The principal theme of our discourse revolves around the transformative power of contribution and the profound impact of personal resilience. I recently returned from an enlightening twenty-day journey, during which I revisited Kenya, a location that has indelibly shaped my perspective on success and fulfillment. This expedition not only allowed me to witness firsthand the results of my commitment to funding a classroom through the Village Impact charity, but also reinforced the notion that true success is measured by the extent of one's contributions to the welfare of others. Through engaging interactions with the local community, I encountered individuals exhibiting remarkable resilience despite their challenging circumstances, which served as a poignant reminder of the strength inherent in the human spirit. Ultimately, our discussion endeavors to inspire listeners to recognize their own capacity for resilience and to contemplate how they might leverage it to effect positive change within their own lives and communities.

The narrative unfolds with the speaker reflecting upon a transformative 20-day expedition, the essence of which was profoundly rooted in personal and communal growth. The speaker revisits a previous journey to Kenya, where an impactful commitment emerged from a client’s generous invitation to witness the unveiling of a school funded through charitable endeavors. This experience catalyzed a promise within the speaker to return as a benefactor, ultimately leading to the establishment of the 'Dream Big Dreams' classroom—a testament to the belief that success transcends material accumulation, focusing instead on the contributions we make towards enriching the lives of others. The speaker emphasizes the importance of resilience witnessed among the Kenyan populace, whose unwavering spirit amidst adversity serves as a poignant reminder of the profound gratitude and joy that can be derived from life’s simplest moments.

As the speaker recounts the vivid memories of children who have never experienced the wonder of bubbles, a deeper understanding of perspective emerges. The narrative illustrates the stark juxtaposition between the speaker's prior frustrations, such as dealing with slow Wi-Fi, and the resilience of those who walk miles for basic necessities. This exploration of contrasting realities underlines the significance of adopting a mindset that appreciates the beauty in simplicity and the importance of contributing to a greater cause. The speaker reinforces the notion that every setback and challenge faced in one’s journey paves the way for meaningful impact, urging listeners to recognize their inherent capacity for change and resilience.

Ultimately, the speaker calls upon the audience to harness their unique gifts and perspectives to effectuate change, emphasizing that true fulfillment lies in the contributions one makes to the world. The episode concludes with an invitation to engage with Village Impact, a charity dedicated to educational development in Kenya, and a powerful reminder to dream big in the pursuit of a life that serves both personal aspirations and the broader community.

The speaker embarks upon a poignant exploration of a recent transformative journey, marked by a return to Kenya, which had previously ignited a profound commitment to philanthropic endeavors. This expedition was not merely a geographical traverse but a rich tapestry of experiences that underscored the speaker's evolution in understanding success and its inherent responsibilities. Through the lens of personal reflection, the speaker shares the emotional resonance of visiting the 'Dream Big Dreams' classroom, a direct manifestation of their earlier promise to contribute meaningfully to the lives of others. This narrative thread illustrates the notion that true success is not solely defined by personal achievements but rather by the extent to which one can elevate others through generosity and compassion.

The episode delves into the stark realities faced by the Kenyan communities, where resilience emerges as a defining characteristic. The speaker recounts encounters with individuals whose daily lives are marked by arduous tasks, such as fetching water, yet remain imbued with gratitude and joy. These moments serve as powerful reminders of the contrasting nature of hardship and happiness, prompting a reevaluation of what constitutes fulfillment in one’s own life. The speaker's reflections provoke an introspective dialogue on how personal adversities can serve as catalysts for greater empathy and understanding towards others, emphasizing that the true measure of one’s journey lies in their ability to foster hope and opportunity for those less fortunate.

In a compelling conclusion, the speaker challenges listeners to confront their own potential for impact, urging them to recognize their capacity for resilience and the importance of nurturing a healthy relationship with success. The call to action is clear: to embrace the dream of creating a legacy that extends beyond oneself, contributing to the betterment of society through purposeful endeavors. This episode serves as both an inspiration and a clarion call for individuals to harness their innate potential to effectuate meaningful change, ultimately cultivating a world where dreams are not only envisioned but realized.

The speaker shares a deeply personal account of a recent journey that served to reaffirm their commitment to philanthropy and community upliftment, particularly through educational initiatives in Kenya. This narrative is anchored in the speaker's earlier visit, where a profound connection to a charitable cause was established, leading to the creation of a classroom dedicated to fostering dreams and learning for local children. The speaker emphasizes that the essence of true success lies in the capacity to contribute positively to the lives of others, rather than mere self-accumulation of wealth or accolades. This approach signifies a shift towards a more holistic and impactful understanding of success, one that transcends individual gain and focuses on collective well-being.

Throughout the episode, the speaker reflects on the resilience displayed by the Kenyan people, whose spirit remains unbroken despite facing significant hardships. The vivid imagery of children’s pure delight at simple pleasures, such as bubbles, acts as a catalyst for critical self-reflection on the speaker's own experiences and frustrations. This juxtaposition not only highlights the disparities in life experiences but also serves to illuminate the profound lessons that can be drawn from such contrasts, particularly regarding gratitude and appreciation for life’s offerings. The speaker articulates that each challenge faced in one's life journey contributes to a broader narrative of personal growth and potential for impact, encouraging listeners to embrace their own stories of resilience.

