Make money; change the world. Basic translation: Make a living doing what you love, what you were meant to do … you deserve it!
Following your dreams doesn’t mean you’ll end up in the poorhouse. Yet so many of us are terrified to make the leap and for good reasons.
Money is a difficult topic, and it brings up lots of unresolved issues. Old resentments, anxiety, fear – the almighty dollar rustles up the gunk. I had money issues for the majority of my life. As a result, it was nearly impossible for me to ask for and accept help or own my value.
It hasn’t been easy to get to a place where my business feeds/nourishes me and supports my dream – and my team! Early on, I didn’t know what the heck I was doing. I learned by trial and error and trial again. And boy did I make some juicy (smelly) mistakes. What can I say? I’m an artist at heart, a free bird with a whole lotta love + wisdom to share. But I sure wasn’t a biz maven.
In the past few years my business and life have totally transformed. One major reason: Marie Forleo + B-School.
Marie taught me how to grow a business that’s positive, bright and soul-level successful. You know, the kind of job that isn’t a job – one you can’t wait to wake-up for!
Now let’s get practical and strategic. Here’s one of my secret entrepreneurial weapons: Map out a year of products and work flow on your calendar (Ex. We have the rest of 2012 and most of 2013 planned and cruisin’). As Marie says, if you don’t schedule something, it doesn’t exist. And if your products and services don’t exist, you don’t have a business (or a means to buy/make green juice!). A calendar ensures we don’t bite off more than we can chew – especially when I’m also writing a traditional book for a publisher. This roadmap allows us to deliver smart + truly useful content that our customers love + appreciate. And that content changes lives, helps people feel better and ultimately helps change the world. See why your vision is so important?
Your plan may change. Your desires may sharpen. Stay flexible but don’t flounder. Sure, life is complicated. And yes, we get pulled in many directions. But when you have a strong foundation, you won’t get blown over by passing physical or financial storms.
Are you a coach, designer, artist, word chef, cook, shoemaker, brew master, graphic designer or founder of a unicorn sanctuary?
Do you want to work from a laptop in sweatpants (like me!) while spreading your art and your message? Your vision is the new reality. All you need is a lil’ confidence and some tools.
B-School will teach you how to provide incredible value, optimize your biz + your time, create authentic marketing, run a successful launch, up your communication + organization game, build your list, and polish your newsletter, opt-in and website + sooo much more. Seriously, Marie breaks everything down into easy actionable steps and lays out the path for you to follow your bliss while creating a dazzling income stream.
Watch Marie’s complimentary training videos. They are packed with useful content that will rock your world NOW.
Still on the fence? Join me + Marie this Thursday! I’ll be interviewing Lady Forleo and taking your questions. LIVE. FREE. EASY-BREEZY.Register here.
FYI: This year is probably the LAST time Marie will be teaching B-School live. So it doesn’t matter if you feel not “ready” yet, are traveling or having a baby! Enroll now, because we honestly don’t know how or when Marie will roll it out again. Also, as a B-Schooler, you’ll be part of a worldwide network of women who are committed to growing themselves and their businesses for all the right reasons. Plus, all students get LIFETIME ACCESS to the program.
Hope to see you around the digital campus. :)
Peace & pens,
KC
BONUS: If you join me in B-School, I’ll be offering an exclusive group coaching call only for Crazy Sexy grads who sign up here and complete the entire program. I’ll share my biggest biz failures + successes so you can learn from my mistakes, and then I’ll tackle what you’re struggling with in a Q&A.
Thirty years ago, armed with an undergraduate education degree that I didn’t want to use and a hunger for the medical field, I decided to go to work as a paramedic on an ambulance for inner-city Atlanta’s largest indigent care hospital. I was betting that the experience would either cure me or kill me. I loved it. In fact, I wanted more. I was “hooked” on medicine.
I went on to get a great education in medicine at a great school, finishing near the top of my class. But my strong belief in the science of medicine has always been matched by my sense that we can rekindle and tap into our own innate wisdom if we strip away layers of distraction and listen to our bodies with quiet minds. I’ve seen so many things in nature that work and heal, even without the proof of a randomized double blind study, and I always strive to keep my own mind open.
