Breaking Free: Cayla Craft on Self-Identification and Growth

Welcome to the Amberly Lago Show. Stories of true grit and grace. Thank you for tuning in to the Amberleigh Lago Show. I have a real treat for you today. My friend Kayla Craft is with us and y', all, she is a business strategist. She is a high performance coach. Oh, my goodness. She's got her own podcast that I was so honored to be on the podcast. And she is a best selling author. I'm so excited to bring her new book to you, especially if you have really, really deep desires that you don't want just to be your dreams, but you want them to be your reality. She's going to help us really tap into what your true potential is. So I'm excited to have you here. Thank you so much for joining us, Kayla.

I'm so excited to be here in the great state of Texas.

I know, I know. And you know what? I was looking this morning. We met back in 2019. I looked at our chat from Instagram, we chatted DMs, and it was when I was about to launch my first book. And now here you are launching your book, which I am fascinated with your book because so many people are trying to figure out what it is they really want. And your book helps people figure out what they want. But also, I just have to say, you are like an angel, a real life earth angel, because what you're doing with this book, like, I know that you're, you're, we have a lot in common. And you know, your dad was incarcerated. So now you're making sure that your book gets in the hands of people who've been incarcerated so they can learn to, when they get out, to have a job and make money. So can we just talk about that for a minute? Because that's amazing. My brother is in jail. He sits on death row. Oh, my gosh. So it's very. It really hit home when I learned that about you. Can we go back a little bit to. Okay, first of all, with your book, why did you decide to do that? To help people that have been incarcerated.

Okay. So you mentioned that my dad was incarcerated. And that happened for the first time when I was six years old. And I remember going and visiting him in prison. And I was like, so ashamed of it, you know. But then every time he would get out of prison, I would be sad because he was, you know, not doing well, back on drugs, back on the streets. And then I would get like, as I got older, I was like, excited he was back in prison because I was like, well, he does good there. He stays out of trouble there.

Well, I understand that. Because at least, you know, that they're safe and they're not gonna hurt anybody or themselves. I get that.

Yes. And so I always wished, like, that he could turn his street hustle into a holy hustle. And so. Cause I see so much of myself in him. Like, a lot of our traits, we have. We have similar personalities where we're very passionate, and if we want something, we're gonna go get it done. He just always wanted the wrong thing, you know? And so I just always had this passion, like, wow. Like, what if I could have helped my dad?

Yeah.

And when we decided we were gonna do the book, I wanted there to be a way for my legacy to live on, like, way past what I'm doing right now. And just the impact I have on entrepreneurs, I was like. I wanted to go deeper and actually, like, change people with this tool. So. So that's how it kind of came to be was just my story and then thinking, okay, how does it live on way past me if the, you know, people who are really, truly struggling do not know how to get what they want in life, so they keep going back to their old ways. They could have this tool, which I call Take seven in the book. And it really just helps you coach yourself through what's not working for you in your life currently and how to really figure out what God wants for you, and then what do you do to get it.

Yeah, I actually. I love that that I have. You did develop the Take seven, and I want to ask you questions about that, but, I mean, all the work that you do, your mom, you're the founder, you know, of crafted entrepreneur. You had mommy millionaire and help people to really thrive in business and in life. But I know when you rebrand, you completely rebranded yourself and started doing things a little bit differently. And when Covid hit, you really started to look at what was important and change things up. How has that been for you, rebranding yourself? And I know you let go of some business to focus on other things. And your kid, I love. You're such an incredible role model for moms, just because you are such an amazing mom, but you put your kids first. Like, her daughter's in the studio with us today. But how was that when you decided to kind of rebrand? Did you lose some people? Did you gain some people? What happened with that?

Well, I definitely wanted to be more than just the mommy millionaire, because I felt like it kind of put me in a box, and I became an entrepreneur because I didn't want to be in a box and I wanted to do all of the things. And then it was like people knew me as the mommy millionaire and I was like, I don't like just being known as that. So when I decided to rebrand to crafted entrepreneurs, like Mommy millionaire was a leg of my company, right? So it's something that we still do. We still help moms become millionaires. But I want to focus on men as well and helping them. And some of my favorite one on one clients have been men. They weren't going to buy coaching programs from Mommy Millionaire, right? So the crafted entrepreneur has a whole new leg where we're really helping people in the real estate world. And it's been really fun and I've learned a lot. It's been probably one of the hardest things I've done because mommy millionaires that have been around for like five to six years, they kind of felt like, you're done with us, you know, like you're just moving on to this next thing.