In closing, the speaker extends an invitation for listeners to engage with Village Impact, reinforcing the idea that every individual possesses the ability to contribute to meaningful change, regardless of their capacity. The overarching message resonates with the notion that true fulfillment arises from the intersection of personal growth and communal contribution, urging individuals to pursue their dreams while remaining cognizant of the larger impact they can create. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that the journey to success is intertwined with the responsibility to uplift others, fostering a spirit of generosity and hope in a world that desperately needs both.

Takeaways:

• The profound impact of our experiences shapes our perspectives and motivations in life.
• True success is defined not solely by personal accumulation but by our contributions to others.
• Resilience in the face of hardship can lead to remarkable transformations and opportunities.
• Gratitude is a powerful force that can enhance our appreciation for life's simplest joys.

Links referenced in this episode:

• https://cart.kreativedigitalmediainc.com/ai-work-week-slayer/

Hello, my friends.

I am so glad you are here with me today.

It feels like forever because I just got back from the most incredible 20 day journey and I honestly don't even know where to begin.

But I am going to try.

Because what happened on this trip, what I experienced, what I learned, what shifted inside of me, I know is going to impact you too.

And so I batched my podcast before I left, and so it just feels like it's been forever since I talked to you guys.

And I just want to say to anyone who's reached out to me via email and shared love with the podcast, I just absolutely appreciate you.

And so if there's something in the podcast that resonates with you, or if you want me to talk about something more, or if you've questions, please, please, please feel free to email me@hellosignyourdreamlifetoday.com and I will do my best to help you in any way that I can.

So let me start with the full circle moment that still gives me chills when I think about it.

So, over two years ago, I went to Kenya for the first time as a guest.

My client, Amy.

You guys have heard me talk about Amy before.

If you're a listener of the podcast, she is the one that I met on a ferry boat in Toronto when I thought I was never going to get a client.

Anyways, Amy was going through a divorce at the time, and she had donated a classroom to this incredible charity called Village Impact.

And she was supposed to go with her husband to see the grand opening of the school, but because of the divorce, he wasn't going anymore.

And Amy said to me, kara, you have helped me build all of this wealth.

I cannot imagine anyone else I would rather take with me.

Just pay for your airfare.

And you guys, I was so honored.

And when I was there two years ago, walking through the village, seeing the impact of the education on these communities, I made myself a promise.

I said, I am going to come back as a donor.

I don't know how, but I am going to figure it out.

And here's the thing, some people fundraise for causes like this.

Not me.

I looked at the goal and I said, no, I'm gonna just make more money.

I'm gonna donate to this classroom myself.

And that is exactly what I did.

Because here is what I've learned about money, about success, and about what really matters.

And this trip, honestly, just reinforced it in the most beautiful way.

Success isn't just about what you accumulate.

It is about what you contribute.

It is about what you make possible for others.

So fast forward two years, and there I was getting off the plane in Kenya with my husband Sean.

And we did this incredible 20 day trip, five days in Dubai first, which was absolutely magical.

And then we did 10 days in Kenya, and then we broke up our long flight and we went to London on the way back.

But Kenya, you guys, Kenya changed me all over again.

We got to see our classroom, the Dream Big Dreams classroom.

And yes, that's what we named it, because that's what Shawn and I used to say to our kids every single night before bed.

Dream big dreams.

And so above the door of our grade one classroom, those words are there for every child who walks through Dream Big Dream.

And my daughter actually saw it on Facebook and commented, mom, that's what you used to say to us every night.

And I just teared up because it all became full circle for me in that moment.

And you know what struck me most about this trip?

Man.

And then there was a lot of things, but the resilience, the absolute unshakable resilience of these people who have so little by our standards, but are some of the happiest, most grateful people I have ever encountered in my life.

You know, I met a woman who would walk 45 minutes each way to collect water in jugs when there wasn't enough rainwater.

45 minutes there, 45 minutes back, carrying a heavy jug of water.

And they would wrap it around their head like there was this scarf.

And they actually put it on my one girlfriend who I was with, so that she could try walking with it.

And it was just like, it was absolutely insane.

And they were so proud of it, and they were so proud to show us.

They were not complaining.

They were not saying, poor me.

They're just doing what needs to be done to take care of themselves and of their families.

And here I am getting frustrated when my wi fi is slow for two minutes.

The perspective shift was immediate and profound.

We also visited a girl's high school.

It was one of the biggest projects built today by Village Impact.

I don't remember how many girls there are, I want to say between 400 and 600.

And these beautiful young women kept wanting to touch my hands, and they were amazed by how soft they were.

And here is the funny part.

My hands were not even that soft at the time.

