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Genecia Alluora: Who is a Soul Rich Woman?

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Cynthia Kersey: A woman who has the courage to dream, despite it seemingly impossible.

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Genecia Alluora: Cynthia, which is your favorite F -word?

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Cynthia Kersey: Freedom. Freedom to dream, freedom to be myself, freedom to earn money, freedom to create, freedom inside, you know, that's I think my journey that inner freedom, you know, loving myself, being one with God, spirit, really understanding the plan for my life. I think freedom is a blessing and one of my highest values. Hi, my name is Cynthia Kurzy. I'm the CEO and founder of the Unstoppable Foundation and you're tuning in to Soul Rich Woman, hosted by Genecia Alluora. And this is for women who love the f -word, being fabulous, having freedom, financial independence and family. You can have it all.

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Genecia Alluora: This episode is brought to you by InstantPodcastaLeader.com, the leading platform to launch your podcast in 48 hours and make it profitable. Get your free audiobook and free web class at InstantPodcastLeader.com/webclass. A strong and independent woman is something to behold. She pays her own bills, buys her own things and she doesn't let a man affect her stability or self -confidence. She is a Soul Rich Woman. Are you ready to be rich doing what you love? Be on purpose and in control of your life again? And for women who love the f -word podcast, we will be openly talking about getting more clients online, getting recognition as the leader and female entrepreneur and also the f -word, being fabulous, having freedom and financial independence, it's time to own and love the F -word. Welcome to the show.

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Genecia Alluora: Hello and a very good day to you. Welcome to the Soul Rich Woman show for women who love the F -word. Being fabulous, having freedom, financial independence and family. You can have it all. Hi. My name is Genecia Alluora. Today we have a really special guest on the show. I'm so excited. In fact, I have like, you know, tried to connect with her way before even COVID happens, before all the quarantine happens. And today, finally we get to meet online and she's a super, super amazing lady. Her name is Cynthia Kersey. Now she is the F -word. founder and CEO of the Unstoppable Foundation, whose focus is to ensure that every child on the planet has access to the lifelong gift of education.

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Genecia Alluora: She is a respected leader in the transformational industry, a best -selling author of two books, Unstoppable and Unstoppable Women. And she's also an international speaker. Cynthia knows firsthand that giving is not only for business, it's good for the soul. Cynthia inspires people to give and provides business professionals with practical action plan on how they can expand their business, create customer evangelists, and become completely invigorated about their life and business by integrating generosity as a fundamental part of their business model.

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Genecia Alluora: Now, her foundation, the Unstoppable Foundation, has provided a daily education to over 40, 000. Look, not 1,000, not 2,000, okay? 40,000 children and provides access to life -saving services, such as clean water, health care, nutritious food through organic gardens to over 78,000 men, women, and children in Kenya alone. Wow, I am so blessed to be able to speak to this amazing lady today. And right now, let's bring on onto the show. Cynthia, welcome, welcome, welcome to the show.

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Cynthia Kersey: Hi, good to see you.

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Genecia Alluora: How are you? Good, can you hear me? Okay, so I think there's internet, she's lagging over at her side. I'm so excited for her to share with you because I'm so inspired by the community work that she's doing, the foundation that is supporting 78,000 men, women and children in Kenya and she is really, you know, raise a fund raiser, a power woman who has supported many people to be seen as a leader in their own lives. Okay, so just quickly wait for Cynthia to be back. Cynthia, are you back? Okay. She just went up and then come back again. So welcome to For Women Who Love the show. Now this live stream and podcast show basically features weekly best people like inspirational celebrities, business figures all around the world.

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Genecia Alluora: So we have got Gary Vaynerchuk, Sheryl Sandberg and Anik Singal. Pia Wurtzbach. We have got many more people. Mary Buffett as well has been on this show. So every week I interview amazing guest and even like to tune to the show is available at podcasts or on my show. Okay, so I'm going to bring in Cynthia right now and let's see whether Cynthia is back. Okay. Cynthia, are you back?

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Cynthia Kersey: I am. I am so sorry. I don't know what happened there. All right.

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Genecia Alluora: So everybody is waiting for you, you know? Okay. So welcome, welcome once again for women who love the show being fabulous, having freedom, financial independence and above all, family. You can have it all. So welcome, Cynthia. Thank you very much for being on today's show. I mean, so amazing reading your profile and knowing that you have done such great work with your foundation. Now, why don't you share with our audience today, why did you even get started on starting a foundation and, you know, giving your time and your life to do this mission work that you are doing?

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Cynthia Kersey: Well, thank you. You know, when I started my career years ago, my goal was simply to earn money to take care of my family. And there's nothing wrong with that. But I didn't realize there was something more to that, and I ended up 1s quitting my corporate job. I made it to the top of my field. I was a national account manager at Sprint Communications. I'm earning a six figure income and on the outside my life looked great. But on the inside, I wasn't passionate about what I was doing. Like so many people I'm sure that are listening to this have experienced. So I started looking at what do I love, what am I passionate about? And I've always loved stories of unstoppable people. People like you, people who had a dream and didn't let their circumstances, their own inner voice or somebody else stop them.

