{ PREMIER ISSUE 2017 } K H A R I S M A M A G A Z I N E
67
As the months grew more and more tight and the bills were stacking up , I fell into a deep depression . With three small children and my husband pulling triple duty , I felt like the world ’ s worst wife and mother . Why couldn ’ t I just get over this silly fear of mine and get back to my old self ?
Something inside me had changed . My mission to help families had been tainted by their unwillingness to help themselves . I wanted desperately to spread my wings and show the world what I was truly capable of , and felt deep within me that I was not living up to my true potential .
I cried as I boiled the last of the pasta in my bare pantry , hoping it would be enough to feed my kids as I contemplated how I would get us out of the mess we were in . Collections agencies were calling . Rent was due . Car repossessed . Everything was falling apart .
Out of desperation , we moved from our downtown city home to a townhouse in a neighbouring suburb . I was desperate for someone to give me guidance . I read every free online e – book and resource I could find . Enough was enough . I knew I needed to change , I just didn ’ t know how ( yet ).
In September of 2016 , I attended a live event for female entrepreneurs hosted by Chantelle Adams . I had to borrow money and pay bi – monthly instalments to go . I carpooled and shared an Airbnb to cut costs , and it was the best decision EVER . I made some incredible new connections and learned a lot from the various speakers who had travelled from all over the world to present . My eyes were opened to a whole new way to do business , and it sparked something inside me . I realized I wasn ’ t a failure . I realized the market I was serving just wasn ’ t ready for what I was offering .
WHAT LED YOU TO FOUND THE # THEEXPANSIONPROJECT ?
After attending that live event in September 2016 , I connected with some of the most incredible women I had ever met ; women on missions of purpose so much bigger than their businesses and themselves . It was incredibly inspiring and beyond anything I had experienced in my ten years in business “ offline ”. Although I had been passionate about helping families help themselves with free financial literacy workshops and free financial planning services , this was even BIGGER than that . I had so many ideas running through my head about how I could scale my company and integrate a giving back component , that I spiralled for a little while .
I hired a business coach in January 2017 who helped me work through some of the ideas and how to ensure I was following my bliss to make it a successful endeavour . And honestly , that was something I had NEVER done before . In the past , I did what I enjoyed and was skilled at , but didn ’ t follow my BLISS : the one thing that I love to do so much in this world that I would pay a LOT of money to do it . For me , bliss is connecting with other souls and helping them discover their true calling , alongside travel . Now that I had the pieces to the puzzle , so I began brainstorming ways I could travel , while connecting with men and women seeKing more meaning and purpose in their lives , AND give back to the causes we care so deeply about . After 2 weeks of journalling , meditation , talking with coaches and a LOT of prayer , # theExpansionProject was born .
WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING BACK ?
One of the biggest reasons I am so passionate about giving back is because I was once a recipient of charity . I grew up with a single mother , putting herself through college , on welfare , and were often nominated for food baskets and Santa ’ s Anonymous . Most of the clothing I wore came from donations , and we frequently shopped at second – hand stores . Despite my meagre childhood , I never went without . I never missed a meal , and I always had a warm roof over my head . When I look back at those times , there was so much we DID have compared to other parts of the world .