IAM881- CEO Promotes Personal Growth and Self Improvement

Rachael is a Self Published Author of 34 books. She is CEO of several businesses that empower and promote personal growth and self-improvement. Owner and Creator of the Rachael Reed Podcast. Owner and CEO of Goddess by Rachael Reed clothing line and Goddess Lifestyle that encourages and promotes female empowerment and self love Motivational Speaker and Professional Life Liver who teaches others to live authentically.

• CEO Hack: Self-care
• CEO Nugget: No idea is a bad idea
• CEO Defined: Leadership, walking in your purpose

Website: https://www.rachaelreed.com/

Instagram: iamrachaelreed & thinkbigdreambigtv
Facebook: Rachael Reed- https://www.facebook.com/rachaelreed8 Think Big Dream Big – https://www.facebook.com/thinkbigdreambiglife
Clothing Line: www.goddessbyrachaelreed.com
Goddess Courses: www.livingagoddesslifestyle.com
Blog: www.thinkbigdreambig.org
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Reed/e/B00QV008PK

Podcast The Rachael Reed Podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, Buzzsprout, IheartRadio, iTunes, SoundCloud and many other platforms

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Transcription

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00:02 – Intro

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of. This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

00:30 – Gresham Harkless:

Hello. Hello. Hello. This is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast and I had a very special guest on the show today. I have Rachel Reed of rachaelreed.com. Rachel, it's awesome to have you on the show. I have Rachel Reed of rachareed.com. Rachel, it's awesome to have you on the show.

00:37 – Rachael Reed

Thank you so much for having me. I truly appreciate it.

00:40 – Gresham Harkless:

No problem. I'm super excited to have you on as well. And before we jump in, I want to read a little bit more about Rachel so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. And Rachel is a self-published author of 34 books, the CEO of several businesses that empower and promote personal growth and self-improvement. Her roles include being the owner and creator of the Rachel Reed podcast, owner and CEO of the Goddess by Rachel Reed clothing line and Goddess lifestyle that encourages and promotes female empowerment and self-love, and being a motivational speaker and personal life-liver who teaches others how to live life authentically. Rachel, it's great to have you on the show. Are you ready to speak to the I AM CEO community?

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01:18 – Rachael Reed

I am, that's right.

01:19 – Gresham Harkless:

Let's do it. So to kick everything off, I wanted to hear a little bit more on what I call your CEO story. Will that you get started with your business?

01:27 – Rachael Reed

My CEO story, well, my initial business, my first business that I started was thinking big dream big dot org, which is my baby, because it was the gate opener for me. It started with me going back to Growing up and having a troubled lifestyle. Growing up, I was kicked out of school. I had toxic relationships and abusive relationships. I used to get in trouble all the time. It was court appearance after court appearance and bond hearings. I mean, it was so much going on in my life. I really didn't see any way to turn it around. But my mom used to always say, one day, you're going to tell your story, even if you change one person's life, if you have one person, you're going to tell your story.

And you know, at that time, I'm like, what is she talking about? Like who, who could I help? Like I can't even help myself. So it was kind of, it had gotten to the point of me literally going through so much for so many years and ending up in federal prison. That was kind of like rock bottom for me. And after coming home, it still took a few years after that. And it was kind of like I was just hitting brick wall after brick wall. And it was just kind of like that moment. It was just like, something had to give. Like I have to change something, I have to do something. But I didn't know how to go about doing that. So I just started researching stuff about literally how to change. How do you change your life?

What can help me change my life? What can I do for myself to help me change my life? And the more I started to research stuff, the more stuff started to find me, which is why I love the saying, what you seek is seeking you. Because it was like, stuff to start uncovering yourself. And it was like, wow, then it was like, I started getting overloaded with everything and getting excited. It was like, I know if I'm looking for this stuff, somebody else has to be looking for this stuff, the same way I was looking for it. So it kind of started, that's where it started because it was kind of like I started doing the books and the courses and it one thing led to another, and then everything just transitioned and I tried to line everything up with my own personal story is the think big,

drink big just was kind of like, just kind of like your thoughts create your reality because I had no idea that this was the case because they never teach us this. And it was kind of like something as small as me falling asleep with the TV on and subconsciously hearing Happy by Pharrell while I'm sleeping. And it just, I just woke up and was like, I'm gonna be happy. But I didn't know what was going on until I started researching what had happened. So it was kind of dead. And then I just started transitioning from the abusive and mentally abusive and, and all kinds of relationships to self-love. I just started directing everything and aligning everything to help everybody with every issue that I had growing up and every issue that I had as an adult because I started late in life and it's really no time better than the present time.