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Cynthia Kersey: And so I decided I'd been studying unstoppable people for many, many years, and I decided that I was going to quit my job, cash in my entire life, savings, downsize my life to write my first book, unstoppable. And you have to understand, I'd never written anything more than a college term paper in my entire life, so I didn't know how to write a. I didn't know if it would get published, but I had a purpose. You know, I wanted to inspire people to live an unstoppable life, much like I wanted to do. And I was committed to doing in the world. So my but for two years writing it. It's published. I'm living my purpose. And 18 months after my book came out, my 20 year marriage ended and I was devastated. And I went and I talked to my mentor, Millard Fuller, the founder of habitat for humanity. And I told him what had happened. And he said, when you have a great pain in your life, you need a greater purpose.

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Cynthia Kersey: Now, I was living my purpose, right? I was, I quit a corporate job to write this book. But that purpose wasn't bigger than my pain. So I thought, he said, well, why don't you build a house for a family in need? And as I thought about that, it was $2,000 to build a house for a family in Nepal. He had just gotten back from Nepal and told me how beautiful it is. And yet there were so many people living in poverty. And so I thought, how many houses would I need to build to offset this pain in my life? And it wasn't until I got to the number 100 houses. That felt bigger than my pain. Now, I'd never built one house before. I'm a single mom living on a $14.95 cent book. I didn't know people that had money. You know, I would need to raise $200,000 for this project. But I had a purpose that was bigger than my pain.

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Cynthia Kersey: And so that year, when I'm out speaking, you know, in so many times my eyes were swollen from crying the night before. Right. I'm grieving the relationship. I would think about those families that didn't have a simple, decent place to live and that kept me going. And that year I raised $200,000. I took 18 people to Nepal, and we built the first three of the 100 homes. And that was my first experience with philanthropy. And it changed my life because Genecia, I thought I was doing something great for them, but what I didn't realize is how that would change my life. It gave me a purpose, right? It gave me a reason to continue. And so I started to integrate giving in my books, my first or my unstoppable book. Obviously, my second book, Unstoppable Women, came out in 2005, and I was looking for that next project, you know, something that would inspire me.

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Cynthia Kersey: And I was invited out of the blue to go to Africa and to go to this women conference. And the only thing I knew about this conference is that women were coming to share their stories. Have you ever experienced this? You get this opportunity and it's crazy. You feel like you say yes to that. And so I said yes. I flew over there and for five days I listen to women's stories. Women who their children, you know, or the girls were fetching water all day long. They didn't have time to be in school. And, you know, there's no health care and children dying of malaria. I mean, it was heartbreaking. And I. After two days there, I just started to get really angry and I thought, how is it okay that just by virtue of where you're born determines the life, the quality of the life that you have? And so as I was leaving, I was spent there five days, and they were pleading with me to please not forget them.

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Cynthia Kersey: And I thought, well, what could I do? You know, this problem in Kenya, in Africa has been going on for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years. And I thought, who am I to to solve this? But then I thought, well, who am I not to at least try? And so I hug them. And I said I would do something. And it started with one very simple step. I thought, okay, what could I do? And I had a big birthday party that was coming up, and I decided that I would turn my birthday party into a fundraiser. And that's what I did. So I invited people to come to a restaurant. And I don't know if any of these people need them, but Bob Proctor came and Mary Morrissey and Margaret Johanson, Debbie Ford, they all came. And that night I just shared my vision. I shared what I was committed to doing. I wanted to raise the money to build at least one school, and that night I raised $80,000. We were ready, we were able to build two schools and that was the beginning of the unstoppable. ou can do that in one night. What I do if I really put my heart and soul in it. So that's really that was the progression of how that came in my life.

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Genecia Alluora: Well, and you put your heart and soul and turn your birthday party into the start of your unstoppable foundation. And you earlier on, you mentioned some names. Even Debbie Ford was there as well. She's also a very amazing lady doing great work. Wow. And how when we talk about building foundations like this, a lot of people, when they talk about charity work, you know, they they say that it's not possible. It's so difficult. And they could hardly sometimes even raise funds. And the way you make it sound for fundraising, make it sound so easy, it's like, okay. And then, you know, let's do a birthday party and then invite my network. And this happens. So what is it do you think is important? I mean, when you share your vision and share your ideas with the people that inspired them as well to support you on your journey?