As I traveled my professional path, I was also on my own personal health journey. I experienced renal failure during my residency, requiring high dose steroid treatment for over a year, and suffered the consequences of osteopenia and bone fractures, as well as an appetite that I did not yet recognize could be quelled with hefty doses of nutritious, live foods. Even after my recovery, I continued to battle with stomach and weight issues. I was able to stay healthy through exercise, but never truly resolved my love/hate relationship with food.
At the same time that I was growing discouraged about these changes in myself, I was frustrated at the lack of positive change I was seeing in my patients. I educated patients on nutrition, supplements, exercising and stopping the usual vices to no avail. I had to keep on writing prescriptions to a population of ever-increasing medical risk factors. I was also seeing more patients with cancer at a younger age, a phenomenon that has touched my own life. (I lost my mother to cancer in her 30s and a sister in her early 50s). We were all going in the wrong direction.
At the end of 2009, I decided to attend a three-week program that I had heard about from Kris Carr and others. The program focused on giving the body the tools needed to heal itself, through nutritional detox, juicing and a diet of organically-grown, living foods. I saw more changes in people’s lives – including my own – in those three weeks than I have seen in 30 years in the medical field! A group of ill, grumpy and sluggish people became vibrant, smiling individuals. Everyone dropped some pounds, skin tones perked up and, after the detox period, people began to blossom with energy. The visible changes in bodies, skin and attitude were reflected in lab results. Diabetics lowered or even came off their medications as their sugar levels improved. Those with hypertension lowered or stopped their medications as their blood pressures regulated. We all felt better on some level. While it was too soon to see “cures” for those with very severe illnesses and cancers, everyone felt a positive change.
I certainly saw changes in myself. My personal detox period was rough. Afterwards, however, I was rewarded with an amazing amount of energy, clarity and motivation. In terms of quantifiable results, I saw my cholesterol level drop by 70 points in two weeks, although I didn’t have high cholesterol to start. Most importantly, though, my sense of purpose returned. I was getting my mojo back!
I came away from the experience sharply aware that there is a critical need to create a bridge within and amongst the medical worlds to create a healthier system, as well as healthier people and healthier doctors. Unfortunately, medical school provides little in-depth training in nutrition. Doctors are sometimes very poor role models for nutritious eating and healthy lifestyles, and hospital food is anything but healing. As a professional community, we have missed the mark in this area. Most physicians have good intent and a good heart, but have become bogged down in an overwhelmingly stressful and difficult system of disease care with no time or energy to think of nutrition and prevention.
Now, I understand that:
– Our bodies are capable of amazing healing when food intolerances and chemicals are taken out and “high-dose” nutrition is added in.
– Cravings are biochemical reactions that cannot be solved by willpower alone, similar to an alcoholic after his or her first drink.
– The body is wonderfully and creatively made, with an amazing ability to adapt and change.
Now, I work to teach my patients to truly care for themselves and perpetuate self-learning and self-healing. Well aware that this is a process, with its own learning curve, I am ready to meet people where they are today.
I am in a special club, a club that wasn’t easy to get into but is amazing to be a part of. I was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show in October of 2007. That electrifying experience literally changed my life. But not in the ways you might think. Well sorta in the ways you might think. It definitely opens doors and adds a heaping dose of street cred and prestige to your mission when you can say, “I was on Oprah.” I still get stopped on the street by people who recognize me from my episode with the brilliant Randy Pausch – a Bodhisattva in life and in death.
Oprah brought me into millions of living rooms. She introduced me to Dr. Oz and together we introduced the world to green drinks! Folks who never would have heard about a woman living and thriving with a stage 4 cancer met me that day. They watched as I talked about how great I feel since changing the way I was living (eating, drinking and thinking). And guess what? They ALL emailed me. Well, not all but a heck of a lot. Some of you reading this today may have joined the Crazy Sexy revolution because of that powerful episode …
OK, now let me dish some behind the scenes backstory. It wasn’t easy booking that spot; let me tell you. Oprah’s producers are the best in television. They’re tough, smart and they mean business. They also protect the great mother like a pack of media savvy wolves. First I had to prove that I had cancer. Um, a doctor’s note took care of that! It didn’t matter that my film, Crazy Sexy Cancer had aired on TLC. They needed to hear from Harvard. I guess after the James Frey debacle, producer folk stopped taking chances. Next came background checks (no, I’ve never been arrested, but it’s on my bucket list) and a slew of interviews with me. I must’ve had over a dozen calls with the producer who FINALLY booked me. By the time I got the green light, there was literally no stone left unturned.