I get that because I really changed things in Covid and I used to have. And what helped me was, were you on Clubhouse? Were you ever on that? So I was in Clubhouse and I had one room, it was True Grit and Grace Club. And I had one room that was for like a support group that was like a more of a positive place that people could go with chronic illness, chronic pain and CRPs like me. And then I had another room that was for entrepreneurs. And I noticed, I just loved. Not that I didn't love my CRPS community, but I was just fueled up by being around these other entrepreneurs. And so I started to kind of shift and do more things for female entrepreneurs. And that's when my mastermind came about and all that. And I know that I did have some people that were upset and they don't comment on my posts anymore. And they, you know. But how did you handle that when you had people like, well, wait a minute, Mommy Millionaire, like, what about me? How did you handle that?

I feel like Hindsight is always 2020. You know, I'm like, oh, I could have done better there. But how I handled it was I just focused on the future. That's kind of how I handle most things in life. It's like, okay, you know, I just want to build something new and I'm excited about it. And I just focused on like the people that were listening that did want to learn about real estate, that did want to learn about investing in different mediums and stuff. Like that. So I just got excited and educated those people. And now looking back, I'm like, okay, one thing I could have done differently was have more of a lead up to the rebrand where I'm really educating Mommy Millionaires. Instead of one day I just said, hey, here's what we're doing now. You know, come along if you want. It wasn't. It's. It's like a death just happened for some of these people because Mommy Millionaire had been on their vision board, you know, so we still have our coaching programs and stuff like that. And I'm actually in the process right now of like launching a whole new Mommy Millionaire program.

That's awesome.

So people will see that, like, we're still very much alive and helping people in that world. But it's not my only thing because. And I think that's important for people listening in to hear too. Like, you know, if you might be, I used to be an ER nurse. Right. Or somebody listening in might be really good in their career. And it's become a part of your identity. But you're sensing there's more for you and you want to shift out of that. It's like listening to this podcast should give them permission to, you know, do what you want, follow that path, be strategic about how you launch it into the world. Right. You know, learn from my mistakes.

Yeah. Well, I love crafted entrepreneur. That was very great that you married somebody with a last.

I always tell him, I'm like, I married you for your last name, but it's a joke.

Yeah. My husband says I married him for his vision and dental plan. He's got good insurance. I'm like, well, yeah, you do have good insurance, but, well, with helping people with real estate. I know you do one on one coaching. And I think I saw one of your posts, I was like, man, I need to like up my game. Because you really had a wait. You had a waiting list for people who want to work with you. And so you're like, well, I have to up my game because I got a waiting list.

Yeah.

What are some of the things that you do when you're one on one coaching? So I know you do men and you coach men and women. What are. What is probably the thing that you coach on the most? Is it real estate?

No, it's actually spiritual advising.

Wow.

Which is crazy because most people will hire me for strategy. They want to grow their income, whether it's passive or earned income. And then I tell them in the beginning, I'm like, you're not going to like me for the first six months because I'm going to make you do things. And they think it's, like, hard work that I'm gonna have them do, but it's actually like, the inner stuff, facing their emotions, facing how they're showing up in the world. And a lot of people just want to bypass that and just go to straight, let me do more.

Yeah.

And really, like, I believe that you shouldn't be working harder. Like, you should be working smarter. So it's about who you are as a leader. It's about delegating and bringing up an amazing culture inside of your company. And that starts with you. So you have to be doing the work so you're not triggered by all the people around you, you know? So that's really what it comes down to is like, I call it. I'm like, I'm a spiritual advisor now. At this point, I feel like, wow.

Well, I really needed to hear that because, I mean, I just finished writing the intro to my book, and it's all about that. It's all about the mistake I made because I was all about the grit. And I was just go, go, go, go, go. And I completely crashed. And it's, like, so important. I have to remember I actually have a little rock with a frog on it that sits on my office desk. And that's frog to me, means fully rely on God.

Oh, I love it.

And so I have to remember to take God with me everywhere and take care of myself and give myself some compassion and grace. I think that I was all about the grit. Just go, go, go. But that's all awesome that you're advising people and it starts with you.