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Cynthia Kersey: So some things that I know now that I didn't know then, and a big piece was first off, people love to be inspired. But what I've learned about giving is when you invite people to give, you give them an opportunity to transform their life. I used to think they were helping me and helping my projects, but what I realized, and it's in the scriptures, I mean, you know, spiritual teachers have been talking about this for thousands of years. And the scriptures say, give and it shall be given unto you. That giving activates receiving in our lives. But it's counterintuitive. Many times people think, well, I'll wait until I give, until I have money, until I have time, until my children are in school or out of school, until my business is at a certain level. But what I've realized is, as we give again, I like to quote scriptures, but it says, see if I will not open up the floodgates of heaven and pour upon you such a blessing when you realize that they're activating that law of receiving in your in their life. It's very powerful, and I feel like my causes are simply a conduit of a blessing that will go to them and to the people that we're serving.

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Genecia Alluora: When you're looking on your own journey, reflecting that you were a single mom and you were going through life, that was a lot of pain, and you went to a mentor. How do you even have the awareness that asking for help was one of the way out for you?

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Cynthia Kersey: Well, I love that. And I love in your introduction that you say, together we are unstoppable. And I believe that is true, you know. We have to find people who believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. And when I left that corporate job and had a dream to write a book, I did not have a lot of confidence. But I had a purpose, I was focused, I cashed in my entire life savings. It had to work. So, and then I was open. So I ended up meeting Bob Proctor very early in the in the process. As a matter of fact, I met him right after my first book came out, and I told him about my goal to raise 100,000, excuse me, $200,000 to build 100 houses in Nepal. And I said, how should I do that? And he said, it's simple. He said, you find ten people to donate $20,000 easy. And I'm thinking, I don't know anybody that has $20,000. And here he was standing in front of me. And I mustered up all the courage that I possibly could. And I said, would you donate the first $20,000?

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Cynthia Kersey: And he thought, you know, what am I going to say? He told me to go ask people to donate 20,000. And that was the beginning. It's like you do what you can do with what you have in that moment. And then I found other people, and people gave 2000. They gave 1000. It doesn't matter. But you have to start and you have to be willing to ask people to help you. You can't do it by themselves, by yourself. And then remember that you're being a blessing. It's like you're not being a burden. You're not asking them for money for you. You're asking them to not only support.

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Genecia Alluora: Wow! And when you receive the advice I mean in your heart, there must be some thoughts that probably were happening. Because even though when we say together we are unstoppable. But when someone challenges you to get out of your comfort zone, what was on your mind? I'm really curious at that moment in time.

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Cynthia Kersey: We went about raising the money for the houses.

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Genecia Alluora: Yes. That's right.

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Cynthia Kersey: Yeah. Well, I was so inspired by it, number one. So it's like. Wow. It gave me a reason to keep going. You know, it might sound overdramatic, but, you know, I was married 20 years, and going through that divorce really impacted my identity. Who am I as a single woman? You know, I'm living now on a $14.95 cent book. So it's like, how am I going to support myself? How am I going to take care of my son? And all of those questions and that purpose. Is really what drove me. So while I didn't know how to do it, I didn't know who to ask. I simply went to the first person that was in front of me, and I asked Bob Proctor, and it kept me going. When I was getting on a plane, flying out of LA, when I was going to be speaking, you know, I was grieving, I was grieving the loss of my marriage. But as importantly, I would think of those families that didn't have a simple, decent place to live.

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Cynthia Kersey: And that kept me going. So I think the key thing is to find something that's bigger than you. You know, I could have stayed. So many people go through challenges and they stay focused on what's not working, how they were wronged. You know, how difficult their situation is, and I'm not diminishing it. But if you stay there, you'll never be able to see what happens. I've always heard the saying, don't waste a good crisis. And of course, you know, with Covid and everything that's going on, if your business is struggling, it's like, what is here for you? What is this crisis telling you? And be a detective. Be, you know, listen. And it's like the universe will show you the next step if you're willing to listen and to receive the guidance that's there for you.

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Genecia Alluora: And we've really gone through quite a lot and fair bit on your journey right now. And right now I you know, you have how many children, four?

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Cynthia Kersey: I have one, Gef has two and Blaine has two children and then, you know, their families and all that. So we have four adult really well, six now, really six adult children.

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Genecia Alluora: And how many grandchildren do you have now?

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Cynthia Kersey: Four grandchildren on his side. I've another baby. I want a grandbaby, too.

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Genecia Alluora: So we always wanted to have more grandchildren. So how are you able to form a soccer team already?

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Cynthia Kersey: Yeah. Not yet, not yet, but I'm willing to try.

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Genecia Alluora: So on your journey, I believe you have met amazing people. What are some of the greatest influences in your life?