But nothing prepared me for the big day. I didn’t meet Oprah ’til it was time to get my ass on set, about 7 minutes before the cameras rolled. The studio audience that seemed so small from the comfort of my living room was huge! Funny digression: Brian was backstage and when it was all systems go, leave the green room, hit the stage and rock … he suddenly had to pee. Um, nope. Oprah was ready. You can hold it buddy. We both entered from backstage, but he was told to take a seat in the front row. Well in classic BF form he strutted out and leaped over a pair of legs in tights. Those legs in tights were Oprah’s! I thought we’d get tossed, but he just got a look from the crew and I sauntered on (in clothes given to me by my friend and mentor, Donna Karan). Thank you, Donna!
OK, so back to the big moment, well what I can remember of it. Oprah was reading her cue cards (specs on me and her questions) when she stopped and introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Oprah.” I wanted to say “NO DUH! HOLY SHIT! I CAN’T BELIEVE I AM MEETING YOU! I LOVE YOU! YOU’RE MY IDOL!” But instead I said, “Hi Oprah, I’m Kris. Thanks so much for having me on your show.”
Then we flew. Time flew. Space flew. Spirit flew …
In between segments, we talked about my perfume (aromatherapy). Oprah had actually never heard of patchouli! I think she must have been very busy in the 1960s. Doubt she was a flower child. And then came the moment I will never forget. “You are a crazy sexy teacher”… next, an unconditional mother love hug, like the kind that you want to melt into, the safe and protected kind. And then the show was over. P.S. Her big diamond and gold earrings were absolutely fabulous. I think they kept me rooted as I really wanted to leave my body several times that day. I mean, come on, it’s OPRAH!
Watching her final show last week brought tears to my eyes: “We’re all called. Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it.” – Oprah
Well, Oprah, ever since I was diagnosed with cancer, that’s what I’ve been doing, and for the past 8 years I’ve been teaching others how to do the same. I knew I’d meet you. I knew we’d talk. In fact I still have the journal entry from 2003 that says, “Oprah, save a seat for me, I’m coming.” Thanks for saving that seat. And I hope to sit with you again one day. This time we’ll talk about my new passion … prevention. My calling is simple. In this lifetime, I will personally take a big pHat bite out of chronic dis-ease. I’m not leaving till I do. :)
Peace and legends,
KC
P.S. Take this one soul nugget from my journey to Oprah: Believe in your message, your magic, your shine. What are the Oprah opportunities in your life? Don’t block them. Being scared is natural. Shutting down your Goddess-given gifts is not. Be bold. Be brilliant. Show the world whatcha got.
As I mentioned in my last newsletter, we began demolition on our new (yet very old) farm! That’s right, we bought a little Carr/Fassett family compound with three buildings (OK four buildings, but one collapsed!) on 16 acres in lovely Woodstock. This gem has been neglected for a very long time and needs lots and lots of Crazy Sexy Love. Brian and I don’t know much about green building/restoring, but boy are we learning fast! In the process of tearing down walls to see what we’re dealing with, we discovered there’s actually a small house trapped inside the main house. Wha? The ole gal was originally built in the 1800s (ghosts! boo!), then the 1980s came along (a wacky time for fashion and architecture) and gave her a very bad makeover. Someone literally boxed her in and built weirdness around her. Here’s a little vid of us tearing down the walls. Crash. Smash. Boom. It was very liberating! Sometimes to create something new you’ve got to clear out the old. I love freeing diamonds …
Once I heard “You’ve got cancer” a few years back, I thought no other news could shake my world. I was wrong. When the doctor went over the routine scan results and casually mentioned, “Your liver is fatty and doesn’t look good at all,” I was surprised.
“What do you mean?” I asked. “It’s just a fatty liver,” he said, brushing it off. “The type of liver alcoholics sometimes have.” He suggested seeing a liver specialist and added, “In the meantime, it won’t hurt to cut down on alcohol consumption and fatty food.”