Well, so many of us entrepreneurs, we are so critical on ourselves. I mean, if we get something wrong, which we are. We are human, we're going to get things wrong. So it's like, if it's like when. Right. We just beat ourselves up over and over and over again. And I know for me, that's personally my go to. And so part of the method I teach in the book is doing inner child work. Because a lot of us have been like that since we were so young.

You know, I cannot believe you're saying this, because this is exactly what I'm writing about. And I'm kind of like, I don't know, maybe this is too much for the intro of the book. Well, I feel like you just confirmed it.

It's not. People need it to write this.

Okay. Yes, thank you.

People need it. Okay. People need this. Like, I mean, I know for me, the more I nurtured little Kayla and had grace on little Kayla and just reparented her to go like, hey, you're not going to get it right 100% of the time. It's okay to do things messy when you're just getting started. And the people who, you know, are not forgiving of you messing up or doing the, you know, not getting it perfect, those aren't your people.

Yeah.

You know, and anyway, so the more work I did on just loving myself, I call it nurturing in the book because it's. We need to nurture ourselves more, and that's actually what helps us make more money. It's when we're kinder to ourselves, because when we're not, when we hate ourselves, we're in fight or flight all the time.

Yeah.

And we're not creative. We can't think outside of the box for, you know, solutions to our problems. Just, you know, always reacting out of fear. And that's not a healthy place to be as a CEO.

No, but you. You have just this serenity about you and grace about you and grounding. It just feels so good to be around your energy.

I love that. That's.

God, it's beautiful. It's beautiful. Now when you. Like when Covid happened, you had a trip that was planned for all these people. I think that you had to cancel.

Oh, oh, yeah. You went back.

Oh, I did my research, girl. I did my research.

Yeah.

Just because I've been so excited to have you on the show. And that was kind of a turning point for you. Right. When you're like, wow, these people are kind of upset with me. And what really matters are the people who love me unconditionally, my kids. And, um, did you take time after that to, like, when you were rebranding and stuff, did you take some time for yourself to work on your inner child? Or have you just done it all along? Have you ever taken a break?

Yeah, I've never taken a break from working, but I would say the last two years specifically. So 2022, 2024. I haven't pushed, I haven't pushed. I haven't forced anything. I've kind of just you know, the one on one clients come to me. I do my podcast, and if I, you know, I do business differently now, and I tell no to people all the time now. Because what happened in 2020 was it was kind of traumatic. Not kind of. It was traumatic because I had a group of girls actually, like, gang up on me around that whole situation.

Are you serious? Because you had to cancel a trip because of COVID It was an international

trip, too, so it was like, of course we had to cancel it.

There was a global pandemic. That's so out of your control.

Yeah. Yeah. So I actually never talked about that publicly, but I think it's important that I start talking about it because I'm healed from it now because I have done so much work on forgiveness and, like, giving it to God.

Like, you know what we're. I'm hard enough on myself, right. But to have somebody else come out and be mean. I remember the first time I got haters. It was when I was on the doctor's tv and I had people come after me. I mean, they were coming out of the woodwork because they're like, you can't cure pain with your mindset. And I'm like, I'm not saying I'm curing it. This is how I get through it.

You're dealing with it. Yeah.

You know, so to have somebody mean and coming after you, like, ganging up.

Yeah, it's.

But, you know, how did you get through that?

How did I get through it?

God. Yeah.

I mean, and that's where I look at it. Like, when King David was anointed in the Bible, like, by God, remember to become king, he went into a cave, hiding from Saul. And I feel like the last couple years, I've been in my cave kind of hiding. Maybe not hiding, but just, like, getting ready and getting strengthened for this book to come out.

Strengthened.

And that's really what it's been. It's just when I go through hard times, I've learned now I'm just gonna go into God because this is where my character is being fortified. You know, I'm becoming who God really wants me to be. And we don't get there without the hardships we can't bypass. You know, those. Those moments. And what it's helped me do is realize, like, all of those people reacted. And anytime I've had a thing, they're reacting to their own traumas, their own fears, and it really has nothing to do with me. Of course, I always wanna check myself and say, am I in the wrong? Where am I out of integrity? How do I get back into integrity if I did it wrong? Right. But other than that, sometimes. I know. And you too. We're gonna be just in people's path for them to learn and grow. And it might be a negative experience for us and a negative experience for them, but they're gonna grow from it, too. So I've kind of just learned that for a reason. You gotta trust the process and have a community in your life that actually loves you for you, you know, and not what you can give them.

