All right, welcome in to Vision Pros Live.
I'm Jackson Calame, I'm your show host.
We'll be doing interviews for visionary entrepreneurs and guests, guest leaders who are building
fantastic visions out there.
Ultimately, I just want to go through some of the things that might help you with your
vision.
If you have a vision that you're pursuing, drop a link in the comments and let us know
what that is.
If it's a business or a brand, if it's a nonprofit that you run, be happy to promote it, be happy
to talk to you about it.
And if you'd like to apply to be on Vision Pros and be interviewed about that vision,
then by all means, feel free to reach out.
Hello everyone.
Welcome in, welcome in.
My name is Jaime Jimenez and this is Vision Pros Live.
Today we have a very, very special guest.
We have an author, speaker, and personal and professional coach to entrepreneurs, small
business owners as well.
She is an amazing person.
Her name is Carolyn Thompson-Tuado and she is the founder of Intentional By Design.
So let's welcome her in.
Hey Carolyn, how are you?
Welcome.
It's been good and I'm really excited to be here with you.
That's awesome.
I'm also very excited to be here with you.
I've actually been a fan of what you do.
Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to go through everything that you are doing right
now.
I am looking into getting your book because I definitely want to get through it.
And from some of the things that we've been able to speak from before and also what I've
seen you talk with the rest of the team, I find that I am also in search of that calm
within me.
So I want to thank you personally and before we kick off for that because you've given
me that perspective of looking into my calm and seeing where I can find my inner peace
and not because I tend to sometimes be a little bit hype.
And that is not necessary in every single location.
So I want to personally thank you for that and for getting me to that point.
And I will definitely be getting your book so that I'm able to share a little bit more
about what I am able to go through and how I'm able to develop in the future.
So Carolyn, can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and your background?
Yes.
And by the way, thank you for that.
That was a lovely, lovely introduction and gift.
So a little bit about my background.
In terms of my business and what maybe is most pertinent to what we're talking about
in terms of calm, I have for the past 10 plus years been in the entrepreneurial journey
and the trenches, I guess you could say.
And I often say I was wandering in the entrepreneurial wilderness trying to find my way.
And I knew I was to be there.
I knew I had a calming in my life to do something.
And the common thread that kept coming up was that I had this calming effect on people.
It's how people experienced me.
And I didn't know what I was going to do with that.
I just realized that somehow that was the way God made me.
And He wanted to use it for something, for His purposes.
And so it's interesting you say finding that calm on the inside.
I exhibited this calm on the outside.
And people would tell me from being in the grocery line together or being somewhere where
a child would crawl in my lap and then sit there in a way that parents hadn't seen before,
just very peaceful.
And then I had other circumstances that have led me to believe this is really where I belong.
But during those 10 years, I felt like I was in training.
It's like, well, God wanted to use me for something, something much bigger than myself.
But I needed to find that calm myself on the inside.
So He had me in almost like a training camp where life was very difficult.
And I had to learn to trust in Him and be calm in the midst of the storms.
And it took me about 10 years to move along that trajectory.
So I don't know if you call it a slow learner or just that He needed to do a lot of work
in me.
And I'm definitely a work in progress.
But I feel like I've really grown in that area.
And I told Him, I said, well, when you're ready for me to step out, I trust you'll tell
me.
And He did.
And then it's like when I get through some of this training, I know that you're ready
to use me.
And that was not long ago.
And in fact, it was not too long before I met you all.
So it's been a journey.
It's been a long journey, but it's been a beautiful one.
Yeah, I mean, your story is wonderful.
I mean, we're all looking for our calling and to see where we can best serve the ones
that are around us.
I am also in that journey.
And I can relate maybe to a lot of people who are still out there trying to find that
specific thing that moves them inside that they know once they get to that point that
they've been designed or they've been brought to this world to do.
And I mean, you already have that.
And every time I talk to you, I always feel that calm inside.
So I do relate to everything that you're saying.
And as I said before, I do want to later on talk about maybe some of the insights that
you may be able to provide for the book and the book itself.
But let's leave that on the whole for now.
I wanted to have you tell me a little bit more about what intentional buy design is
and also how it got started.
I know now it may be because of your calling, but in case you have anything to add to that,
please feel free to do so.
Well, it really is kind of a continuation of what we were just talking about.
It is a calling.
