Social can be crazy… drop your email below for positivity and personal growth straight from our farm to your inbox!
let's be friends!
forever grateful for you!
088 | Power of the Pivot with Kari Jo Kelso
Listen to Power of the Pivot with Kari Jo Kelso on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
I’m very excited to be joined by my friend, Kari Jo, on today’s episode!
Kari Jo and I actually live fairly close to one another; we’ve both had similar experiences of stepping outside of the box and changing trajectories when it comes to pursuing a not so ‘normal’ career path. Kari Jo became a veterinarian, but she always felt pulled to do something more creative. After experiencing a difficult season with her mom’s illness and travel that stretched her more financially, she found herself ‘Googling’ her way into a side hustle of making t-shirts. Fast forward to today – Kari Jo found a new gig that not only allowed her to cut back to working part-time as a vet, but also allowed her to express her creativity in a way that TRULY lit her up! She’s even purchased and renovated an event space in her downtown; this has helped fill in a gap that allows people in her community to gather together, and celebrate special events.
Kari Jo and I are talking all about the power of the pivot, and what it looks like to take riskier pursuits alongside a more ‘safe’ career choice. We’re digging into the importance of gaining clarity and really shifting your perspective when it comes to living your life (without letting other people’s opinions factor into this), how a high achievement-oriented personality can show up for business owners, the whirlwind of emotions that come with going in a completely new direction in business, mindset blocks and limiting beliefs that tend to plague many entrepreneurs, and more.
It’s never easy or comfortable to step away from the ‘norm’, but Kari Jo knew she didn’t want to spend her entire life grinding away in a job that didn’t truly fulfill her. Now, she’s found her footing as a small business owner, and has learned that even when things feel scary or uncertain, choosing authenticity and intentionality will NEVER lead you astray. Wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey, this episode is a beautiful reminder of what the power of the pivot can do in your business, and your life!
Kari Jo was born and raised in rural West Central Illinois. She grew up with a passion for agriculture and pursued a doctorate of veterinary medicine (DVM) at Oklahoma State University. Less than a year after graduating, she started a side hustle selling t-shirts online to help pay for plane tickets home. Little did she know that this would grow into (mostly) her full-time job. There have been a few twists and turns through the years, but she still loves practicing 2 days a week, and even owns an event venue downtown in her hometown.
In this episode, Power of the Pivot with Kari Jo Kelso, we cover:
- Kari Jo’s story of pursuing more of a creative path that led her into entrepreneurship alongside her ‘safe’ career
- Gaining clarity and shifting your perspective of how you truly want to live YOUR life (no matter what anyone else thinks)
- How a high achievement-oriented personality affects you as a business owner
- What led Kari Jo to recently rebrand and pivot her business + the many mixed emotions that pop up when you’re making big changes in your business
- Finding acceptance in knowing that you’re making the best decision and going in the right direction, even when you feel uncertain and uncomfortable
- The mindset blocks that many new and/or aspiring entrepreneurs struggle with + how to ‘rewire’ your thinking so you can move forward
- Limiting beliefs and mindset challenges that come with being a small business owner in a small town
- Kari Jo’s decision to purchase and renovate an event space in her downtown after seeing a huge need for it in her community
- Evaluating what’s happening in your life in order to really understand what’s giving you fulfillment and evolvement
Resources & Links:
- Gather in Growth Sponsorship Inquiry
- Join one of my Masterminds!
- Get your Monthly Mileage Tracker here
- Learn more about my speaking
- Get your YouDoYou32 tracker! (82’s little sister!)
- Get your YouDoYou82 tracker and join the Facebook community!
- Gather in Growth podcast produced by: Jill Carr Podcasting
Connect with Kari Jo:
- Follow on Instagram @kjokelso @kelsoandcompany and @thesmalltownermacomb
- Check out her website
Connect with Emily:
- Follow on Instagram and Facebook
- Join my email list
- Check out my website
- Connect with on LinkedIn
Related Episodes:
- Episode 028 | Tips for Pursuing Big Dreams in a Small Town
- Episode 086 | Wall Art and Intuition
More about Gather in Growth podcast:
Where can I connect with fellow rural women who aren’t afraid to dream big dreams? How do I create and sustain daily habits that help me reach my personal and professional goals? Am I the only one that absolutely loves living in the middle of nowhere but wants to understand the world beyond my backyard? What should I do about the unshakable feeling that there’s more to life than just showing up? How do I break free from other people’s opinions and confidently live as my authentic self?
Welcome to Gather in Growth, a show created for passionate, growth-focused rural women like you. From mindset work and building strong habits to nerding out over personal growth books through the lens of life on a backroad, this is a show to leave you feeling joyful, inspired, ready to take action, and a little less alone.
Tune in for honest and heart-felt conversations with host, Emily Reuschel, and fellow thought leaders, to talk about personal growth and thriving as a rural woman. Here you’ll gain tactical strategies to bring your dreams to reality, real talk about the ups and downs of tackling goals, meaningful insight from fresh perspectives, and the confidence to step into the calling that’s been laid on your heart for a reason. If you crave to feel seen in a small town, you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re currently running on a backroad, shuffling kids to town, hopping along for a tractor ride, or three loads deep into folding laundry… we’re in this together. Absolutely anything is possible and I’m so grateful to be on this journey with YOU!
Be sure to hit subscribe so you never miss the latest episode! Reviews help us reach more rockstar rural women, and are always greatly appreciated!
Reply...
THE PODCAST
GATHER IN
GROWTH
Catch up on the latest eposides
raising rural voices
Join us!
Welcome to Gather in Growth, a show created for passionate, growth-focused rural women like you. From mindset work and building strong habits to nerding out over personal growth books and exploring the unique joys and challenges of living rural, this is a show to leave you feeling joyful, inspired, ready to take action, and a little less alone.
“Being connected to Emily is a blessing because her radiant energy and positive vibes are contagious. She makes me feel like it’s okay to stay grounded in my own truths and be the kind of person who walks around with a smile even if everything isn’t okay. Her genuine smile and charming personality is a blessing to the world. She continues to inspire me even on the days when I feel uninspired.”
Blair Pollister
Turquoise by the Water
“Emily has a beautiful zest for life and a true passion to help others achieve greatness. She knows the importance of self-investment, and not only encourages others to do so but also follows through with bettering herself in this way, too. As you get to know Emily, you’ll see a unique, loving and vulnerable person. She’s always open to learning and seeing things from different points of views because she knows that leads to true change.”
Denise Talcott
TEDDYco Media