Yeah.

And I've learned to label people now, Amberly.

Really? Really?

I label people.

Okay, So I wanna know, how am I labeled? What's my label?

Okay, so you're in a peer. You're in a peer situation right now. Cause we know each other, but could we grow into good friends? Absolutely. I think we could. But, like, I think people label people as friends too quickly. Right. Like, it's like, really, do you trust? We talked about it a little bit.

Yeah, we were talking about it before.

We give people access to the inner circle before they've actually earned and shown that they're trustworthy.

Yep.

So I label people as peers. We're in the same industry. We can collaborate. We can. We can do this. And I, like, trust you in a way where I would refer people to your mastermind and do all those types of things. But I'm not going to get my feelings hurt by you as a friend. You know what I mean? Like, if I don't get invited to something when years ago, I would be like, I thought we were friends. Like, what? Why didn't she have me? You know what I mean?

Yeah, yeah.

I've moved on from that.

But also, I think it's important to have that inner circle.

100%. Yes.

And also what I had to learn is I had brought some people into my inner circle, and then they used me. Like, completely used me, got what they wanted, and then kind of crapped all over me.

Okay. So you know what I call those people? Assignments.

Oh, I like that.

Because then we go, okay, they might have been like little leeches, you know? And I know saying leeches, like, people are gonna think it's bad, but I'm not saying that in a bad way. I'm saying they were there to actually get from you, and that's okay. They learned. They learned you had a lot to give, and it's okay.

And I gave a lot. And you know what? They keep coming back, wanting more, and I'm like, boundary. No, you can't. You screwed up. I'm sorry. You never even said, you know. Yeah, yeah, that's smart.

Because now you've learned. Okay, I've got to enforce this boundary here. Right. And I'm not going to look at them as a friend. Right. Because they're. That's not what they were. They were an Assignment, you know, and the assignment for you might have been just for you to learn, grow in your mentorship, learn how to have boundaries.

Yeah, the boundaries is like, I'm learning that. Was that hard for you to learn that?

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. I mean, I'm coming from, you know, addiction and all around my family. So I remember being, like, 16 years old and my dad was out of jail. I was the one funding his habit because he would call me crying, and I'd say, okay, here, I'll give you the money that I have. I had a job at the time, and that happened all the way until I was. I had my first child and I was still putting him up in a home, like, paying. He lived at a hotel. And I would go by and pay his hotel weekly where he wasn't working. I mean, he's using, you know, But I still had it, like, well, what is he gonna do? Live on the streets? And I finally, like, decided, like, to read this book called Codependent no More.

And I realized I have that book. My therapist gave me the book.

Did you read it?

I read it. And I didn't have any idea how much, like, from my childhood and being around addiction and being sexually abused and all these things that I needed to read that book that I had not done.

Healing. That book is life changing. Like, anybody who's struggled with addiction needs to listen or read that book. Right. And it has a workbook with it. Because once I went through that, I started to realize, okay, like, I can't blame him anymore. I have to take responsibility and say, if I want to be happy, I'm going to choose to cut him completely out of my life. And so we did for years. He wasn't a part of our life for years. And now he is in my life. But it's very. He's still an addict.

So he is.

So we have very, very strict boundaries around what that looks like and what I'm available for. Because I have three kids.

Yeah.

And I don't want to. Like, I'm not that type of parent. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be too protective. I want them to know that they're. They have a grandpa that's an addict. And here's how we deal with it. You know, like, I'm not gonna try to go, oh, you know, he's just busy. I'm not gonna lie to him. Cause I was always lied to as a kid.

I feel the same way. I won't lie. And actually, I was Kinda like, oh, I'm so different. I'm not gonna be an addict like so many other people in my family. And then after my accident and I turned into an alcoholic and by the grace of God, got sober. But I was always very open, and my husband had a lot of, like, I think he was kind of ashamed, you know, and he was just like, no, you are not going to talk about being an alcoholic in front of the kids. And I'm like, but they need to know, like, I'm going to tell the truth, you know?

Yes.

And so now we're open about it and we talk about it. But that was something that was hard for him at first, you know?

