all of it now, but I'm sure lots of people are going to have messages for you in terms of how I could be constructively fed back to, which is wonderful. mom, mom, we should just tell everyone the truth here, right? So when you send me these emails, I say to you, and you'll give me your, we'll call it constructive criticism or constructive feedback on these emails. I'll say to you, mom, everyone else loved it. I'll say this had like one of the fastest downloaded rates. Everybody loved it. And your response to me is, Athena, they're all your fans. I'm going to tell you the truth. Okay. You're like, this could have been better. This could have been better. That's the privilege of being your mum, I guess, and being able to point out things which I know you've got in you to give. It's the way you call them my fans. You're like, Athena, they're your fans. won't, they won't tell you. So from listening to the podcast, therefore, mum and everyone feel free to send me your emails. If you think, you know, constructive criticism or feedback of this episode, but you know that we always celebrate on this podcast. We love to celebrate and you know that mum. So what are you celebrating and, and you know, bringing into 2026 of a celebration. This is the first episode of Girls and Property to motivate, inspire people. Like, what are we celebrating? Oh, so much to celebrate, Athena. You know that. I feel incredibly blessed. I know that I've created it from looking out for the things that I want to have. And the calmness is really a part of it because I've lived in chaos and I really don't want the chaos because it doesn't help. It doesn't help you think. It doesn't help you be that person that you want to be. And even including things like tidying your your environment, having a tidy home, making your bed every day. These simple things set you up for thinking clearly. But the celebration is much more to looking forward. It's almost just like a feeling. Like I feel calm. I feel that I could plan to do everything that I wanted to do within reason, I suppose, because life also interrupts, doesn't it? But I do feel that hopefully to channel energy into the things which are going to make me the happiest version of myself, whatever that takes. Travel will definitely be included in that because it's wonderful to meet people. And for instance, when I go to your events, I love meeting the women that you have as part of your network because it's the stories which are most Exhilarating, understanding the lives, the adventures, but even the, when I say adventures, I don't mean having to do something special, but the adventures that have impacted all these women in being the people that they are. And there's so many lessons that can be shared from one another to help people along the way. Even a conversation is so important. Hmm. Do you know what I watch you? You are and you're genuinely fascinated. So two things and and they love you mum because I think what I've noticed the most because of course you have been at every single event that I have ever done and will always continue to be at every event that I ever do but what I watch with you is that you Your personality mom whenever you meet somebody whether it's the girls or anyone you don't do small talk. You don't do shallow talk. I You hate it And so you go straight in and you ask the questions that I think people are fearful to ask. And I've even sometimes sat there and thought to myself and thought, my goodness, like, is she really asked that? in a lovely way, not in horrible way, in an intrigued, curious way. And what I watch happen is I watch the girls open up to you because I think that they're like, wow, Yolanda's actually really interested in me. She's really interested in, you you don't talk about yourself, mum, ever. You always ask other people about them and you find out about people and you're curious. You're such a curious person. And I have known these girls since the start of Girls and Property, which is three years now. And I think that I know nearly everything about the girls. And you'll say to me, Did you know so and so about this person? Did you know so and so about this person? When we do our catch ups after the retreat and our events and I'll say, I didn't know that. And you're like, yeah, yeah. And this person, this, and it is the most interesting things that you have found out from these women. And I'm like, how did you know that? And you're like, I just asked them and then they started talking about it. And then they talked about this and you find out stories from people, which I think is a real gift as a person that you can do that. Yeah, because then I get to find out. It's almost like I set you free and I go, right, mom, off you go, go get information for me. And then you almost like bring it back to me that I can then go, wow, how interesting. But the stories about people's lives are fascinating, aren't they? Because they're peculiar to them. You can often see it, I can't do it now because I don't have anybody in front of me to do it with, but you can see it in the things that people say about themselves, the way somebody carries what they're... And I don't really know actually how I do it physically in the moment. I just think... curiosity is key. So you're genuinely interested in another person from a perspective of understanding, really. Understanding and... genuinely mum, when I put out my events and things like that, some of the girls DM me and they say, is your mum gonna be there? They'll actually ask me that. They'll be like, is your mum gonna be there? And I'm like, yes, she'll be there. Of course she's there. And they're like, yes, I'm coming. Sometimes I feel they go more for you than for me these days, to be honest with you. Just for the conversations. And then I watch you have like a corner. and all the girls are around you just like listening in and I'm like it's like story time over there. on my own there. yeah. I enjoy seeing how everybody is developing as they go on their journeys. the amount of juggling that's involved is, know, women who have brought up their families and are still doing these wonderful things with their jobs that they've created and the businesses that are setting up. That's not easy. It's, it's, you're doing everything yourself. So that's, that's harder. You haven't got a team of, you've got a team, but a team that you've built and starting from scratch, from, from nothing to then building up those connections. and then carrying that forward. I've got nothing but admiration. Whereas I've been in employment all my life. haven't started a business, but I do have. Huge respect for all these women that have done that. Well, if you think about it, mum, so obviously when you raised me and my brother, you were a single mum. So you had all of that as a single mum to do. And if you think about these women who are either in relationships and got children or they're single parents and they're trying to make a better life for themselves by also trying to start a business so that they can leave their job, for example, if they want to. That's a very, very difficult thing to do to almost try and keep everything moving and you'll know what that feels like, mum, from what you went through. But then trying to aspire for something else that's greater than that for a better life. You know, I think that's really commendable and what I, when I see the girls do that, because I think about 90 % of the women in the community now have children, about 90%, I would say. And I think it's, yeah. because