I had been doing some planting work at the school construction site, and I had some kind of, like, allergic reaction, and I had these bumps on my hand.

And so I was taking some medication That I completely dried out my skin.

But to them, my hands felt like silk.

And it made me think about perspective, you know, about how what we think is our worst might be someone else's dream, right?

And it's so funny because they even made the funny comment of, do you work?

Like, your hands are so soft.

Do you work?

And I'm like, of course I work.

But also, when we were at the elementary school, we got to play with the kids.

And these kids had never seen bubbles before.

Bubbles, you guys.

Sean and I literally got trampled on in the best way when we started blowing bubbles, because they were so fascinated, so delighted by something we take completely for granted.

And the gratitude.

Oh, my goodness, the gratitude, not just from the kids, but from the parents, from the entire community.

They were not entitled.

They weren't expecting anything.

They were just purely, genuinely grateful that someone cared enough to invest in their children's future.

And it made me think about my own journey, My own journey from bankruptcy to being able to fund that classroom on the other side of the world.

From that day when I got the terrifying letter about the personal guarantee, personal guarantee on our apartment building to standing in a classroom with dream big dreams above the door, and I realized something profound.

Every single failure, every single setback, every single moment where I wanted to quit, it all led to this.

It all had to happen for me to become the person who could create this kind of impact.

Here's what I know, and I know this to be true, because.

And even though I knew this when I was filing for bankruptcy, I kind of forgot it.

And it's that reminder of your current circumstances are not your final destination.

They're not even close.

Wouldn't have even crossed my mind.

But that's the thing about designing your dream life.

It is not about the money, though.

The money does matter.

It's not just about the freedom, though.

The freedom is incredible.

It is about becoming the kind of person who can create impact beyond yourself.

And let me tell you something, this trip also reinforced why I do what I do, why I am so passionate about helping burnt out female entrepreneurs break free from businesses that drain them and build something that actually serves their lives.

Because when you build a business from a freedom first mindset, when you heal Your relationship with money.

When you create systems that work for you instead of against you, you get to show up in the world differently.

You get to contribute differently.

Sean and I had some incredible conversations on this trip about making more money to have more impact.

Because that is what money really is.

When you have a healthy relationship with it, it is honestly just a tool for creating the change that you want to see in the world.

Those kids in that classroom are going to have opportunities their parents never had.

They're going to learn to read and write and dream beyond their current circumstances.

And some of them, maybe many of them, are going to go on to create change in their own communities.

That's the ripple effect of abundance.

That's what happens when you stop playing small and start building wealth that serves not just you, but the world around you.

And here is what I want you to hear.

Whether you're listening to this and you're just starting out, or you're in the middle of burning your current business model to the ground, or you're already successful but feeling empty because something's missing.

You have more capacity than you know.

You have more resilience than you think.

And your dreams, they are not too big.

If anything, they might not be big enough.

But that's exactly what happened when I stopped accepting my circumstances as permanent and started designing something completely different.

Those kids in Kenya don't necessarily have WI fi, although it's actually surprising how many of them have cell phones.

But I still don't know if they have plans or not.

To be honest, I honestly don't know that one for sure.

I didn't ask.

I should have asked.

They don't necessarily have running water.

They don't have electricity.

But, man, they have dreams.

And now, because of that classroom, they have a place to develop the skills to make those dreams a reality.

So here's what I want to ask you.

What would you do if you knew you had this same resilience as those incredible women walking 45 minutes for water?

What would you build if you had the same gratitude of those kids seeing those bubbles for the very first time?

And the joy, I'm going to say gratitude and joy.

What impact would you create if you had the same determination that took me from bankruptcy to funding a classroom?

You do have that resilience.

You do have that capacity for gratitude, and you do have that Determination.

It is already inside of you.

The question is, are you going to give yourself permission to use it?

Because the world needs what you're here to create.

It needs your gifts, your talents, your unique perspective.

It needs the business you're going to build, the problems you're going to solve, the people you're going to help, and maybe, just maybe, the classroom that you are going to fund, the community you are going to support, the change you're going to create.

When you finally stop playing small and start designing the life you're actually meant to live, every level of success opens up a new level of giving.

Every breakthrough in your business creates new opportunities for impact.

And every time you heal your relationship with money, you create more capacity to contribute.

This is not just about building a business, friends.

This is about becoming the person who can change the world.

One classroom, one dream, one life at a time.

And it all starts with giving yourself permission to want what you actually want and building something that serves your life instead of consuming it.

If you want to learn more about Village Impact and this amazing charity, the amazing team that does this incredible work, please visit villageimpact.com that's V I L L A G E I M p a c t.com they are an incredible organization and trust me, you do not need to donate an entire classroom if that is not within your budget.

But there are certainly just message them.

You can donate whatever feels good for you, whatever you can do.

And I know that they would greatly appreciate that.

Dream big dreams my friends.

The world is waiting for what you are going to create and more importantly, what you are going to give.

Have an amazing week my friends.

I will talk to you next week.