And I wasn't sure how to use the calm piece.
And it became very clear that there was a growing burden within me as well, a passion
to help people live and die with less regrets.
And so it seemed that it was helping people to step away.
And out of the noise and the busyness of our lives.
And I often think of quieting the noise and calming the chaos.
And I have to say there was an experience that was very, I guess you could say poignant
on my journey.
And it helped me kind of crystallize what my business would be.
Would it be all right if I shared that just real quick?
Yes, of course.
The floor is all yours.
So I was attending a retreat.
And this was a number of years back.
And the woman who led it, I greatly admired her.
In fact, I felt like she was brilliant.
And she agreed that she spoke of my calm.
And she was very descriptive.
She shared things I hadn't heard before.
But it never left me.
But the words that followed that description are what really stayed with me.
And that's when she said how powerful and helpful it would be if I could help people
to just step away, if I could provide the space for them, to help them to step away
where they could get some quiet, to be able to get the answers that they need that help
them figure out why they're filling their lives with noise and busy.
And I just never forgot her words.
And as it turned out, that's really what I'm providing.
I'm providing space so that people can step away.
And I know that we are very busy.
I have a heart for entrepreneurs.
And I know we're busy.
We have all kinds of excuses and reasons why we can't step away.
So I thought, OK, it needs to be one day, one very important day, one life changing
day, and in fact, a pivotal day in their life.
And I can help them to three things.
I help them replenish and refresh, get refreshed, because we do tend to, like you say, we're
just we don't have much peace and calm in our life.
So help them to replenish and reflect and then reflect.
And in that particular space of that day, I help them to honestly and thoughtfully consider
their lives.
And I take away the shame and the fear.
I take away the need to pretend.
And there's a lot of grace there.
I've been provided a lot of grace in my own life.
And I think it's really important.
I also think it's important in kind of the theme of the it's a retreat workshop to maintain
that retreat part throughout.
So even when they're working on their life, I don't want to make it heavy.
I don't want it to be difficult.
And so I have developed some tools and ways to work with people during that day to help
them make some major progress forward in their life without it feeling heavy or burdensome.
And so that that theme carries through that that part of calm and peace and helping equip
them to be able to carry that forward past that day.
I do have plans to help support them going forward, but what they gain that day, my my
goal, my vision, my passion is that it be completely transformational.
Yeah, I mean, that that's so necessary in a world where we're so filled with noise,
even we don't even realize it.
To what point we are not filtering and we're not centering ourselves.
A lot of people come to those points where they are just simply overwhelmed with everything
that is out there.
So something like the day of calm is a calling for people that simply need that space to
center themselves, stop what they're doing, and then clarify everything that they're doing
so that they're able to cleanse and come out a new a new person, basically.
And it's that that's basically when I talk to you, I feel that I feel exactly that because
that calm that you transmit while you speak and while I'm able to also calm myself and
bring to a point which provides a lot of clarity, a lot of clarity to to everything that we
have, were you at any point or when did you become aware of this of this ability or this
this calling that you had?
Was it something spontaneous or wasn't something that you worked on throughout your life or
how did this come to be?
I think it really has been the last say 10, 15 years, this journey that I was on.
And I feel like pieces of the puzzle just kept being added confirmations and comments
from people.
And it didn't really make sense to me.
But I and I was actually bewildered.
I was puzzled.
I didn't see myself as a calming person.
But I kept hearing these words.
And I thought, well, I might not see it, but others seem to see it.
And I want to kind of piggyback on something you just mentioned, Jaime, you just talked
about clarity.
And that really is a big piece of what the day of calm is, too, because when we don't
stop and be still and be quiet and consider our lives, we do fill our lives with noise
and busy and we're not very clear.
And we don't know what's most important to us.
And so we're very scattered.
We we aren't very purposeful or intentional.
And when we can realize there are really very few things that really matter in life, and
when we can figure out what those few things are that do matter, and then we can create
a path forward that is designed around that, then we don't need to be so scattered.
And we can operate with clarity, with confidence, with conviction.
And for me, one of the big pieces of everything is my faith.
I'm a woman of faith.
And I bring that component to all of my work.
I feel like we are whole people and all the different parts of us, they're all interconnected.
And we can't be struggling in one area and not have it affect the other.
So I bring that component to my work as well.