also I'm sure that fathers feel this too, that, you know, if you're going out to earn a living, whatever form that you've got, you've got to live, haven't you, to be providing for your family. And the being torn between the attention that you need for the family unit and being the provider, it's a difficult one, but instilling all those values in your children that are are going to make them, I'm not quite sure what the word is, but forgiving, is that the right word? Probably not, but understanding why you can't spend all the time with them. And then I've seen other people who include the children into their family so that they become part of the reason or the industry that they're in, so that the children become the ingredient, if you like. ingredient that then propels them into being that business as well. So that's included. It's a blended way forward. Creating events for children, for instance. And so that's the sort of thing I mean, that then the children become the ingredient and you're promoting with the children and they're part of it. And I think that's that's the key, perhaps, that you can try and blend it all together. so that you can not feel that you're separated. So if I had my time again, I think that's what I would look for rather than being, okay, this is my job, that's separate to me, and this is the family. Some people might wanna keep that different, but I think it's probably easier that you say you don't feel distant from one or the other. Well, mum, that's why some people are in actually doing businesses, like family businesses, where the husband and wife are actually in business together. And then they bring the kids in. I don't know about that. personally, well, I mean, I obviously don't have anyone at the moment, but I can't imagine what that must be like to actually try and then run a business and your family all at the same time within. Um, cause trying to separate that is so difficult as well. And actually being like, now we're a family. Now we're in business. Now we're business partners. Now we're husband and wife. Now we're doing this. Like it's a really interesting dynamic. And I love getting guests on the podcast to really talk about that because there's pros and cons to it where you're bringing everyone together to build this business for you, but then trying to separate that as well. So I've got a couple of guests actually coming up on the podcast to talk about that. Cause I know. more and more people are doing that nowadays, but they're getting into business with their partners because of trust. God. A farm, could you imagine? A farm would be in, exactly. So, so going back to the celebration then mum, so I'm trying to pinpoint your celebration. So was it around this idea of persistent happiness and what was your... can't be persistently happy, can you? Because it's very artificial. I'm celebrating being able to continue in my job, which I love, and being able to travel at the same time. Hmm. Whether I will move now and find a new home, which was my intention, I don't know, but it would be lovely to be able to celebrate that, but that's a wish more than a celebration. The celebration is just being calm, suppose, being calm into 2026, rather than in chaos and looking for the calmness. So the regulator. I think I've been better in regulating and just letting go of things that don't matter, you know, like if you're having a conversation. And I love some of the podcasts that I listen to where The message from that has been, don't look to win the argument, because if you've won the argument, you've actually lost the relationship. Mm. Yeah. just work to build the relationship and to make sure that that is preserved more than... You were laughing at me. Why? I am laughing at you just because you're going on different topics. I'm laughing at you with it because it is the calmness. It's the calmness. And that's what I'm trying to say, that I've learned that. So that's my topic. My topic is that, whereas even in a relationship, you might want to win the argument, but if you look at it from a different set of eyes and be calm, that's my celebration and that's my learning, I think, for 2026. So do you know what's really interesting about that? And you'll know this mama is last year, the year of the snake was chaotic for me, you know, in a good way, in a bad way, there was so much happening and the lots and lots of moving parts. And I think now that I've actually moved home, I also am calm looking for inner peace. I think that's what I'm trying to search for. Honestly, mama is in a piece this year, whether that happens or not is a different matter, but by doing this. I hope so because you know that I'm, this is a new journey for me for the subconscious work. It's brand new for me. I'm really looking into it. I'm really looking to seek inner peace and calmness. So if that's your celebration, I'm hoping that you'll be able to transpire that onto me a little bit. Now we have completely different personalities, me and you, totally different personalities. What, me and you? Yeah, we do, which is lovely, but we do, you're right. You're much calmer than me, much calmer than me. I'm more competitive and I'm more, um I'm, what would I say I'm more? You're more ambitious, but that's not a good, a bad thing, is it? I think it's realizing, yeah, mm-hmm. And again, this is an interesting conversation that I'm now seeking from people. So my conversations that I love having with people is someone will say to a person, you're more ambitious than me. And I'm like, yeah, but what do you define as ambition? Or you're you a question then. So what are you celebrating? What am I celebrating? What am I celebrating? I am celebrating... I wrote... I wrote my letter. I wrote my letter for 2026, which I do every year, which is fabulous. And you know, Mum, this was the easiest year I've ever been able to write my letter. And in fact, I think I said to you, went, Mum, I'm gonna go write my letter. And then I wrote it and you said, are you already done? And I went, yep, done. Because it was easy. was easy. Indeed. Like I put my pen, I say this to everybody, put your pen to paper and don't take your pen off the paper. Just let your brain flow because it's a letter to yourself. It's speaking to you in a year's time. It's like, what, what do you want? What are you looking for? What are the questions you want to know? And so was writing going, I want to know this question. I want to know, I want to know if this dream happened. I want to know if we made this work, I want to know what's happening here. And so this, this, this pen just flowed. And I think what I'm celebrating is that is I'm at a crossroads, as I said to you, which is so exciting because it's terrifying, but exciting at the same time. And you're like, I have no idea what this year brings mom. Like I'm not, know, me, I always have an idea. I'm always like, I think I have a rough idea. I think I have a plan and for the business I have it. I literally created it during the Christmas to New Year period. I set out my quarter one to quarter four. I set out my ideas. They change anyway because that's what happens in business. You evolve, you grow, you listen, you adapt by listening. And so you create a structure and then you move from that. But if you ask me to write out my quarter one to four plan for my personal life, it's a blank page. It's blank. because it's a journey. it doesn't have to be so I, the ingredients, like your planning of your business, 100%, you've got to know the direction and then so