I’ve never been an alcoholic. I can’t even stand the smell of beer. I’m not overweight. I’m a high raw vegan, green organic juices queen who has lived the “Crazy Sexy Diet” lifestyle for the past four years.
I was devastated and disappointed that my body was acting out. The thought that I might have brought it upon myself was hard to swallow. My liver enzymes were elevated; the cholesterol and triglycerides in my blood sky rocketed.
All I wanted was to curl into bed in a fetal position and hide under the covers with a bag of chips in one hand and a box of Oreo cookies in the other. I wasn’t sure what to do and felt lost. It took a few days before I could get up to make myself a glass of green juice and search for information. I found out that fatty liver is as simple as it sounds. It means that the liver is being invaded by fat! As a result, the liver can’t filter and cleanse the bloodstream as much as it should and, therefore, the blood is overloaded with toxins. It’s highly linked to traditional Western diet and, if ignored, it can get worse and lead to severe inflamed liver or scarring of the liver tissue.
I tried to figure out what in my daily food intake damaged my liver so much. Being a vegan who eats 80 percent raw veggies, I wasn’t sure where to start. Is it the one avocado a week that I add to my green leafy smoothies? Is it the mixed nuts I snack on? Is it the cup of almond milk I treat myself to before bed time? The olive oil in my salads?
After many days of an agonizing search, I realized the only thing I had been putting in my body that wasn’t clean and green was the medication Tamoxifen. I had been taking it for three years to prevent breast cancer recurrence. It has many possible side effects, including liver damage.
Tamoxifen helps many people like me. But after three years, it took its toll on my body. I felt that I had to make a choice: a sick liver or increasing the risk of recurrence. Like deciding between a tall latte and a venti green tea. It took me a few lingering days to digest the information, look at the Tamoxifen container and said my goodbyes.
I will never know if Tamoxifen actually made my liver so sick. I followed my intuition like I have since I started my healing journey.
Luckily, I wasn’t alone.
Kris Carr is my hero and was my guiding light through some of my most challenging times. I go to the Crazy Sexy Life community for inspiration and information. I sought help for first time and didn’t have to wait long.
Whole Body Healer came to my rescue. She is one of several incredible My Crazy Sexy Life Ambassadors. She reached to me when I needed it most and virtually wiped my tears. Once the tears stopped, I saw things clearly. She directed me to previous posts, articles and studies about the liver. She held my hand until I had a plan. She made it look doable and easy, like a piece of sugarless, vegan cake.
“Detoxification” became my new mantra. Toxins out, vitality in. Thankfully, the liver is one of the most resilient organs in the body and can heal itself if given a chance. I was ready to show my body that we can rebuild the mutual trust we once had. I was determined to get rid of all the toxins so the yellow, greasy, enlarged liver would shine like a sparkling star.
I became a green machine. I increased my daily green intake to 6 to 8 cups of kale, lettuce, celery, sweet pea sprouts and cucumbers. I drank plenty of water to help flush out the junk. I continued to eat my vegan meals, but added more purple veggies (beets, red cabbage and burdock root), cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts) and artichokes. No sugars, refined carbohydrates, processed food or other junk. Only fresh, plant-based food. I added a few Chinese herbs and supplements. I saw my acupuncturist weekly. To get to the “bottom” of the problem, I opened my own coffee shop with a daily coffee enema followed by a wheatgrass implant and a castor oil pack. I had a colonic session every four weeks to clear my pipes. I dry brushed religiously. I used an infrared sauna few times a week; Reiki and healing energies as needed; meditation, yoga and positive thoughts. It felt like a full-time job, but with a well worthy compensation.
Fast forward five months. My liver has completely healed!
I was asked to repeat the tests to make sure they are accurate. No one believed my liver has healed in such a short time. My cholesterol and triglycerides went down many points. It looked like I was a different person. I am a different person – healthier than ever and empowered!
If I could do it, so can you. We all have Crazy Sexy bodies craving to be healthy. Educate yourself and make changes in your lifestyle. The results will soon knock on your door. “Crazy Sexy Diet” changed my life forever, and it will change yours.
Find like-minded friends who will help and support you.
You can heal yourself!
Miri Eynan is a breast canser survivor, a family therapist and full-time juicer. Lives in Richmond, VA with her wonderful husband and two awesome kids.