So that's part of I think one of the important pieces.
I want people to come and know that they can be real.
They can talk about real life, about anything and those bigger questions about life, things
that don't make sense.
And that honestly is a big part of my book, too.
I answer, I know we're not to my book yet, but I feel like my book is an integral part
of my business, too.
So they're just one of me, but my book can be picked up and read by anyone at any time.
And I need to make that process easier for them and develop.
In fact, something I have a desire to do is to develop a resource that helps people know,
okay, if you're struggling in this area, this is where you could go in my book to get some
answers.
Here's some scripture verses that can address this.
Maybe there's some additional resources.
So it's all very interconnected.
And so sorry to interrupt you.
I know I've let you speak a lot.
I didn't want to actually interrupt you.
But now that you're talking about resources, we spoke about the audio of peace.
So can you tell us a little bit more regarding what that is and where our viewers can go
to that link to get that first-hand calm resource that you're offering?
Well, the audio has some peace scriptures.
When I say peace, P-E-A-C-E, I keep thinking it sounds a little confusing.
But scripture verses that are about the topic of peace, and it's only three minutes long.
And this is another, actually another piece of the puzzle.
I've been told I should do something audio.
So that's the beginning of that aspect of my business.
So if you go to intentionalbydesign.com, there.
We'll go ahead and show it on the screen in just a moment so that people are able to be
guided.
So.
Yes.
So you scroll down the page.
On every page on my site, there is a place to request free audio.
And that is the peace audio just right there.
Yes, that's it.
And that will allow you to request that three-minute audio.
And I do have a desire to create more audios about different themes.
But this is the first one, and it's a very important one.
Would we be able in the future find these audios in any place?
Or do you have any or have you considered any plans right now where you may be posting
them for the future where we're able to provide further information on these?
I am considering having a YouTube channel.
So that will allow for the audio portion of it, but also so they can see the visual, the
actual words that I'm reading in case someone wants to see those as well.
All right, awesome.
Now, moving on to your book, which I'm very, very, very excited to be able to read.
It's called Living in Sync with Your God-Given Design.
And can you tell us like a small description of what we can find inside of it?
Yes.
So here's my book, Living in Sync with Your God-Given Design.
The first three chapters answer some deeper questions about life.
And then the rest of the book talks about our design and in very practical ways how
we have moved away from it and how to get back in sync with that.
So I like to speak in very easy to understand ways, make things simple.
Sometimes the topics are profound and deep, but I want them to be as simple as they can
be.
So that's kind of the gist of my book.
I wanted it to be practical.
I feel like one of my purposes is to help people discover their masterful design and
the designer behind it.
And that will bring so much peace and calm and purpose to their life as well.
So God is a big part of your life.
I am also Catholic.
I am not a person that is currently, you would say a dedicated follower, but I do believe
in God.
I do believe in everything that is taught in the Bible.
For me, that's also a big part because my family is very religious.
Today there seems to be a little bit of a rupture in that, but how do you consider that
maybe with your way of thinking and how you are presenting the calm that can now affect
the youth?
The youth?
Yeah.
Well, I think one of the most important things about Jesus is it's a relationship.
And when we focus on that part of it and we find how relevant scripture, the Bible is,
it's not irrelevant, it's not outdated, it's not completely accurate and relevant even
today.
And more so all the time.
I mean, it's astounding the answers and the insights and the wisdom one can get from that.
I think just living that and being an example, it brings me so much joy in my own life and
so much wisdom and understanding.
And to be able to share that with others and let them see in this, well, it would be a
PDF, I guess, but this resource, companion resource for my book, I will be able to highlight
a little bit of what the Bible says about all these different areas of our life and
how so many things have become inverted or upside down and we've overcomplicated them.
And when we get them right side up, that all of a sudden things start making sense.
I often think that life is so much more difficult, struggles are so much greater.
Our lack of peace and our stress, those are all so much more intense the further we are
away from our design, the way God made us.
So the youth, I just, I feel for the youth.
They're all of a sudden in probably one of the most contentious and fearful and stress
invoking generations ever.
And they're looking for the peace and the calm and the purpose and hope like everyone
is.
So in fact, I just have a heart for the youth and children.
I work with children on the side, a little bit of bread and butter, I guess you could
say, and that desire to help the youth is growing as well.
And I have to apologize.