that you can perhaps meander off. But for your, great if you know what your journey is for your personal life, but again, you might not. And this is where I'm trying to say that those celebrations. don't have to be massive. They can be small, tiny little wins, like a feeling, not even a tangible thing, but just something that you know has changed in you. That could be the smallest celebration and take those wins, no matter how small, and they don't have to be, you they could be on a daily basis or a weekly basis, but the journeys. celebration and the word that I'm using is curiosity. I think I'm curious. I'm so fascinated to just see where it takes me. I think I said to you the other in the kitchen, I said, what's lovely is even if a fortune teller came to me now and said, right, Athena, we can show you 2027, can do a fast forward, we can show you what's gonna happen. I would refuse it because I just want to go on it. And I just wanna... it. it and not know what's coming. And I think that's what excites me the most is I've never really felt, I haven't felt like this in a really long time. And, and of course, you know, and I've been really open about this, you know, last year when I wrote my letter, my letter was extremely different, you know, because I was in my relationship, a lot of it was around personal life, such as have you moved house? Are you engaged? Have you got that dog that you said that you were going to talk about? when's the wedding date, what's happening. And what's been amazing is how your thought processes can change completely in a year to now be asking very different questions, ambitious questions, or like, what is it that you actually are seeking and want in life? And that's what I think I'm most curious about this year is finding out more about me and growth. other things there, isn't there? There's the journey which you're allowing yourself to experience in a wonderful way. So, but being present in that journey for every day that is coming in this new year. So you don't want to know the future, thank goodness. And letting the experience happen, just happen. But then knowing what's happening. So that's a lovely thing. And then there's the other bit. For instance, the goal setting for your personal life, which have you done? I don't know. Even if it's the small things, the small things which you say that you want, but are they too high? Are they too far for you? How are you going to make those wonderful things that you keep saying that you want actually happen? Are you talking about being on like Strictly Come Dancing and stuff? and that, and also the presentorship and stuff that you want to do, because I think that you would be joyous in it, and that's all you need to be, but I haven't seen you put those actions forward, because that's actually what you want to do. Maybe that's coming. Mum's talking about this idea that I talked to mum about, about the fact that I'd love to be like a travel presenter. I'd love to travel the world and I'd love to present on it and, and do that. And I guess podcasting is a way into that as well. You know, I love podcasting, um, that leads into presenting, but everything has its time and place mum. It might not be this year. You know, for me this year, travel is what is, is in my soul right now. I need to almost like go back to roots and you need to go back to culture and finding things out to then say, right, it's almost like 26 is a reset to then at the end of 26 go, okay, I've reset, I've grounded myself again in the earth. Now what's going forward? What is the next step after that? Things don't all have to happen at once. And like, it's not like you have a dream and then you say, okay, here's my dream, travel presenter. Here's my dream presenting street come dancing. Here's my dream become a Zed List celebrity so that can go on street come dancing. It's that you put these seeds in and then over a course of time, even five to 10 years, well, I will be even 45, which is fine. Then to then go and do these things. It doesn't have to be today, even though that's your dream today. It can be that other things happen first in order for that to happen. And I think what people don't do enough of which I'm going to do this year is they don't ground themselves first. They think that they can just go off and go, right, here's my idea, here's my dream, I'm going to go. But they haven't grounded themselves to the core of the earth to then go forward. And I think that's what I'm seeking this year is to do that. Yeah. Self grounded, self grounding, self discovery, and understanding of you as a person. think... I think the conversations I love is where you really have deep, meaningful conversations about understanding what triggers you, what you want, what you're fearful of, what you're championing, what you want to leave behind, why you choose the choices in life that you do and the reasons behind them that are deep rooted in psychology. And I think that's what's actually fascinating me. I might even do like a master's in psychology, mum, honestly, because the study of human beings, I find so interesting. uh And that's what I'm curious about and culture, culture and travel. So that's what's left you. I think it's the impatience. I'm still impatient, Mum. I'm very impatient. You know I'm impatient! Well, I'm just wondering. Yes, I do know you're impatient. You want it all to happen instantly. But what I'm hearing you say is that you're understanding that it needs all those other ingredients to make it happen. And you're looking to create those foundations so that they will be deep rooted, stay realistic as opposed to you know, building on sand, which... I say this to people all the time, mum, honestly, and I think for a long period of time, and I have been really open about this, I think I was building on sand. I think I was. Because when you're building on sand, the foundations are not rooted. And as a result of that, your house, if we talk about from a property perspective, your house can fall at any moment, your structure that you're building, because it isn't built with roots. material thing though that I'm talking about. It's the fact that you're building your self, your core values on something which are meaningful to you. Whereas when you were younger, were obviously, you were exploring but snatching more, which I think I did too, as a younger person, rather than, you know, understanding the journey. and what it's teaching you along the way, you're more willing and receptive to embracing those learnings than you previously have been and knowing where you've gone wrong. So you're looking at yourself more and thinking, I can do that better or leave me alone, you know, that I'm going to think about that. more ready to, the curiosity is one thing, a hundred percent, which is a wonderful gift. to embrace and then the learning of not just the mistakes but also other people's mistakes and what you see so that you can blend your next move and your journey going into the year. But I think the calmness is really a gift and seeing that other people. I hope to find it because I'm not a calm person at the moment. I wouldn't claim to be a calm person at all but I'm hoping that as the journey goes on and the time goes on it slowly gets calmer and it gets quieter, gets quieter in my head. yeah, yeah. mum, listen to me mum. dancing, the singing, the... you, we need to start our own channel because I'm telling you, the fun that we are going to have is because, because, because we met, I tell you why, mum, you, you raised me