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Cynthia Kersey: Yeah. So I've met a lot of incredible people, I have to say. And I mentioned the number one influencer in my life was the founder of habitat for humanity. And, you know, he was such an extraordinary man, had a business worth millions of dollars and left it to for the bigger cause of ensuring every person, every family has a simple, decent place to live. And then so he was a very important mentor to me. And Rob Proctor is a very good friend and an incredible mentor to me too. He's always pushing me. I remember when I first became a speaker, many, many, many, many years ago, and it was like, oh, I got my book had just come out and this big company wanted my book unstoppable to be the theme of this entire conference, 2500 people. And they called me and they said, how much do you charge? And I'm like, uh, $2,500? And what was funny, and I didn't know this, but Harvey McKay was speaking. He was the opening keynote speaker, and he charged $25,000.

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Cynthia Kersey: And so when I said $2,500, they didn't really take me seriously. They almost didn't hire me. But that was like it was. So, you know, challenging is here. I'm a brand new speaker, and I'm going to speak in front of 2500 people. And I was petrified, and I hired a coach and I had somebody work with me. But when you're new at something, you just have to be put yourself out there and willing to not do it perfectly. And I mean, I've so many examples of that where it takes so much courage. I know that you know this too. It takes so much courage to to do something you've never done, to step out of your comfort zone, to have a dream and proclaim it and say, this is what I'm committed to. Will you be a part of it? Will you help me? And then also I think it's how can I be of service to you? So, you know, it's never one sided. Even with mentors, it's like, how can I be a blessing to them as well?

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Genecia Alluora: And I love it that you talk about finding or having a mentor. How do you even spot one or identify one whom you have, the person who is your cheerleader, your counselor, and a team member?

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Cynthia Kersey: I think it happens organically because years ago when I would look for a mentor and I would say, would you be my mentor? You know, it never happened that way. It happened as a result of me connecting with people like Millard. I interviewed him for my book. We connected. He cared about. He loved my passion and my enthusiasm and and so we just connected. The same with Bob Proctor, the same with so many people. So I think you find someone that you resonate with. And one key thing about having a mentor is to listen. Don't be and know it all. You know the whole I know that syndrome, you know, be willing to hear them and to learn and be open and to do what they suggest. I mean, if it feels, you know, within integrity, obviously, for you, listen to them because they've done it. And this is another thing about a mentor is find mentors who've done what you want to do, who achieved whether if it's financial independence or, you know, philanthropy or writing bestselling books, you know, find people who've done what you want to do and even then, some. So many times people will hire people that, you know, they just kind of become a life coach or whatever, and they haven't really had the experience. So I think it's really important to find people who who can lead the way.

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Genecia Alluora: I love it that you talk about really finding real teachers, and not someone who has just read off the book and then teach it, because when we have someone who has, we can role model. After that is when our success rate is going to be so much higher. And the point of your journey? Were there struggles on setting up the foundation and running the foundation in itself? I mean, it's so huge now. How are you managing or do you have struggles that you were managing before and how do you overcome it?

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Cynthia Kersey: Of course. Are you kidding? There's always struggles. So, you know, are you kidding? You know, I still have struggles, right? It's like as you grow, you're always going to get on that leading edge of your life. So when I first started the foundation, I didn't know what I was doing. And, you know, I started a foundation. I didn't have a team. It was just me. I was funding everything. And I always felt like. I didn't feel capable of doing it. I'd never done it before. And I think this is something very common with women. When you haven't done something before, the matter what it is, they think they can do it. So the confidence was really challenging. And as I was growing my foundation, I really about three years into it, I was at a turning point and I needed to either, you know, take it to the next level or just quit.

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Cynthia Kersey: And I went to a meeting and his name is Renaldo Bracco, actually was through the Transformational Leadership Council. And we were I don't know where we were, Hawaii or something. And I said, would you have dinner with us? It was Blaine and myself, and I told him about where we were, and I really want to take the foundation to the next level. And I asked him, let me feel like I was begging him to become my chairman of the board, because I needed that next level of expertise. And fortunately, he said yes. And that was a very big turning point foundation because he helped put up all of the systems, the counting, the financial audits, things like that. That absolutely changed the trajectory of the foundation. So, I mean, I could, you know, believe me, I could we could talk about this the whole time, all of the challenges. But I think the key thing for me is I'm open to learning. You know, I'll go to, you know, Lynn Twist, she's also a friend and a mentor. You know, she's built large foundations and organizations and, you know, go to seminars and hire consultants if you can. Like how can you find people, like I said, who have gone to that next level or beyond and can help you do the same thing?

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Genecia Alluora: But, you know, when we talk about finding higher people, you know, the next level people, a lot of women are very afraid to ask simply because of the fear of rejection. They think they are not good enough. I mean, even for me to step out of my comfort zone to invite you on the show or the other amazing guest to be on the show, I have to combat the noise between my two ears. So it's it's very crucial for you to step out and keep stepping out of your comfort zone, to invite all these people to support you on your foundation, whether is it in monetary to raise funds or even to set up systems and processes. How do you select all these people? I mean, like, were there a certain value system that you were looking at when you choose these people other than yes, they have got a success and experiences, but will there values that you were also considering?