Well, like if you decide today this is not how my life is going to end. This is just a day that you can start on a new, you start from page one. So that's kind of like how I initially started all my businesses and then it just went from the courses to the clothing line because then I started walking more into my power. Like I started getting to my goddess energy. And then the podcast was just because I never really talked about things that were going on with me. So I had a lot of inside stories that nobody really knew about other than the people who were really close to me because I never had the need to explain myself.

I never gave my side of the story. So it was kind of like, now I can finally feel comfortable within myself that I can finally tell people everything they might always want to know. So it's kind of like, that's how everything just started to align. So it just, it's just, I just stepped into my power and I never looked back.

05:42 – Gresham Harkless:

That's a, that's extremely powerful statement, you know, stepping into your power. And I appreciate you for, for, you know, telling your story and being open, you know, with us to hear everything, because I think so many times when you're kind of maybe in Greg May of our own kind of like a hopeless state you don't know what to do to improve things. You feel like you're by yourself. You don't know what things you can do. And I love, you know, you talking about not just, you know, where you are, but the story by which that led you there and how you got there?

Because I think so many times those when we're going through any difficult moments, we feel like we're by ourselves. We feel like we're the only one going through it. But I feel so honored to have you on the show and to be able to talk about all the different things you're doing to help tell your story, to help people to know that they're not alone and they have a way to get to where they want to be.

06:23 – Rachael Reed

Yeah. Yeah, because I never saw, I never saw a clear path of, I knew where I wanted to go, but I was like, how do I get there? You know, you don't know how you get there. I never imagined I would even be at this point at 1 point in time in my life. I was just like, I might as well just give up because I don't see how I can get from here to here. But it's the point of you have to truly keep going. So that was the kind of like, even if I just, I didn't know anything about writing books, but it was kind of like me extending my hand like I'm not up, but I'm just going to reach my hand back and help somebody because I know that feeling. I know what that feels like.

07:04 -Gresham Harkless:

Yeah, absolutely. And I love that. I love how you kind of talked about before about not knowing how to, you know, change your, your, I guess, outlook or your, where you're feeling in your mentality, what's going on. But a lot of times that stuff is learned and we sometimes take it for granted if we know it. And if we don't know it, we have no idea that you're able to do that. So I love that you've been able to do that and help so many people do that. So you touched on your podcast and your books. Were there any other kind of aspects of your empire, of your businesses that you wanted to kind of let us know about and how you serve the clients you work with?

07:38 – Rachael Reed

I do the courses because it's, I'm more of a, everybody has their own way of learning. I'm more auditory, but the courses were kind of like, so you can do things on your own time and like kind of like some people may be embarrassed about things that may be going on in their life. So if you can sit where you need to be in your own space and kind of focus on that. And then I do them, I have published books that I published myself on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. They're also on my website, think Big Dream Big. It's kind of like I stay in this territory because I'm more of a, I like to learn. So this is kind of like, I like to, as I learn, I want to teach others the same thing I'm learning. It's kind of like everybody has a different story.

So everybody might not resonate with this teacher, but they might see my story and be in the same situation and be like, I can relate to her. And then it just goes from there where they can, they feel comfortable because some things you people just don't want to talk about. Like I didn't want to go, like the things I was going through, I didn't have anybody to talk to her, except I just had to help hold it in because it's kind of like being looked at as the outcast and troublemaker and everything else is kind of like, how do you go up to somebody and say, hey, can you help me? Like, can you point me in the direction of getting my life on the path?

Now I had people along my journey who were actually trying to guide me on the right path and had kind words. And I never forget those people to this day because they had something that still is within me today and I still remember it. It's kind of like everything pieced together after I started realizing why everything was the way it was because everything fit together, but you don't know it's fitting together at the time. You're just like, you just don't know what's happening.

09:43 – Gresham Harkless:

Yeah. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. So I wanted to ask you now for what I call your secret sauce. And this could be for you personally or your businesses. But what do you feel kind of sets you apart and makes you unique?

09:55 – Rachael Reed

What has always set me apart? I mean, my ability to stand firm in exactly who I was. Now, then before I would get offended because you're not going to tell me who I am. I know who I am, but it was more angry. But the more I wouldn't shift, the more people decided, Hey, this is just who she is. So it never, even if I had to stand by myself, I never swayed away from who I was. I knew I was, who I was, I just didn't know the full totality of who I was. But it was just kind of like, I just knew I was important to myself, whether I was important to you, whether you want to talk about how much of a troublemaker I am, how much bad I've done. I know who I am. But that comes from me not expressing myself. Now I can express myself.