this way and you say it to me all the time. You say to me, Athena, we make our own fun. That's what you say to me. You say we make our own fun. uh anybody else to make your fun, absolutely. And the beauty is you create it, share it. It's like that song you used to sing when you were in your junior school. god, god there were so many of them. What was the song mum? Well, it's like you share a little love and then it all comes back to you. yeah, oh God, hymns, hymns at school, brilliant. used to cry through those. know. think sharing is a gift as well that you've got and you do that really well. So let me ask you this then mum, so I... definitely do better though, in terms of helping more, which we haven't made, we're sure, like getting involved in more community stuff and helping. But I think that also would be when you're happy in your community. Definitely. Well, talking of community. So I'm really fascinated in this actually. I get a lot of messages from women every day saying, Athena, tell me more about your community. Tell me why I should come to your event in April. Tell me why I should come to the winter party. Tell me why I should do this. Now, because I know that you're a person that is unbiased. So even though I'm your daughter, you speak very... plainly and very truthfully when you speak. That's your integrity as a person. So when a person would come to me and say, Athena, why should I join the community? Why should I come to the April retreat? If we just talk about the community to start with, what is it that you see within the girls and property community with over 120 members at the moment, mum, which has been built from nothing two years ago, just the concept in my brain? What do you think is the reason why women join and stay in the girls and property community? It's got to be learning, I would think. There's got to be something that is learned, no matter how small. The business qualities, the personal qualities, personal journeys, the targets that we set together maybe. We could also set targets together, even if it's a journey to climbing Kilimanjaro or doing something else which raises money for charity. So I think we could... what I'm saying to you, my question to you is from what you've already seen within the community mum, when you've been in it and you've seen the girls interacting, what is it that you think defines girls and property? What do you think differentiates it to all of the other ones out there? I think the truthfulness, the um ability to feel comfortable and share your true self, and that has to come from the leadership really, which is you. So you share water and all, the fact that you want to have me on this podcast and expose me, thanks very much. um Yeah, I think that it's the reality of... being just you and that people come as themselves. They don't have to pretend to be anything else. And that's when they'll get the most value out of it because sharing of real problems rather than an illusion of what's happening is going to be able to allow those people to springboard further. That is what I think this community is. It's the people don't need to feel that they're creating or bigger than they are, or they can't share a problem. It's the reality of being able to reach out to people that will help in a community, in a safe environment. beautiful mum. And do you know, this year, I think the thing that I have realised the most for the community this year um was, and I think it happens in time when... How I've realised it is when moments happen where it's not for, it's not so that you can put it out on social media and it's not so that you can talk about it at your events and it's nothing to do with a monetary value. It's when in a time of crisis, people come together to help one another because they actually care and because they actually want to help each other. privately and really meaningfully. And I think that's what I found this year was that everybody was bounding around each other for moments that everyone needed, including myself, and they all came to support me. And what I therefore defined it as was family. Like Girls and Property became my family this year. And I think that's why I wanted to get you on the podcast, mum, because I thought... It is a family. You're my, you're my family. And I think that I want, I want us all to come together because I believe I wholeheartedly believe, and if I'm wrong, I'm wrong, that this industry needs this. It needs to be pure and, truthful and authentic, especially in the day of AI where AI is coming and you, and you know, yeah, I mean, we won't, we won't get into that because you'll go off on a tangent. uh what about though when people feel safe to be able to ask for help? Do you think that you've created a community where that can happen? 100 % 100 % that to me is the key, that these women are able to trust that they can ask for help and won't be admonished for thinking, gosh, how could you have made that mistake? Or even being able to springboard to a level that they didn't expect for themselves. know, I've seen such transformation in the women, mum. really have. And actually you would see transformation in the women as well. know, I know what you've said to me. You said, I don't even recognise her. She's incredible. And what's amazing is, is that a lot of women private message me and say, know, Athena, I need your help with this. I need to talk to you. And it's usually personal matters. You know, it's real personal stuff that they're not comfortable to share. But the women who then do put it out in the community to inspire others to think actually I'm struggling too, well, this has happened to me. I always say to them, always, I say, you are incredibly brave. To be vulnerable, I believe is one of the most difficult, brave things a person can do in this lifetime to show up vulnerable. And I think that if we can inspire others to do the same, such as, you know, me and you are ridiculous, mom, you know, we can't even be bothered to put on makeup or do our hair. We literally go on social media in our dressing gowns. You know, I mean, yeah, we literally put up a thing. do you... You haven't put another post on. You better not have done. I'll kill you! wishes in your lovely dressing gown. I think I'm definitely going to claim I.P. rights on this. Need a better lawyer. You do, Mum, you need a better lawyer. So I think it's just about being authentic. then talking about the events then, so obviously we've got the April retreat coming up. So you've seen every single event that we've ever done. Again, what do you think is the thing that differentiates the events and the retreats? When you go, what do you see of those 80 women in the room? Why should somebody come if they're listening today? Mm hmm. It's the trust in the room once again. People come for different reasons. They're not going to come for my reasons, so they're going to have their own reasons. It's got to be the value in the learning to leave with gifts and knowledge that you didn't know before you came. Having a set goal for when you do arrive, fantastic, because come with questions as well. Come with an open mind of the, you've mentioned, for instance, the questions, the curiosity of the things that you want to find out in 2026. I would love it if the women came in to the retreats and trusted that the questions that they've got are going to be answered in that room and not be afraid to ask. So I would invite questions to be thought of before they come and shared in that room, even before. Things that we don't know