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Cynthia Kersey: That is a very good question. And I think that's a very important thing, is to find people that you're in alignment with. I remember one time years ago, this man from Vegas wanted to be a partner in my unstoppable business. And he picks me up in this Rolls-Royce. Right? And, you know, we were talking over dinner and he's like, Cynthia, you know, this little making a difference thing. You know, I think you need to like, play that down and focus on your business. And I'm thinking, this man doesn't even get me. You know, this giving back is integral to who I am. It's not just a little thing that I'm doing. And of course, I didn't do business with him. So I think you have to find people who are in alignment, who can, um, who believes in you. Um, some people like when you have a coach, some people like coaches to be really stern, and they like them to be hard. And I like people who are encouraging, you know, I'm already hard enough on myself. I don't need somebody to be hard on me. I need somebody to encourage me.

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Cynthia Kersey: So you find styles that work as well. Um, but it's such an important value system because then you'll.

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Genecia Alluora: Can you hear me? Are you. Is it. Are you there?

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Cynthia Kersey: Yeah.

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Genecia Alluora: Good. So how do you differentiate passion? I mean now that you're so passionate about this projects and you know, you have already provided a daily education to over 40,000 children? I mean, this is really amazing. I mean, access life saving services like clean water, health care and nutritious food through organic gardens. And all these were very inspiring for me because 40,000 is a huge, huge number. I mean, how how do you even reach out to those communities in the first place?

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Cynthia Kersey: Um, well, we have partners, which is another important thing, right? You can't do you can't do everything yourself. So we have a partner on the ground in Kenya that we work with, that they work every day with the elders, with the children and with the families. Um, and we have a team. So I mean, I think that's the key thing is you have to find a team. You can't do it by yourself if you want to grow. So again, it's finding people who who are experts, like they are excellent at implementing these five pillars. We bring in different pieces to the partnership. Right? We have we bring in the transformational piece. We bring in the project management piece. We bring in the proof of performance. So we're constantly documenting when people give money, how is that money being spent. So we can provide impact back to our donors. So again, I think it's finding people who are excellent at what they do and working together as a team.

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Genecia Alluora: I can hear the passion at the base of your voice, like purpose and passion spells it all over, right? Even in your resonance of the voice. Can you share with. Our audience today. How do do you or how can they really have clarity and direction in their purpose and passion? Because sometimes when you talk about doing charity work and passion and then they are broke. So that's scenario number one, right? And they think that they cannot have their own wealth while helping and serving other people. So how can women overcome that?

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Cynthia Kersey: Yeah. Great question. Inspiration. The word means in spirit. So for me it's finding something that inspires you, not something you feel obligated. You know, I should be doing this. I shouldn't be doing that. But like, what gets you up in the morning? What peaks your voice when you're speaking? So the first thing is to find something that inspires you. And it doesn't have to be like, that's your purpose or your passion forever. Start with where you are and the resources that you have in that moment. And and then again, like I said, it's like baby steps. So, you know, like for me, I started at a birthday party. I invited people to come to a party. I invited them to give. They went to a great birthday party. It was like, you know, every single step leads to the next step. And one thing that I've also learned that I think is very important is and again, it's that law of giving and receiving.

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Cynthia Kersey: You can't just be a giver and not a receiver. You stop the flow of energy. So as you give, it's like you're giving a demand note to the universe and you know, as you give. It comes back to you. Just like the law of gravity, the law of, you know, polarity. There's so many universal laws, you know, give and it shall be given unto you. Do unto others as you'd have others do unto you. It's like all of these laws and it's just understanding how they work. And when you get in harmony with the laws, that's when magic happens in your life. So I think that's the key is just really understanding how life works. Find what you're inspired by, not that you feel obligated or that you should do. And then what's that next step that you can do and be willing to receive. I wouldn't be able to raise so much money if I wasn't able to receive. Right? If I'm like, oh, I don't deserve it. And believe me, for many, many years I had to work with my own lack of self confidence or self esteem, you know? But now I realize I have to receive, you know, when I give, I love giving. It's the greatest thing in the world and I have to receive. When people give to me and you complete the cycle. So be willing to give and receive.

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Genecia Alluora: I love that. So, Cynthia, is there a way for women to be more aware? How can they even start by learning how to receive?

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Cynthia Kersey: Well just how. Okay. So it's like noticing, right? So if somebody says, oh let's start with a compliment, start taking. If somebody says, oh, you look beautiful or you're both great or your business, I don't ever you're so good with your kids. Say thank you. Don't go. Oh well, no, you know, what do you mean? This little dress, whatever. Like that is a great practice to receive what comes to you and don't diminish it. And then just continue to notice because you will start getting opportunities. It was like with Bob Proctor, you know, when people when I first started speaking in the $2,500. Right. And then he's like, you should be charging $5,000, you should be charging $10,000. If I wasn't willing to receive, I blocked the flow of energy. So I think for women, look for what's coming to you and don't resist it. Just even if you notice it in your heart and you think, oh, I don't deserve it, or oh, that's too much or whatever, just stop. Smile and say thank you.

