Episode 39: Vision Is Victory With Carey Conley

On this episode, Bella talks with Carey Conley, speaker and Co-Creator of Infinite Nation; a community created for skill building, mentorship, and community for aspiring leaders and business owners. Carey Conley Bella and Carey talk about: Why “Vision is Victory”….especially for entrepreneurs The biggest stumbling  blocks for people to actually put a vision down on paper and follow through with it What happens when people try to run a business without a clear, concise vision Community and accountability You can find out more about Carey Conley and the services she offers on her website at InfiniteNation.com.  You can email her directly at [email protected] Subscribe To The Show: Transcript: This is episode 39 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready—Bella’s got your chute. Let’s jump. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. I am Bella Vasta, and I’m here today with Kari Conley, a speaker and co-creator of Infinite Nation. She has a community created for skill building, mentorship, and a network for aspiring leaders and business owners. Bella: Carrie, how are you today?Carrie: I am fabulous. How are you?Bella: I am wonderful. I want to tell everyone how we kind of met because it’s such an off-the-wall story. It kind of shows just how you have to be open to things in life. You guys, I don’t even know if you know this, Carrie. I was watching you do this big event here in Phoenix online because one of my friends, Gail Yacoblitt from Networking Phoenix, was there and posting about it. So you were on my radar. Then all of a sudden, I get a Facebook message from you saying, “Hey, your brother was my Lyft driver, and he told me about you. I thought I’d like to connect.” It was the most serendipitous yet bizarre thing that happened. It was so cool. We had such an electric conversation that I said, “Carrie, I need to get you on and have you influence my listeners,” because you are a spitfire with so much energy and a powerful message. So I want to get into this whole thing about vision. You talk a lot about vision—not the fluffy, hokey stuff, but actual, life-changing strategy. Why do you say vision is victory, especially for entrepreneurs? Carrie: Thank you so much for letting me talk about my favorite subject, Bella, because it’s my signature talk. I do it several times throughout the year. The reason I do it is because, like many people coming out of college in the ’80s, we were told to get a good degree, work for a good company, and climb the ladder. My husband did that very well, but I was one of those people who changed jobs every two years because I just couldn’t follow the mold. Long story short, I met a mentor at one of my jobs who was the first person to tell me that I needed to figure out what I wanted to create and then find a career path that fit that. So in 1988, I took a day off from work, sat down with a legal pad, and wrote out everything I wanted my life to look like—in as much detail as possible. Where I lived, what my house looked like, my relationship with my husband, where we traveled, who we were with, and the kind of mom I wanted to be. On another sheet of paper, I started brainstorming ideas about being an entrepreneur—something in health, wellness, or marketing consulting since my background was in marketing and advertising. But at the very bottom of that paper, I wrote that someday I’d like to be a speaker and trainer on vision building and goal setting. Bella: Love it.Carrie: What happened that day is why I’ve staked my career on this. That day, I listened to what I believe my purpose is on this earth. I know it sounds kind of hokey, but I think I dropped into what God really wants me to do for my life, and the ripple effect began. A few years later, I was introduced to my first entrepreneurial route—Arbonne. I wrote my vision statement around what I wanted to do with Arbonne so I could stay home with my kids. I went all the way to the top of the company and taught my team why vision was so important. Four years ago, I started doing workshops on this topic. What I know now is that vision is everything. Most entrepreneurs think they have a vision, but it’s usually vague at best. Without a clear, detailed picture of what you want your life to look like, you can’t make the right choices with your time and money. They’re all over the map. That’s why I say vision is victory—because once people get it crystal clear in writing, the ripple effect begins, and they can finally stay on their path. Bella: I love everything you said—especially how you realized that God had a bigger purpose for you and became that boulder creating a tidal wave. You also said something about how people think they have a vision but don’t realize it’s not clear enough. When people feel overwhelmed and don’t know what to do first, I think if we can get back to that clear