about because the world is changing, changing in a good way. Property is going onto the floor for some, but if we change the ingredients for the property, which is never going to go away, then turn them into new things. I love the care homes that being created, for instance, the social housing projects that have arrived. The idea that property title splits can happen, we can do things, know, some things may be good in that, but everyone's going to need a home to live. The things that I don't like that I'm seeing in the UK at the moment are all the high rise buildings, the flats. I'd love to see, for instance, that these managing agents the law is changed so that there can't be these developers who then sell off short leases, managing agents who charge exorbitant rates or rents or whatever it is, leasing fees to people who are hardworking and don't get payback. So that's the things that I'd like to change in the industry. But those are the changes. Those are the changes. Well, those are the things that I see which aren't integral and they're not built on integrity and they're built of people that are making huge amounts of money for which isn't honest business they're not really providing a service but the illusion of a service and that's I haven't announced this yet, but the speaker lineup is incredible in terms of what you've just spoken about there in different topics and different conversations that you're excited about. Watch this space for the retreat 2026, because we have, I actually decided the speakers for the 2026 retreat a year ago. I knew exactly what I wanted because each time I do the retreat, mum, and you'll know this because you've seen the evolution of it. It changes every single year because each year I get feedback, each year I learn, each year I see and I go, okay, I could do that differently or that worked well. And what is it that everyone wants to learn about? What is it that we're seeking? So what I can tell you for the speakers, cause I'm going to be doing the announcement coming up is that exactly what mum just said, there's going to be almost a way of going. The industry is what it is at the moment. How can we actually do things differently? in order to succeed in this industry. So we've got development, we've got cash flowing strategies, we've got creative strategies. We are going to be adding some conscious work this year as well, because as you know, I'm all about soul and strategy alignment. And then we're to have our expert tables as well. So it is going to be absolutely um incredible. I always say this, mum, like for me, it is my favourite day of the entire year that day, because I just bring... all my favourite people together in one room to believe that this is how we could teach in the education system for property. And I'm so proud of it that it is a room full of ambitious, as we said, women who are doing that. So mum, let me, let me. Lots of women as well will have learnt new things in their last year, because nobody's going to stay static. So what has everybody learnt? And sometimes it's the quantum leap, which is difficult to know, because as you're doing the journey, you're making a quantum leap and it's difficult to unlearn what you've learnt. However, it would be wonderful to hear the learnings of each person going forward, what they've learned in a year. People have changed. I've seen the women change even in aspects of what they believe that they wanted to do. For instance, I'm hoping that Sophie's situation now with what her ambition was of the HMO, that is going to change for her and she's really going to go into a completely different uh area of business. How wonderful is that? So it's still business learning and she's going to completely transform everything she's learned in property into something else, together with all the ingredients that have come through in her earlier life. But that's the beauty of it. What have other people learned in a year? Yeah, it's like always say this. It's like being a Pokemon. You just evolve. You literally evolve each time because and I think people are scared about that. know, people always say to me, they DM me and we have this conversation. You're to laugh at me if you've ever DMed me this. They're like, Athena, people are telling me that they think that I've changed. And I always say to them, fantastic, you're meant to change. You're meant to evolve. You're not meant to be the same person. I don't think they're saying to you in a bad way, they're saying it in a good way, right? no, no, no. The DMs that I receive are that they see it as a negative. So that I think I need your help. is that your interpretation though? It just based on the conversation I'm having with them. It's part of a greater conversation that I have with them. And they're saying, Athena, people think that I've changed. This is happening. This is happening. My circles are getting smaller. And I'm like, that's a good thing because then you're making room for what is meant for you. And these are the conversations that I have. true. And the new people will come into your life. Exactly. So mum, I'm just conscious of time here and really want to get great sort of essence from from this podcast. It surprises me actually, you haven't laughed as much as I thought you would on this podcast, because you usually laugh all the time. You've been more that maybe. m You've been serious and I'm like, she's being serious, she's in a serious mode. yeah, but was it supposed to be a humorous podcast? because if it was, then we'd better completely change the ingredients. asking that question just makes me laugh. I'm like, was I meant to do something else? No, here's what I'm going to ask you, mum. So I've got two questions left for you that I'm really fascinated by. So if you remember the first time you came on the podcast, I asked you actually, I'm only going to do one this time, but at the time I said to you, mum, come with three questions that you want to ask me that you think would help the listeners get to know me more. and asked you to do three and they were the most abstract three questions that I did not see coming. Oh, I do. And they were based off of a book. Oh God, they were ridiculous questions. No, mum, we're not doing the book. Stay still. Yeah, we're not doing that this time. So instead, my first question to you is mum, is sometimes I'll get messages for this podcast that says, Athena on your podcast on girls and property, we would actually love for you to be interviewed so that we can get to know you more. We can get to know you more. You always interview other people. We'd love to know more about you as a person. So mum, my question to you is what's one question that you want to ask me on this podcast today for the listeners? You can ask me anything. Okay, but I do ask you anything generally. So it's very difficult for me to now think of a different question that I need to ask you, but this is for the listeners. It's for the listeners. Well, just give me a moment. So I would say to the listeners, are there questions that you would like to ask that you haven't so far? Yeah. me a question. Mum, you ask me a question for the listeners. I ask you a question for the listeners. Okay. So what? Have you put in place for your own ambitions this year? So your question is, what have I put in place for my own ambitions this year? So I made a choice this year before starting 2026. went to, I was really thinking about this at the end of the year, November, December. I don't know if you know this actually, mum, I'm not