“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”
–Bryant H. McGill
It is a very basic human desire to be seen, heard, felt, and truly understood. Katie Cheesman gets that. By creating her company, The Listening Ear Project, Katie has made it her business and life’s mission to show respect and give dignity to others by practicing the simple skill of listening. She created the Listening Ear Project as a way to be a listening ear for the elderly generation and to share the stories she felt deserved to be heard. We recently caught up with this amazing woman to learn how she got her start and how she allows the inspirational stories she tells to influence her own.
AdvisHer: Tell us about you – who is Katie Cheesman?
Katie: Hi! My name is Katie Cheesman and I’m the creator of The Listening Ear Project where I film and interview seniors to document their life stories!
AdvisHer: What was your inspiration for creating The Listening Ear Project?
K: My passion for this generation sprouted when I got my first job serving meals at an assisted living center, then continued to grow as I became a CNA. My love increased more than I ever thought it could, when I moved in with my grandpa to care for him as he faced the ugliness of dementia. All of these experiences lead me to apply for nursing school and I graduated (39 weeks pregnant, mind you) with my RN. I still remember the look on the faces of my fellow nursing school classmates when they asked me what field I wanted to specialize in. Geriatrics? Really? For most nursing students, working with seniors was a stepping stone to help them move onto “bigger and better things,” but not for me. I always knew I was supposed to work with older adults. I eventually ended up working as a home health nurse and was blown away by the fascinating stories my patients would share with me. So I picked up my camera and began filming! And that’s when I did one of the scariest things I have ever done. I quit my job as a nurse to pursue my passion in hopes of sharing their wisdom with the world.
AdvisHer: Take us through a day in the life!
K: I have two young children, so my world typically revolves around them, but during naps times and nanny hours, I work on my business! Saturdays are my filming days, where I pack up and head to the client’s home to document their life. Then comes the editing, the most time consuming portion of the work I do, but I was fortunate enough to hire an editor to help me this year! Aside from that, I’m sharing inspiring clips from the interviews on social media and marketing to future clients.
AdvisHer: What is your favorite type of project to work on/client to work with?
K: Anyone with an amazing story, which I have found, is just about everyone.
AdvisHer: How do you stay inspired?
K: I have learned to ride the waves of inspiration. Sometimes I feel unmotivated, uninspired, and overwhelmed with the task of juggling motherhood and a business, but I’ve learned that during these times I need to focus on self-care. Once I do this, a wave of inspiration will usually follow. Sometimes we try to force inspiration, but I’ve learned that we need just let it come to us when the time is right!
AdvisHer: If you could give your younger self some advice, what would it be?
K: Don’t take life so seriously! Have fun and enjoy what you feel passionate about.
AdvisHer: What has been your favorite story you were able to film?
K: There are so many, but Grant comes to mind! He’s an 87-year-old farmer who discovered a love for running at the age of 67! He’s run multiple 50 and 100 mile races, so I filmed him during a 50-mile race and it was so inspiring to me! To see this man push his body in the rain for miles on end, taught me a lot about what the human spirit can handle.
AdvisHer: How do you prioritize your financial health?
K: It all boils down to the fact that my business is something that I love doing and if I’m not careful about my finances, then I don’t get to do what I love! I’m constantly making sure I am financially secure when it comes to hiring, investing in equipment and marketing, etc.
AdvisHer: What are your financial goals for 2019?
K: I would love to hire my first full-time employee!
We would like to thank Katie Cheesman for her endless inspiration and for her time in helping create this post! For more on Katie and her wonderful business, check out her website, or follow along on Instagram at @thelisteningearproject!
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