In this episode, I turn the tables on my good friend and podcast host extraordinaire Ellie McKay as she discusses her journey from facing financial struggles and mental health challenges to building a successful property business and in turn launching an extremely successful podcast. She opens up about the highs and lows she has experienced, including the pressure of surrounding herself with the right team, the difficulties of identifying trustworthy individuals in business, and the importance of maintaining control while also relinquishing it to experts. In this frank interview, Ellie talks about sharing the highs as well as sharing the lows and the difficulties in finding the happy balance between the two.  Ellie also shares her thoughts on celebrating wins, dealing with down days, and the power of mindset and emotional intelligence. She candidly discusses her own mental health journey, including moments of despair and the importance of seeking help and support. Through her story, Ellie aims to inspire and provide hope to others who may be facing similar challenges. I absolutely loved conducting this interview and hope you get some great insight into the successes Ellie has achieved and the challenges she has endured along the way in this inspiring episode where she shares things she had no intention of sharing.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Overcoming challenges: The speaker shares her personal experiences of facing various challenges, including financial struggles, property setbacks, and mental health issues. These challenges have shaped her resilience and determination to create a successful life. Importance of relationships: The speaker emphasizes the value of surrounding oneself with the right people. She acknowledges the need to rely on others' expertise and build a strong team to achieve growth and success. Learning from mistakes: The speaker highlights the importance of making mistakes and learning from them. She discusses the trial and error process of hiring the right people and working with external agencies, emphasizing the need to test and measure to find the right fit. Balancing vulnerability and success: The speaker acknowledges the difficulty of finding a balance between sharing vulnerabilities and celebrating achievements. She discusses the pressure to appear humble while also sharing the highs and lows of her journey. Mindset and self-care: The speaker emphasizes the importance of mindset and emotional intelligence in overcoming challenges. She discusses the significance of self-care practices such as exercise, meditation, and alone time to maintain mental well-being and navigate the ups and downs of life. BEST MOMENTS "Everyone talks the talk. And then when it comes down to it, not everyone does what they say they're going to do." "Success is just putting one foot in front of the other." "I think there's still quite a lot of judgment around suicide." "We haven't come this far to only come this far." HOST BIO Toni's journey defies the norm. Raised with a strong work ethic and a traditional career path in mind, she initially pursued a corporate job in HR after earning her degree. However, in 2015, everything changed when she attended a property training seminar. Little did she know that this event would ignite a profound passion for property investment. With her husband Chris, Toni raised millions in joint venture finance, creating a multi-million-pound property portfolio. But her story doesn't stop there. By the age of 33, she left her HR job behind to empower others in building their successful property businesses. Toni's passion for public speaking led her to become a world record holder. Beyond the accolades, she sees it as a calling to educate and inspire. Toni hosts training events and uses her "Talks with Toni" podcast to share insights, interview captivating guests, and motivate her audience.