sure if you know this. So I had a decision to make this year. I knew I wanted to work with another coach for a year and I knew I wanted to do that because I work well with coaches. They push me to think, they push me to think bigger. They helped to sometimes ground me and I was thinking, what is it that I need this year in a coach? What am I looking for? And I had a choice to make. I had a choice as to whether I chose a strategy mentor going forward to help me in business strategy, logistics, all of that, or a subconscious coach, a business subconscious coach that does, they're an NLP practitioner, they're trained in subconscious work. And I went to both of them and I spoke to both of them and there was a massive, massive pull for me towards the business of conscious work because I thought to myself, I think what I'm learning, I'm learning this, is I have so many ideas, mum. I have an abundance of ideas. I always say to you every time I come out the shower, don't I? I say to you, mum, I've just come up with another idea. I've just come up with another idea. I've got this idea, I've got this idea. And I have a huge, huge project that I want to begin, which I'm not going to tell you all what it is. Some of you know within the community, but I thought I was going to start it this year, this big project, which is going to be taking on all of the educational systems and big, big businesses that put on these free days and then get you to run to the back of the room and all of that. I thought this was the year I was going to take them all on and build something better. you know, of what I believe to be better within this industry. But I'm not sure that that is this year. I don't think I'm ready to build it yet. I think it's a 2027 project to launch either 27 or 28. And so I thought I'd go with the business coach. But what I've set up for my ambitions for 2026 is I have now instructed a subconscious mentor. We begin in January. So now this month that I'm working with for 12 months, a female coach. to take me forward over the 12 months to understand me and the psychology of why I'm doing what I'm doing and how I want to better it each time. So I'm really excited to start that. I've put the wheels in motion for the business with setting out its quarters and putting it on my A3 pages and setting up my vision boards. And then in terms of me and my ambitions personally for this year as a person, as Athena Dobson, I'm back at the gym as you know, so I've reset up the gym which I'm super excited about. I need to get fit again. I've missed my fitness so much and actually what I'm doing is I'm going to be doing a lot more work on not just getting fit and lifting weights but mindful um ones. Yeah you know that mum. you, and your why is really important. Your why of why you are the way you are seems to be a question for you. massively. Huge. And that's the bit that I don't understand why that's important, as opposed to accepting that that is the way that you are and then just leaning into that and jumping off, which you do do. But now going back and understanding your why, I'm fascinated as to why you want to know your why. Because it's a year of exploration, mum. It's a year to almost be... to almost go backwards, to go forwards, to really be deep rooted and kind of, well, am I on the right path? Is this what I want? okay. But you're questioning your path. Right, fine. But that's part of your why. And then I was going to ask you another. but I believe that and I believe that everyone should do the same work if they want to. Everybody has the right to do their own journey. don't, I don't, yeah, this is mine. I'm not saying that everybody has to be the same way, but I think when you come to a crossroads, rather than just going off on one and just going, right, okay, here's my crossroads, off I go again. It's like, well, hold on, let's just pause and take a look at this. My whole life has changed in a year, You know, single again, everything like that. okay, well, what do I want in life? Is this what I want? Is this what I'm seeking? Like, for example, Mum... So you looking back to your why the way that you are, your why there, is going to help you find out your journey. Is that what you see? When you find out and are so... It's like when you stand on a podium and no one can knock you off or you stand on a piece of wood and no one can knock you off a piece of wood because you're so centred in who you are and what you want that there is... It's like mum, it's like there is only then a linear line to go forward. There is no squiggly line. Because, because you are rooted. all right, so let me just ask you this then. So have you made this decision based on the fact that you haven't felt comfortable on some of the bad things that have happened in terms of, what do we call it? Attacks that you've had on you personally that you don't want to feel that way. Is that what's? driven this, you don't want to feel the same or is it something else? No, I don't think so. I don't think it's to do... I don't know. Again, Mum. Again, we don't... This is what I'm trying to explain. We don't know what we don't know, right? So I don't know the answer to that question because it might be that I sit here and I think of the answer and I say to you, no, it's not based on what's happened to me this year and the social media attacks and what we think that other people think of us. And we can say, no, it's not based on that. But actually when I start to do the subconscious work, it might appear that it has had an effect. And as a result of that, it does then do that. So I don't know is the answer to that question, but what I do know and from a positive standpoint, it's a positive, not a negative, is I'm curious. I'm so curious. I think, I'll tell you what I actually think, mum. I believe, and it's like when you have, don't know listeners, if you've got this, it's like when you have a belief within yourself. that you're destined for something more. And so you're almost like, if you're destined for more, how do you get there and what needs to change to get you there? And without doing the work to do that, how do you know that that is even what you want or what is it that you want or what is it that you define as happiness, for example? I ask this, I ask this all the time. What is the definition of success? What's the definition of happiness? And it's different to everybody. And I want to know if my truth, I want to know my truth, is it that or is it something else? And it might be mum that I'm completely fascinated and I go, wow, I didn't know any of that stuff about me. Didn't have a clue. I might uncover things I didn't even know existed. And for me, that's exciting. I'm excited by that because it takes you to the next level of evolution. Okay, for you. For you. that's what you... Okay, cool. m I think traveling culture plays a massive part in that and just getting back, as I said, grounded into the earth and to think what, I'd ask everybody, I would ask everybody to finish this podcast, I would ask everyone the same question. And the same question I ask myself and I ask you all to think about is, why do you do what you do every day? For what purpose? What is your purpose of why you do what you do? And that's the story I want to know. For yourself. For yourself. who's interested in discovering that for themselves. uh drives you learning more about. Mm-hmm. started this and since I've been adding somatic work to the workshop for the girls and since the accelerator program started and I've been working with