vision, it helps us navigate through that. Let’s talk about the stumbling blocks that keep people from putting their vision on paper and following through when things feel like they’re crashing down. Carrie: We have so many distractions right now. Entrepreneurs tell me they feel completely overwhelmed and can’t focus on one thing long enough to move forward. Here’s what that written vision does—it gives you clarity. In my workshops, I help people visualize exactly what they want their life to look like three years from now. I explain why vision is crucial. Most people don’t even know how important it is. Bella: Can I put a vision out there? Like, if you’re in Boston and you want to get to Pier 39 in San Francisco, but you have no map or GPS, you’ll just end up anywhere on the West Coast.Carrie: Exactly. The first stumbling block is not realizing how important it is. The second is that most people don’t do it because no one makes them. That’s why I do my events—I bring people into a room and make them write it down, crystal clear. You can buy my workbook on Amazon (Vision Is Victory), but most people don’t do it unless I make them. The biggest stumbling block of all is not putting a timeframe on things. Like your map example, they say, “If I get there someday, that’s fine.” But that’s the difference between running a really expensive hobby and running a six-figure business. Most entrepreneurs I see are running expensive, frustrating hobbies. They don’t put deadlines on their goals, income targets, or 90-day plans. Without that, they’re stuck in overwhelm. Bella: It’s so important. I know you’re speaking to a lot of people right now. When we come back, we’ll talk about what happens when people run a business without a clear vision. Commercial break – ProPet Hero CPR ad Bella: We’re back with the wonderful Carrie Conley talking about vision. What happens when people run a business without a clear, concise vision first?Carrie: What happens is what you called “squirrel syndrome.” Most entrepreneurs are guessing at what they’re doing. They make decisions based on what they see other people doing on social media—which is the worst thing, because most of what you see isn’t true. Even if you follow successful people, they’re much further along in the journey. Instead of focusing on foundations, they’re just chasing trends. You can do all the social media and blogging you want, but if you’re not converting people into paying clients, don’t do it. You’re spinning your wheels. Bella: I love that point. So what are the victories you see in people who do have a vision and plan for their business?Carrie: So many. First, they understand their “zone of genius” and how to stay in it—spending 90–95% of their time doing the one thing that brings income and clients. That gives them more peace and time with family. Most people become entrepreneurs for freedom and flexibility, but without vision, they end up with a business that runs them into the ground. The biggest result of all is measurable success—metrics and income in the bank. Every time a client brings me an idea, I ask, “How much money will this make in 30–90 days?” Without cash flow, you’re just running a hobby. A clear vision allows people to plan, prioritize, and make money—because cash is king. Bella: I love that. And what about community and accountability? How do they support someone’s vision?Carrie: It’s critical. In Arbonne, I had a built-in community from day one—people cheering me on, guiding me step-by-step. When I started working with other entrepreneurs, I realized most were working alone in isolation. Left to our own thoughts, we stop ourselves. Most entrepreneurs quit between years two and four—not because they don’t work hard, but because they’re not making money and no one around them understands what they’re doing. That’s why I created Infinite Nation—to give people community. When they come together, they realize they’re not alone and can lock arms and keep going. Bella: Isolation is the number one killer of businesses. Even online, we can connect. If there are two things you can take from this talk, they’re: strengthen your vision and fight the epidemic of isolation. Surround yourself with people in the same trenches because your friends and family won’t always get it. The five people closest to you will shape you—so choose wisely. Carrie: Absolutely.Bella: Lastly, what’s the number one thing entrepreneurs need to create the life and business of their dreams?Carrie: They have to ask themselves if they’re okay with running an expensive hobby or ready to invest in themselves and learn how to run a real, money-making business. Some people decide they’re fine with a hobby, and that’s great—as long as they’re honest about it. But if you say you want a business, you have to get real about who you are, where you want to go, and how badly you want it. Bella: I love that. In conclusion,