Well, because you want to have the perfect Persona of what the perfect family looks like. Actually important because your kids learn how to think about things, you know, like, because we talk about addiction openly in our home. Like, my kids will say, like, they. I mean, they're not teenagers yet, so we'll also see what happens. Right? But I'm hoping that they learn to think differently about substances and stuff like that instead of being like, you know, where some kids. If it's taboo. Where my husband, he grew up where it was very taboo. Nobody drank in his house. Nobody talked about it. Like, drinking was the worst thing you could ever do. And because he also had addicts in his family, but nobody talked about it. Right. And so for him, when he turned, like, 15, he was like, balls to the wall, let me go do everything. And me, I was the exact opp. I just had no desire to ever do anything because I saw how.

Because you saw it.

I saw my dad high a couple times, you know, so when you see that and you're like, I don't want to be like that. So I'm not even gonna go down that road anyway. So.

Yeah. But yeah, that codependent. No more. Now I want to talk about your book, y'. All. I know.

I'm always promoting everybody's books. I love books.

I do, too. I love books. I like them on audible, but I love. Like to have a book in my hand. I can't wait to get your book in my hand. Did you record the Audible book version?

I did. I did.

You did?

Yes.

Is that coming out at the same

time you can actually get it right now? It's actually. Yeah, it's available. And that was so fun. That was so surreal to do that.

Wow. You had fun doing that?

I had so much fun.

I did not have that much fun, really. Well, I was in this little booth, and I Was reading and I'd be like, oh, my gosh, I think I'm getting claustrophobic. I need. And so I would go out and do push ups and then go back in the little booth and. Yeah. Oh, my gosh, it was hard.

But maybe you need a new studio next time. You need to be in this studio next time.

Yeah.

Take a break after every chapter. I took a break after every chapter.

You did?

Oh, yeah.

Oh, that's why you had fun.

I was. I was good. I was drinking my hot tea and

I was like, I did have hot tea. I did have hot tea. Actually. Trent Shelton is the one. He told me. He said, yeah. Doing that audible version. He said, make sure he goes. I started losing my voice. He goes, make sure you take hot tea. And so I did. I took hot tea.

Yep. To have no caffeine.

Yeah. Yeah. What inspired you to write your book?

What inspired me? So it's a funny story because I was going through a really hard time about three years ago. Remember, I was healing from all of this kind of stuff that was happening in my business, because at the same time as that happened, we also had some employee drama and. Anyway. But everything happens for you, right? And I had a DM from somebody that was a podcast listener. And she goes, you need to write a book. And I was like, yes, I'd love to, but I've tried to get a deal in the past and couldn't get one. And she goes, well, I've been listening to your podcast for the last year, and I actually just quit my job at a top company that hosts literary agents. So she left it and started her own boutique agency.

Wow.

She's here in Dallas, actually. And she was like, I'm gonna get you a deal. And so that's how it started. Like, I wasn't going after it. And when people would say, you know, don't chase your dreams, just allow them to happen, I would laugh at them because I was like, it's not that hard for some of us. Like, some of us have to fight for everything we want. Right?

Yeah.

But then here it was like she did exactly what she said she was gonna do. She got me a great deal. She's been an amazing agent.

Who's your publisher?

Her name? My publisher is Thomas Nelson. Okay. But my agent is Anina Madonia. I don't know. She has her own. I don't remember what her company is called, but it's out here in Dallas. Yes, it's here in Dallas. Yeah. And she's just been so amazing and incredible and helped this process of book writing be. She's like, it's the hardest thing you're ever gonna do, but we're gonna make it the most fun. And that's really what she's done for me.

That's awesome.

Yeah.

Well, it's crazy. I had the title of my book on a sticky note. Actually, John Gordon is the one who gave me the title to my new book. He was like, amberly, I'm really good at book titles. And your next book. And he gave me the title, so I had that on a sticky note.

Oh, my gosh.

And I always thought, you know, if I'm going to write another book, I would love. John's books have all been published by Wiley. I was like, I would really like Wiley to be my publisher. Lo and behold, I got an email from Wiley wanting a book proposal. Do you have an idea for a book? And got on a call and I was just like, yeah. I didn't know what the book was going to be about. I had an idea. They're like, well, can you get us a proposal in a couple of days? And I'm like, how do you do a proposal?

Oh, my gosh. I love that.

No pressure. And then turning it in and waiting and just like, oh, my gosh, they hate the idea. Like, what if they don't like it? You know what I mean?

Yeah, yeah.

And then they came back and said yes. And so I'm working on my next book. So I'm.