Akta Kaa and the subconscious work has been led into the program, I have watched these girls transform because they are willing to want to know the answer to the question and they have jumped with both feet. I'm beyond proud of every woman in my world because they also are seeking for themselves. I hear you. I hear the idea and the belief, which is what I think you're saying. It's not just about the achievements that you make happen, that you can set the goals, but it's actually trying to look at the appreciation of those and what really grounds you and drives the purpose. which could be completely different to what you thought it was on day one. Mum, I've, I've, you know this, you've seen me, like I'm, I'm, I've completely changed. You know, it's like when I started this industry, um, the property industry and I, and I started off in rent to rent and Jesus Christ, like you really think to yourself, like you do it because you think that you went to a seminar and you went and you sat for three days. Like when we went to that, that one for three days. And, um, I thought I'm to take mum because if anyone can, can spot out, uh, non good egg it's you and and then I bought into this I bought into it and I bought into this notion of well if you want to be successful and you want to leave your job because I had to because I got made redundant with with travel because of Covid this is what you should do this is how you should do it this is how you can cash flow five thousand pounds a month so you can cash flow ten thousand pounds a month and you become on this hamster wheel where you're just running and running and running and running because you're you're trying to keep up you're trying to go This is what people are telling me to do. This is what other people have done that is their definition of success. So that's the path I'm going to follow. But if you just take a breath and a second to understand why that is what it is that you're seeking and why you think that is the route. I think you will go 10 times faster and I wish that someone would have said this to me when I started and what I would say to anyone sitting there who is listening to this podcast for the first time having not started yet, take a breath and ask why before you go. Because if you do that, you will go in a complete different direction. Do you know every single person who started the accelerator has changed direction and path. All 10 of them have changed. Yeah, it's a journey. And that's the beauty of what it is that is acceptance, that this whole gift is a journey. doesn't have to be great when you map things out. And if you can have a five-year plan, a five-year plan of a business. But a lot of people have started their businesses with nothing, absolutely nothing, and made it happen. And, and, mum, Girls and Property started as an idea in our head. It was an idea that then literally went into what it is. It's the most beautiful thing I think you can do because it's, it's, it's like your ideas coming to life. It's so exciting. Um, but let me ask you this then, mum. So I'm, I'm fascinated to know the answer to this actually. I think I've still got two more questions for you, but I haven't even thought of those yet. But anyway, you asked me, all right, you said three. no, I said that previously we did three, but you are such well done by the way, your, your one question this time was a good question. So well done. Um, so my question to you then, mom, I'm going to ask you a question. So to round up this podcast. So I asked this question to nearly every guest that comes on. And the reason I asked this question is because And actually your answer might be very interesting to this. When I went on a podcast, they said to me, and it stumped me mum, for about three minutes I was in silence because I didn't know the answer to the question. And they said to me, Athena, what's one question that nobody has ever asked you that you wish that somebody would have asked you? So what is one thing, mum, that no one's ever asked you that you wish that someone would have asked you? I can't think of anything, but I wish that somebody... Sorry? I was like, I'm just imagining this like under a campfire under the stars right now. right, let's take myself back to the campfire under the stars, which, yeah, I've been, and I came back smelling stinky of charcoal for days, which was quite interesting. I think my one wish, which is probably not possible anyway, but if they asked me if I could teleport myself into the past or into the future, would I go? Oh, you see, I knew you were going to give a good answer. Love. Yeah. Yeah. Brilliant. I love that. I love that. you're. Hold on, mum. Hold on. Hold on. Re-reask the question one more time. the question. So if you were to ask me, mama, if you could teleport yourself into the past or into the future and into the future, because I'd like to do both selfishly and into the future, would you go? Would you go? And I was faced with that situation at the campfire and I don't even know how it arrived. It did happen where I thought I was in, it's almost like another world presented itself to me in that campfire. I don't know why, I don't know how. And I was invited at this point to go into the past. And how do I know it was the past? Well, it seemed like a place that was full of old wooden buildings. set in, it was a movie, what looked like a movie stage, but how I would imagine the 1800s would be, not here but in Canada actually at the time, and it invited me to step into this world. Literally all I had to do was to step into it uh like a mirror, like a cloud, and I thought well okay, but and then in my head it told me well you might not be able to come back. Okay, I thought so I I absorbed that and I thought, fair enough. And in that moment, I didn't think of all the people that I was leaving behind, which was the weird thing. And I can admit to that now. never thought of all, I just thought, well, okay, I'll go and I'll just explore what this is. This is probably the adventure in me. And then as I started to try and walk into it, like a time travel thing, the whole thing evaporated and it disappeared. So the answer to my question is, although nobody's ever asked it to me, yes, I would go in that moment. Would I do it again? Don't know. But what would I, what is it that I was seeking? That would be probably more fascinating. Why was I looking to go into that to find what? And it would be adventure. When I got there, I'm at think, what the hell is this place? There's nothing. There's no internet, there's no... washing machine, there's no, there's just... I love that washing machine was what he went to. Well there's no cooker, you know, I'd have to sew. And that's the daft thing really, that I was willing to take that impulsive idea to walk back just to have the experience. So daft. Daft as a brush. love it, mum. I love it. And these are the questions that I want to know. And these are the conversations because one, by the way, you'd have left me behind. So thanks very much. Appreciate that. But two, you asked yourself a question there. You asked yourself a question, which was, what was I seeking? And those are the conversations that I'm the most interested in because if you go down that rabbit hole and you start to go, what was I seeking? And it doesn't always have to be negative. It could be, it could be really positive conversation. a permanent thing that I was seeking. It wasn't a permanent thing. I didn't even have this idea that it would be a permanent thing, even though it