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Genecia Alluora: Wow, I love that. I really love it. And you talk about when you were speaking. You you charge $2,500 and someone else was charging $25,000, $25,000. And I mean, even by the comparison, I mean, when you when you start as a public speaker and starting to charge what your worth, does it feel really uncomfortable? I mean, yes, we talk about receiving and we say, yes, you know, we're going to really upgrade our prosperity mindset. But the key thing here is you probably continuously upgrade your level of vibration. How can someone keep vibrating at the highest possible vibes to bringing good things in their life?

[00:38:21]
Cynthia Kersey: That's a good question. So I think the first thing is gratitude. Gratitude is the number one thing to raise your vibration. And so they say what you appreciate appreciates, right? So start your day. What are you grateful for? It doesn't have to be big. You know, the top two things every single day are my husband and my dog every single day. And it's like, I'm so grateful. I don't have to say my husband. I say, oh, I'm so grateful. You know? He's so loyally so lovable. He's so loving. He's so, you know, like and feel it. And my little girl Maddie, my dog, you know, and she's so sweet and like, you feel, right? I'm just not going down a list. I'm really feeling it. And so I think, you know, gratitude is a really important step, the number one step to raising your vibration.

[00:39:16]
Cynthia Kersey: And then other things are just doing things to raise your confidence, you know, continuously learn. When I wrote my first book, I, you know, read probably more books about publishing than most authors did, you know. So I went to seminars, I read books, I did all sorts of things that enabled me to learn the industry, so I feel somewhat confident. I didn't feel that confident in the beginning, though, I have to tell you. But it's like you've heard the phrase feel the fear and do it anyway. I just did it anyway. I mean sometimes the first few years that I spoke after my speech, I would feel like nauseous inside. I would think, you know, I wasn't very funny. I didn't do a very good job. Like, I had all of that going on. But I did it anyway. And then, you know, over a period of time I realized, well, I'm kind of focusing on myself, right? Oh, I didn't do this. I didn't do that. Instead of now serving, you know, I'm serving the audience. It's not even about me.

[00:40:27]
Genecia Alluora: Wow. Well, I really love that part about you and for you. To you, who is a Soul Rich Woman?

[00:40:35]
Cynthia Kersey: That is such a good question. I think a Soul Rich Woman is someone who is living their purpose. They're living a life of service, whether they're running a business or they're they have a, you know, a non-profit. It doesn't really matter. I mean, there's so many women. Let me just give you a very quick story of one of our students in Kenya. Her name is Betty. And Betty had this dream as of a little girl. She wanted to be a nurse. And she lived in the Masai Mara. Most girls never got past the eighth grade. And her mom and dad were so committed to her getting an education and being able to at least go to high school. In the 10th grade, her father died and she thought, okay, I'm just going to go home. I'm going to have to stay home and help my mom. And her mom's like, no, you have to stay in school. If you don't stay in school, you have no hope of creating something different for your life.

[00:41:41]
Cynthia Kersey: So she managed. Her mother managed to keep her in school. She graduates from high school and again, she has this dream to become a nurse. There's no colleges in that area. There's no way for her to go to become a nurse. But she holds that in her heart. For six years, she's now going she's back to fetching water, buying and selling eggs, you know, carrying heavy bundles of, you know, raw or whatever, like twigs and firewood. And one day she's had it and she falls down. She's on her way to the river to fetch water. And she says, God, if this is all there is for me, I don't even want to live. And she was thinking about jumping into that river that had all sorts of animals. And she had this thought. What if tomorrow there's a miracle and I wouldn't be here to receive it? And that was that was a powerful thought. And she thought, okay, I'm not going to give up.

[00:42:50]
Cynthia Kersey: So she got up. She continued fetching that water. Two weeks later she heard about our college that we just launched and guess what that first program was that we launched. The School of Nursing. The school of nursing. Had she not? Had she not? You know, as she given up, you know, two weeks earlier, it would have never happened. The miracle was there for her. So I think a Soul Rich Woman. I think of Betty. A woman who has the courage to dream despite its seemingly impossible. You know, she's in an area. There's no colleges, there's no nothing. But she held on to that dream. And I told her. I said, Betty, you called us in. You're holding that vision even as a little girl, you know, impacted everything that was happening to one day that you would be able to go to college. So I think, again, holding on to the courage to hold on to a dream no matter what.

[00:44:03]
Genecia Alluora: And that is a true Soul Rich Woman, someone who steps out of a comfort zone and stays alive for her dreams. Wow, this is a really inspiring story. And this girl is in the nursing school right now?

[00:44:19]
Cynthia Kersey: Yes she is.