So that's so important for people to hear, too, because it's like two days different ways. Right. The publisher contacted you. An agent contacted me, and I think it's available for everybody, you know?

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, it's so cool.

But that's why I'm like, I selfishly want to ask you all these questions about your book. But yeah, just with your book and you've got seven things that you do. Can you go over a few of the seven?

Yeah, I definitely will. Because the way that I want people to look at this book is a tool. Right. And I was gonna call it Take Seven, actually. And the publisher hated that. They were like, no. Then I wanted it to be called Love Little Me. And they were like, no. And what do you really want Is actually step six of the Take seven. And most people would think it's number one. Right. Cause that's what the book's called. But I think that's important to point out because there's so much work you have to do on yourself before you actually know what it is that you really want. Because when people, I think, will walk by this book later on, they're gonna walk by it, and it's gonna be like. It's gonna make them think. They're gonna go, I don't know. Like, people cannot really pinpoint what it is that they really want, because most people are driven out of ego, and most people are in survival mode, and so they've forgotten how to dream, and they're just, you know, kind of doing the mundane things and maybe hoping life can get better by chance, you know. So step one actually is what's not working for you in your life? And I know a lot of coaches use this technique where it's like, okay, you don't know what you want, but let's start out with what you don't like about your life. And my only rule for this is, you know, we can't go down like a crapshoot of everything you hate. But really, what are the things you're willing to change? You know? So I break it down in health, wealth, career, your spirituality and your relationships. And what I've seen with people who I gave, like, early advance copies that were just, like, in the PDF, you know, I gave it to people who were struggling in their marriage, and it's helped them.

Are they getting a divorce? Sticking together?

Yeah, they're like. They're, like, happier than ever because they have these new tools on how to communicate with each other and really how, you know, to deal with their stuff before they go and take it to their partner. And that's huge. So, anyways, what's not working for you? And then another thing that I. Like I mentioned the inner child is, you know, step two is, when did you first start accepting that? And a lot of how did you first start accepting what's not working for you in your life? So, like, let's say a complaint is, you know, that somebody's overweight. Let's use that example. And they're so mad at themselves that they can't get this weight off. And the step two would be, well, when did you first start accepting this? And most people have struggled with weight. Like, if you struggle with weight, most of them have struggled with it for their entire lives. And I know for me, I have, like, really struggled with weight in childhood. I was bullied and made fun of. Yeah. For being chubby. And I was called the Kool Aid man in elementary school.

I never would have guessed that.

I know.

Wow.

So, yeah, that's why I then, you know, I first got into Health coaching when I was 23, because I wanted to really focus on my health. So anyway, you know, when you first start accepting that is usually because you have this modeling. Maybe your parents were overweight or maybe you had a lot of shame you went through. Bad things happen to you in your childhood like they did to me. And you eat your feelings, you know, and you have to decide in that moment, like, okay, if I have been doing this my entire life, am I willing to do something new? And the psychology of change is if you want to do new things, if you want to have a new identity, you've got to switch out your beliefs. Right? And I know this is kind of like it's like kindergarten for people who are listening to your podcast. They know your mindset is everything, right? But we don't think about reconditioning and talking to our inner child, who is the one holding these beliefs. We're just going and talking to the subconscious, which works. But there's some of these deep rooted things that if we just nurtured our inner child and reparented her, we'd start to have new beliefs and then really step into that new identity.

Well, it's, it's unbelievable. Like those deep seated beliefs that we have that came from when we were just a little girl or just little boy, how they're there. Yeah, that's un. It's unreal. Can you give us a couple of more? I know we're almost out of time, but just like a couple more from the books that people can take.

So step six is what do you really want after we've done a lot of the inner work? And then after that you go into what's the next best step to take? And I think that's an important step to point out to everybody because, you know, you have the idea of the business, you know, okay, I want to be a podcaster. You know, I want to be doing these things. And you go, okay. But Amberly has this, the studio, and she looks amazing. And you feel like you have to have a hundred things right now in order to get the podcast. And really we need to break it down and go, well, what's the next best step?

And that's what I did when I started my show. It was like, okay, I need Mike, let me order one. Let me get on Amazon. Order Mike. I was started. I didn't even have a lap. I mean, I didn't even have a

lot of people get stuck on even what they're going to call their podcast. And then they never even get it going.

Yeah.