told me maybe I couldn't come back when I was thinking I'll come back. Whatever it is, I'll come back because it probably knew I wasn't going to go. anyway, whatever it is, this higher spiritual idea or probably not even spiritual, it's just, I can't even explain it. Honestly, I can't even explain it. it doesn't have to be explained. This is is the beauty of it. So great. past, it's a bit like you actually. I want to know the past, but is it that important? I'd like to know the future, but selfishly I'd like to do the journey as well. everything, everything, but it's the curiosity. I think it's the curiosity. Yeah. Stay curious, which is also what Steve Jobs, you know, embraced. If there was one thing, it's just ask questions, ask lots of questions, which is what I do naturally, I guess, of myself, of things. It can be a little bit daunting with people that don't want to feel, as you say, vulnerable, don't want to ask the questions. But it's, I guess, creating the environment. Yeah. Good answer. I love that. And I knew you were going to come out with something wacky. I was like, yes. Yeah. Walking into a teleporting mum. And then finally, my final, and this is just one word. I just need one word from you because I want to know your answers to this. I asked a lot of other guests this to round out the podcast. What is your one word for the definition of success for you? life joy. Is that two words? Joy. Let's choose it. It is life. But it's joy. It's joy. Right, so your definition of success for 26 is joy. to me, like happiness is one thing, but joy is a little bit of peppery of fun, minxy. Can you see the difference in the word for me? Yeah, so it would be joy. Like if you were going to make a salad, the leaves would be the happiness and the peppery tomatoes and cucumber would be joy. Okay, that's an interesting one. It's just the joy being, like you've got a skip in your step when you're approaching things. It's not just the happiness, but you've got a skip in your step because you're doing it with exuberance. You're doing it with positivity rather than the happiness, which is a bit mellow. That's how I would like my words to be for 2026. I think we should all take a bit more joy into 2026. I love that and I'm excited for it. magic your own ingredients for that to happen. Brilliant, I love that. Well, mum, like I said, this is why I wanted to get you on the podcast, because I never know what to expect with you. You sort of go off on tangents and you do your own thing and your own conversations. But what I wanted was for it to be as if people could get a cup of tea and as if they were gonna be at home with us sitting in our kitchen with the conversations that me and you typically have. Um, and I love that and I, and I really do. So thank you for being very brave, mom. Not a lot of people would do what you've done. You're not a natural podcaster. You know, it's not in your, your narrative usually. And for you to actually come on and agree to do this as the first episode, I think it is incredibly brave of you. And I'm really grateful that you came on today. And I know that the listeners are going to love that as well. So thank you, mom. You're welcome. Yeah. You're welcome. No, I think I'm a better listener than I am a speaker. You do listen well. You do listen well. And giggle, which I love. But what... So what I will say to everybody is, right, 2026 Girls and Property, we are officially off. So we will be back with our traditional guests next week. We will be releasing every single Monday from 7 a.m. in true fashion. Now, if you are wanting to come onto the Girls and Property podcast or you have a recommendation for me, let me know. I... I've course been doing this for a long time now. I need your help to try and find incredible women and men that you would like to hear from, whether it's property, whether it's in the property services, whether it's to do with subconscious work, whether it's to do with business, anything. I just like meeting interesting people as I'm sure that you've gathered from this and having interesting conversations. So um if you've got somebody in mind, me their name and we will continue to... create value and create great episodes together. And then as always, if you love the sound of the Girls and Property community, we're over 120 members going into 2026 and it's just gonna keep on growing, then do come and join. We've got both of our calls, which are gonna be happening every single month, twice a month, which will be the first and third Tuesdays, all around property and prosperity at the same time. So whether it's business and then property, bit of a mixture, I always like to put it in there together. and then do not forget to get your tickets to the Girls and Property annual retreat, which is happening on Friday, 24th of April, Penny Manor in Tring. On pre-sale, we sold over 50 % of the tickets, which kind of tells you everything you need to know about the event. These are people that have been to the event before. They don't even know the lineup of speakers yet, but they're like Athena, whatever it is, we know it's amazing, we are coming. We've actually introduced a split payment this year as well, so if you wanna pay as a split and kind of do it in two halves, you can. So if you would like to come to the retreat and know information, just DM me the word retreat. And I will send you all the information that you need. Can I have the last uh point, which is come with lots of questions. and come with lots of questions. Exactly, mum. Well said. Bravo. You should take up podcasting. I love it. I won't hear all their questions. definitely. Well, you do just really quickly. Do you remember? Because she's never forgotten it. Do you remember Sarah Dobson who isn't related to us, even though she has the same surname? So I'll never forget you sitting next to Sarah and Sarah was in her pink, pink jacket. And we had a question time. It was a panel session and Sarah stood up and I said, right, last question. Sarah stood up. She was sat right next to you. And she said, hi, everyone. This isn't a question, but Yolanda Su sat next to me as making me stand up to promote myself and to say what it is that I do in my services. And she did it and she stood up. she did it as a question, I think. But I do remember Sarah. She did it as a question, but what was lovely was that you encouraged her to do that. she, you will, she's coming, she's coming. And yeah, yeah. And she asked me if you were coming and I was like, yeah, you can sit next to mom again. I want to see how far she's come. She can tell me all about her journey for the last year, two years actually. came up to me in um the break and she said, she says, I really thank you, mum, because I would never have stood up without her prodding me, as it were. And I really, really love that. So everybody come. Maybe I'll give you your own table, mum. I'll be like, right, who wants to be on your Lander Dobson's table? Off you go. Go enjoy yourself. come with lots of questions. I want to hear those. Exactly. All right, everybody enjoy. Happy New Year. Here's to the year of 2026. Here's to ambition, madness, joy, curiosity, and fun. May it be your year. DM me. Let me know what you're tuning in from. Let me know what you're celebrating. Don't forget to be inspired every day. And again, if you want more conversations, please remember to like, share and subscribe and to let me know who you'd like to hear from or yourself. Take care, everyone. Sending you loads of love. Have a great week. All the best. Bye.