[00:44:21]
Genecia Alluora: Wow, how how old is she at this moment?

[00:44:24]
Cynthia Kersey: She's about 25. So yeah, she's about 25 years old. And we call her, she's a mirror. I mean, it's like we created a whole event around her, and it was like, be the miracle, you know, be the miracle that you're waiting for. And so many people give up and think, even in times right now, like, I give up. There's something here for you, and you can hold on and really, you know. Is that you? You'll get to the other side.

[00:45:00]
Genecia Alluora: Wow. So we always talk about you are the average of the five people whom you hang out with the most. Who are the five people in your life whom you hang out with the most?

[00:45:13]
Cynthia Kersey: So my husband, obviously, you know Mary Morrissey, I don't know if you know her. She's fantastic. You should have her on your show. She's incredible. She's a teacher. So wise. Bob Proctor is another one. Who else do I really hang around with besides my family? Oh, I've got a team. You know, my COO. We talk every single day. You know, mean. I mean, I have so many great. You know, Jack Canfield is a good friend. I mean, I've so many don't be like a name dropper. But I think the key thing is that the people who I really hang around with are people committed to growing, being authentic. You know, think of a dear friend, Barnett Bayne. He actually was a producer on the what dreams may come. I don't know if you remember that movie years and years ago, but just a beautiful, authentic human being.
[00:46:08]
Cynthia Kersey: You know, because we're on this journey of life together and, you know, it's it's not always rosy. You know, it's not always happy. There's challenges in being a human being. And just to be with yourself and cut yourself some slack and be with other people that can hold you and support you and vice versa, I think is really important. Andwho you're going to marry.

[00:46:33]
Genecia Alluora: Wow, I love it, I love that. And you mentioned about authentic, and this is a topic that I often talk about about how do you build online authenticity? And we always say that, you know, human beings, we have our successes, our failures, and it's a struggle to be authentic in the way we are. What is the advice would you give to our audience today to be authentic to their true purpose?

[00:46:00]
Cynthia Kersey: Well, I think it's think about yourself. Would you rather be with somebody who everything is great and did this and like nothing, there's no challenges like that is not an inspiring story. It's like the hero's journey. And so, you know, Debbie Ford, did you know Debbie? You know of Debbie? So Debbie was a very good friend of mine. And, you know, she talks about the shadow.

[00:47:24]
Genecia Alluora: Yes. The shadow effect.

[00:47:26]
Cynthia Kersey: That's right. And I remember, like, I wrote my book, first book unstoppable. And I would have moments and I had a lot of shame about that. Didn't feel like I could share that. She's like Cynthia, that depressed little girl. You know, that depressed little girl in you is making you who you are. It's made you the generous, loving, sensitive being that you are. So when you're you're when you're thinking about, you know, being upset with her, you love her and you, you know, know that that part of you makes you who you are. And so I think what I've learned is the more authentic I am, it gives other people permission to be authentic. If I just sat here and said everything, oh, what do you mean, challenges? No, there's no challenges. It's all great. Yes, I've done this, I've done that. That is not inspiring.

[00:48:24]
Cynthia Kersey: What's inspiring is when you hear people who have the courage to say, hey, yeah, I failed at this, I was discouraged. I felt like quitting. I didn't think I was good enough, and yet they continued. That's inspiring. One quick story on that is, I remember years ago I spoke at a Tupperware conference and we were in Mexico and they had the big pyramids, and I had spoken at this conference. We got in a bus and we were going to these pyramids. And as luck would have it, there were like four people who were at the conference where I spoke, and they were kind of playing with me, you know, being unstoppable. So we're all in the pyramids. And I walked up, you know, they're really high. And on the way up it was easy. But on the way back, there's no guardrails. There's nothing to hold on to. And I'm terrified of heights. And so I had to sit down on my bottom, you know, and my girlfriend too. And step by step, we managed to get to the bottom.

[00:49:26]
Cynthia Kersey: And the people that were on my bus said, oh, look at Ms. Unstoppable now. And you know, I was very annoyed by that comment, but didn't care because I was thinking I might die. But later I realized that's exactly what it looks like to be unstoppable. It can be messy. It's not always pretty. You don't always look like you've got it together. But guess what? I got down right? I got out of my comfort zone. I did something that I really wanted to do. So I think that for everyone here, it's like it doesn't have to be pretty and people are going to be more inspired by your true self and not somebody that you think people want you to be.

[00:50:10]
Genecia Alluora: And that you have already inspired and helped 78,000 men, women and children in Kenya alone. What is your vision the next step to be unstoppable and the unstoppable foundation?

[00:50:24]
Cynthia Kersey: Well thank you. So, you know, obviously every single community is that every child gets access to an education. So we're not going to stop. And besides that, you know, we've launched a college. We've launched a leadership academy. We want people to learn the principles you're talking about. We want them to understand, you know, that their mind, their thoughts can create their destiny, that they are not a victim of circumstances. And to me, it's like to be able to give people tools to create their life and know that their creator of their life or co-creator of their life is life changing. So our goal is just to continue not only in the Masai Mara, but around the world that every child feels valued and has an opportunity to learn and be all that they were intended to be.