So it's kind of like now everybody gets the full scope of she just she's it's more appreciated now because I never swayed from who I was the good bad or the ugly is kind of like I walk in every inch of it. Every inch of it. I want you to know exactly how I got to this point because it wasn't an easy road. If you see me now, and I'm just out having the time of my life, It was not always like that. So it's kind of like when I do go have a good time or if I travel or whatever I do, it's kind of like I always come back with some kind of exchange with some, whether it's people or a person where it's me telling them that it's not always going to be like that forever. You have to keep going.

And I don't know why that is, but it's just always like that. It's just always like that. And it's like these people, I will never forget. Like some people, I don't even know their names, but it's just like that interaction. So it's kind of like, like my mom said, when she used to say, even if you touch one person, even if you change one person or help one person, that's what you're gonna be doing. And that's how I feel like it's kind of working out now because it just happens on a whim.

12:06 – Gresham Harkless:

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. So I wanted to switch gears a little bit and I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an app, a book, or a habit that you have, but what's something that makes you more effective and efficient? My CEO hack would be self-care. That's a must. Now, a lot of people, and I stand firm on it. This goes to my goddess lifestyle and my goddess businesses. It's always seen as selfish when you take care of yourself or when you think of when you don't think about other people and you want to focus on yourself. You have, to replenish yourself as I said you can't feel somebody else's cup if your cup is not full. So, self-care leads to self-confidence, self-everything, and self-esteem, like you have to focus on yourself in order to regroup.

Because every day is not a good day for everybody. Like even I have to step away and be like, I just gotta have time to myself so I can refocus and start something new or I can change this and see where this is not working. You have to take time to yourself for yourself. So that would be my definite hat. You have to set some time aside for yourself, whether it's, a lot of people think it has to be extravagant. Like you have to go off to Dubai and have some self-care. You can go sit by the creek down at the park. You know what I'm saying? So it's kind of like, Just wherever you feel comfortable, just sitting with yourself, getting grounded and refocusing. And so you can move forward as your best self. That's my definite hack.

13:42 – Gresham Harkless:

And so I wanted to ask you now for what I call a CEO nugget. So this could be a word of wisdom or a piece of advice. It might be something you would tell a client or if you have to tell a time machine, you might tell your younger business self.

13:52 – Rachael Reed

My, the nugget I would say is no idea is a bad idea. I think that would be the key because some people may want to start a business or want to start something and feel like nobody would want to hear it. Nobody would want to see it. Nobody would want to buy it. But I still don't even know what a pool noodle is, what like those little pool noodle things that I don't know what they're supposed to do, but they sold millions. So no idea is a bad idea.

14:18 – Gresham Harkless:

Yes, absolutely love that nugget. And now I want to ask you my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO. And we're hoping to have different quote-unquote CEOs on this show. So Rachel, what does being a CEO mean to you?

14:28 – Rachael Reed

A CEO to me means not only leadership but also walking in your purpose because everyone has a story. Now everybody may not feel comfortable telling their story, but everybody has a story. So you have to be able to walk in your purpose. You have to be able to connect your own dots. You have to be able to walk in your purpose. You have to be able to connect your own dots. You have to be able to align with who you are and who you want to become in order to walk into who you're meant to be.

14:59 – Gresham Harkless:

Rachael, truly appreciate that definition. And I appreciate your time even more. What I wanted to do was pass you the mic, so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you can let our readers and listeners know. And of course, how best they can get a copy of your books on them for, listen to your podcast and hear about all the exciting things that you're working on.

15:13 – Rachael Reed

Well, you can listen to the podcast on RachelReed.com Spotify, iTunes, or Apple Music. It's kind of on all platforms. The easiest way is RachelReed.com. You can also go to any 1 of my websites, ThinkBigDreamBig.org, Goddess by RachelReed.com, and GoddessLifestyle.com. Any book that you want to maybe look at, glance at, check out, download. They're on my website, thinkbigdreambig.org, and also on Amazon, Paperback Kindle, and Barnes & Noble. But just reach out on any platform on Instagram I am Rachael Reed and that's R-A-C-H-A-E-L, Reed, R-E-E-D. Email, you can email me on there, reach out. However, if you want to contact me, I'm available.

16:07 – Gresham Harkless:

Nice. Well, I definitely appreciate you, Rachel, for reminding us of being able to give our gifts and to step into our purpose and tell our stories authentically as you have. We will definitely have the links and information in the show notes. So I appreciate you again. And I hope you have a phenomenal today.

16:22 – Outro

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO Podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes Google Play and everywhere you listen to podcasts, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a five-star rating grab CEO gear at www.ceogear.co. This has been the I AM CEO Podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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