I feel like I've been a little bit, what they say, tangential.
You asked some wonderful questions and then I feel like I kind of meander down the path
and keep sharing.
So
Oh, no worries, this is the space where we want to know about your vision and what you're
creating because you have such a unique, unique way of providing your vision and at the same
time, because of the way of who you are.
And that provides a calm and also allows us to see what you're providing so clearly.
And here we definitely want to push you forward to do whatever you want and feel free to share
anything else you may want to share about your book.
Is there any specific or is there anything specific in your book that you say that that's
something that amazed you while you were writing your book?
If you can share that with us, I truly love it.
So the process that perhaps what about the writing of the book is that part of the book?
Yeah, yeah.
If that's if that process you'd like to share how it was creating the book and laying everything
down.
Okay.
Yeah, there's so much to share, but I'll try to be succinct here.
I have never liked writing.
I've never enjoyed it.
In fact, I've been very resistant.
I felt like God kept saying you need to write this book.
And I had kind of visions of a good book and I could never find this particular version
of that book anywhere.
And it was like he was saying, well, I want you to write it.
And I kept saying, no, no, not me.
And then long story short, I've had a lot of health issues, especially with my mouth.
And I've had a lot of surgeries.
And I returned from one of my last big surgeries and I couldn't talk.
I was in a lot of pain.
And it was almost like God sat me in the corner and he said, okay, you can't talk now.
You have got to write this book.
And I'm okay.
Okay, I will write this book.
And it became a year and a half journey.
And I had to just wait on him to guide me and direct me.
And I'll give you an example.
He said to me, and it's not like he said, but you know those inner promptings, that
prodding, and I realized I needed to write a chapter about truth.
And I thought, well, that's an awful big, that's an awful big topic.
And I just had to sit with him and wait and think, okay, how do you want me to write this
chapter?
And it was that way for each chapter.
And at the end, the first chapter was very short and very, I guess you could say not
a lot of substance.
And I felt like something's not quite right.
And then I went back and it became three chapters, one, two, and three.
And those are the most, I guess you could say meaty or most intellectual chapters of
the book.
And yet I tried to make them easy to digest.
And they are the foundation.
They talk about where our design came from.
And they talk about how our world began.
And all of those bigger questions.
And then I talk about what makes the Bible different than any other book and why we can
trust it.
And then the third chapter talks about the value of the human life, that we do have this
extraordinary design.
And then I go, the rest of the chapters are developing that.
And at first it seemed like it maybe should be two books.
But as I waited and I realized, okay, Lord, this will make more sense as time goes on.
It became very clear, especially in this time in which we live, people need those bigger
questions answered.
They also need to see how relevant it is for our life now.
And there's a verse I just love.
It's in Jeremiah, and I have it on the front page of my website.
And it says, stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths where the good way
is.
And walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.
And so I help kind of highlight that ancient path and try to make it practical.
You're extremely brave, Carolyn, because you are asking the most important questions that
we as humans, as people, need to ask ourselves.
And these are fundamental questions that not all of us are able to answer on our own.
And to have someone there to guide us through that is just spectacular.
So now coming here to a close, Carolyn, is there anything else that you want us to do
to highlight in this podcast?
Well, I just I want to I think I want to highlight first class business.
You all are just a joy to work with.
And I mentioned to Jackson at the beginning, I said, I feel like I'm home.
And I can't say how much more I feel at home than with you all.
It's just been amazing.
And the support, the encouragement, the stretching that you're bringing my way to, it's not like
I'm it's been a bit of a challenging path because I'm having to grow and stretch and
learn myself and step out and into the world.
And you're giving me this this gift of calm that I have not really known what to do with
until now.
And you're helping me to be able to do that.
So I just want to thank you and the rest of the team and Jackson, of course, for the privilege,
the honor and the gift it is to work with you.
Thank you so much, Carolyn.
Those words are are truly, truly beautiful, beautiful.
And we also greatly appreciate to be able to work with you.
We also have Emanuel here in one of our comments.
You are, as I said, you are influencing our calm.
And that's that's such a valuable thing.
And I also want to thank you for that and for everything that you are doing.
So keep the great work going.
And we are here to serve you moving forward.
And thank you so much for joining us today.
This has been VizioPros Live and we'll see you in the next one.
Bye bye.
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