[00:51:17]
Genecia Alluora: Wow. Wow, this is really inspiring. You know, in here, Soul Rich Woman we talk about for women who love the F-word, like being fabulous, having freedom, financial independence and family. Cynthia, which is your favorite F-word?

[00:51:35]
Cynthia Kersey: Gosh, I think my favorite F-word is freedom. Freedom. Freedom to dream. Freedom. To be myself. Freedom to earn money. Freedom to create. Freedom inside. You know, that's I think my journey. That inner freedom. You know, loving myself, being one with God's spirit, really understanding the plan for my life. I think freedom is a blessing and one of my highest values.

[00:52:13]
Genecia Alluora: Wow, that is really so awesome! What is the one last advice you will give to someone who is still sitting on the fence about being unstoppable?

[00:52:24]
Cynthia Kersey: Well, what are you going to do if you're sitting on the fence? That means you're not in the game. Right? You're not even you're not you're like, not even in the game. So it's like, what is that one thing you would love? And what is the one thing that you can do? Maybe it's to make a phone call, maybe it's to go to an event, maybe it's to go on a zoom call, maybe it's to join one of your programs. Maybe it's to listen to another one of your podcasts. It doesn't matter. But it's like being on the fence. You're taking yourself out of the game. And so you know that one thing every single day, if you do it over a period of time, can will get you to where you want to go.

[00:53:07]
Genecia Alluora: One final question. What is the one thing that keeps you going, Cynthia. to be unstoppable? I'm just so curious because you've done so much.

[00:53:19]
Cynthia Kersey: Well, you know, it's the children. I mean, it's the communities that we're working with. It's like we have so much in the unites where you live. Like there are people who don't have a lot, but it's not in comparison to the families that we're working with. And they're so incredible. So what keeps me going is knowing that we haven't reached everybody. There are still there that little girls are getting married at the age of 12, 13 and 14 to men two and three times their age, and they live a life of servitude that is unacceptable to me. So I want every little girl, every little boy, to have an opportunity to to really be all that God intended them to be. And that's what keeps me going.

[00:54:06]
Genecia Alluora: Well, say amen to that.

[00:54:09]
Cynthia Kersey: Yeah I agree. Amen.

[00:54:12]
Genecia Alluora: Well, I just want to say thank you very much, Cynthia, for being on this show. I really appreciate your time being here today. Well, I just want to say really great blessing to you always. And more power to the work that you are doing. Continue to inspire lives and be a great multiple vibes and blessing to more people out there, especially the little girls and the little boys.

[00:54:39]
Cynthia Kersey: Thank you Genecia and same to you. God bless you. The work that you're doing and the lives that you're inspiring. And like your promo said, together we are unstoppable.

[00:54:53]
Genecia Alluora: So well, thank you very much for tuning in to this live show as well as to this podcast. All the links will be in the show notes. Cynthia, How can my audience reach you? Should they would like to contribute to the Unstoppable Foundation.

[00:55:10]
Cynthia Kersey: Yeah, they can go to UnstoppableFoundation.org so to learn more about what we're doing to be a part of the work. Yeah, just go to unstoppablefoundation.org.

[00:55:23]
Genecia Alluora: Unstoppable foundations will be placed into the Shownotes. And thank you very much for joining us today and take care. Bye for now.

[00:55:32]
Genecia Alluora: I have a free gift for you. Go download Secrets of Personal Branding and how do you delegate 80% of your to do list so that you can make money online while focusing on your zone of genius? Go to SoulRichWoman.com. What you really need is a simplified plan that focuses on money making and client attracting inspired actions online. Join our number one leading female entrepreneur network club in Asia. There are monthly business masterclasses and office hours by the mentors. Special guest experts on all the topics you need to build a business and life you love. Your just an F-word away from the life you want, the marriage you want and the family that you want. This is a no contract membership and it's only $12 a month. You can cancel your membership at any time. You've got nothing to lose. Check it out at SoulRichWoman.com. 10X your financial independence today.

[00:56:43]
Genecia Alluora: Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm so honored that we are connected, and I hope that I can continue to serve you as you build your dreams. And if you love this episode, and I hope that you did rate it 5 stars. Give us that glowing review because it will help more women around the world finding the Soul Rich Woman podcast. Alone you are strong. Together we are unstoppable. Now share this with every woman who needs it. Because this is how we are changing the world, one woman at a time. As always, get out of your comfort zone and go towards the dreams you've always wanted to achieve. For women who love the F word being fabulous, having freedom and financial independence. My dear Soul Rich Woman, sending you my love and I'll speak to you soon. Bye for now.