You know, it's like all of these things. So it's like, okay, what's the next best step? So, yeah, getting a mic. Because then it's like it feels real. Yeah.

I didn't even have a desktop. I was using my laptop for the longest time. And I mean, six years ago I didn't even own a computer. So it's been the next little thing ever, baby. Stepping it all the way until here I am getting to sit in the studio with you. Yeah, wish I. I mean, it's been, like I said, so many years. And we've got mutual friends. And I'm going to give a huge shout out to Katherine Gordon. Thank you, Kathryn, for connecting us. We love you. Yeah, but I think that so many people sometimes even think, well, this is what I'm supposed to do. This is what I've been conditioned. This is what society says I'm supposed to do. This is what my husband says I'm supposed to do, or my friends or my parents or whatever. And I mean, sometimes we do things and realize, I thought that's what I wanted, but I don't think I want that. I mean, you know, and so I think this book has given people permission to really believe in themselves, walk through fear. I mean, I'm scared and I just do stuff anyway. Do you think that's one thing that's holding people back is fear?

But I think that fear is a spirit. It's a familiar spirit for so many people. And you get used to living with the fear. And at any point in time, remember, like, if you love God, like, God is not fear. God is love. And so when you truly believe that, you just can cast out fear and start living out of love. And I think more people should take authority over the spirits that they are familiar with. I know that's a bit woo woo. But I truly live my life like that because some people will say that, like, oh, we'll just get used to, to fear and like, learn to use fear to guide you. And I'm like, no. Like, you could just say, no. I'm a child of God and I'm put here to win. Like, you're, you're here to be victorious. You're not here to suffer and lose. You're here for such a time as this to give the gifts that only you have. And so God's got a path for you. Just like with the book, you know, it's like, I didn't have to chase it, it just came and it's kind of Just happened because it was my path that I'm supposed to be on, and I was obedient to like, saying yes, you know, And I think more people have to start going, okay, I am a child of God. I am victorious, and I'm going to live my life from that place. Right. And not even. I'm not going to battle with this spirit of fear. I'm going to say, be gone, get away.

Yeah. Do you feel like there's resistance that will come up when you're about to do something really important? And have you ever experienced that?

Oh, my gosh. I've totally experienced so much resistance. So much resistance in my life.

I'm just curious, did you feel any resistance or things that went wrong when you started to write the book and published it?

Yeah, the thing that came up for me was when the final copy had to go into the publisher, it felt so final. That's what it was. It was like, okay, well, you can't make any changes after this, so you need to make sure these are your final changes. And that, for me, was. I was like. I kept putting it off. So I was. I got my book in late, actually, because I kept just waiting. Well, hold on, hold on, hold on. Because I had this story that it needed to be perfect, and this is

helping me so much. By the way, I need to send my intro to the publisher today. Thank you. This is helping me get it.

Get it in there. Well, because, you know, we're conditioned right now with social media, where things are not final. We can go and edit a post, we can delete a post. If we change and evolve. It feels like it's fluid with us, where a book, like, it's going to be on people's coffee tables.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

That could be your final word. And you might completely change your mind, which is, like, so scary. But I was like, this is my version one, and there's going to be a version 10 eventually. And I just have to be okay with some people starting out with version one. They're going to know I'm going to evolve and change and grow and have more to say on the topic. And I just really started to just lean into, like, trusting God that, you know, it was gonna land with the right people and that people would see my heart in it.

And, oh, my goodness, I see your heart in everything you do. You're amazing. I know you have. If you go to her Instagram, but tell people I want you to follow her on Instagram. I want you to. You to make sure you get her book, but tell people the best place to get your book.

Okay, so if you go to craftedoffer.com you can get some free goodies. When you go to that. When you go to that site as well, I give you a course, basically coaching you through the take seven, which is nice. And you can follow me everywhere. I'm everywhere. Kayla Craft with a C. And also I have my podcast, the Crafted Entrepreneur, which Amberly's been on. And we're gonna have to do a redo because I need to be. Be in video, like, in person with you, too.

Okay, well, it's so much better. You can stay with me in Dallas and we can do it here.

Yeah, I love Dallas. Look at the energy here. It's good.

And thank you for bringing your daughter.

She's checked out of this situation.

Well, thank you for tuning in to the show. I'm so glad you're here. Go ahead, take a screenshot, share it on your social media, and tag us when I see that. I always tag you back. And so thank you.

And.

And we'll see you next week.