Latest / Daily Influence / 646. From Burnout to Flow: Carolyn Litton on Purpose, Leadership & Hearts for Hope

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646. From Burnout to Flow: Carolyn Litton on Purpose, Leadership & Hearts for Hope · Daily Influence

• 0:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to Daily Influence, your daily dose of positive influence.
• 0:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Brian Smith founder of IA Business Advisors and co-author of the Iain team series.
• 0:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Each day we share stories and insights to help you find be and build your influence in a positive and responsible way.
• 0:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I'm Greg Clino, partner at IE Business Advisors, and co-host of Daily Influence.
• 0:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: Be sure to follow, subscribe, and share Daily Influence with someone who could use a little extra positivity today.
• 0:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: And make us part of your Daily routine, whether it's during your commute, on a walk, or an quiet moment just for you, because you're influenced matters.
• 0:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to Daily Influence.
• 0:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm your host, Greg Clino.
• 0:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: Today we are honored to welcome someone who's life and work embody the essence of service, transformation, and intentional influence.
• 1:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Carolyn Litton is the founder of Hearts for Hope, a nonprofit providing care packages and compassion to individuals experiencing homelessness.
• 1:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: And she's also the creator of the Vision Project, a coaching platform that helps high achieving professionals
• 1:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: and business owners align their vision, ground their energy, and grow into their best results.
• 1:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Carolyn herself experienced burnout after a high-producing career discovered the power of the flow state, and transformed not only her business but her life of service, from delivering thousands of care packs with hearts for hope, to guiding leaders and visionaries through transformational experiences,
• 1:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Carolyn's work spans community care, personal growth, and Hife performance aligned with authentic purpose.
• 1:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: Carolyn, welcome to daily influence.
• 1:58
  [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you, Greg.
• 1:59
  [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for having me.
• 2:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Carolyn, let's begin at the origin of your story.
• 2:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Could you share a bit about your background and what led you to where you are today, including how you move from a high-producing business role into founding
• 2:16
  [SPEAKER_02]: sure, sure absolutely.
• 2:18
  [SPEAKER_02]: So my background actually is from the mortgage industry.
• 2:22
  [SPEAKER_02]: I was a high-producing loan officer for over 20 years.
• 2:27
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I really did, like I loved what I did for for a long time.
• 2:31
  [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I've helped people choose the American Dream of owning a home.
• 2:35
  [SPEAKER_02]: And what I think I love most about my job is just connecting with people.
• 2:40
  [SPEAKER_02]: I never saw myself as a salesperson.
• 2:43
  [SPEAKER_02]: I just
• 2:45
  [SPEAKER_02]: products I had and what just listened to here what people's needs were and just helps facilitate them and guide them through the process.
• 2:52
  [SPEAKER_02]: So that was incredible and I'm so grateful for that opportunity because I truly learned so much over that 20 year period.
• 3:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: Though it came to a point where
• 3:04
  [SPEAKER_02]: I was I had so much like so much volume that I was working with that like I my career kind of became my identity.
• 3:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: I worked so many hours and I started losing sight of who I was as a person so it's it's like a disconnection that started happening that you know this is who I was I was alone officer and and it consumed all all of so many of my hours and so I will say that
• 3:35
  [SPEAKER_02]: I eventually changed my hat I went through a pattern interruption to change my habits because let's face it like I wanted to change my habits early, but I never had time you know how that goes right you have great intentions, but I kept getting like swept up with the busyness so I went through this pattern interruption it was a challenge that really caused me to pause and I think that's.
• 3:58
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's really being in the pause and reflecting.
• 4:02
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'm like, what do I really want?
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_02]: Like, who am I?
• 4:05
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I found that you really can't connect with that unless you take some time in the silence and really reflect.
• 4:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: So in doing that, I shifted my habits and I built my first vision board, which is cool.
• 4:22
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I'm like, oh gosh, I really have a passion to help the homeless.
• 4:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's something on my heart again something that you can't think intellectually it's just a feeling that I had so I was in a mastermind and built this vision board and I shared it with that community and I just received so much encouragement they're like, oh my gosh, you should totally.
• 4:41
  [SPEAKER_02]: You know, do this on a larger scale because I thought like not only is it cool, not only is it amazing to help people, but to give a community and opportunity to serve together.
• 4:52
  [SPEAKER_02]: I thought that would be really wonderful.
• 4:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: And by sharing that vision and sharing that with others people encourage me even I found like resources that became available like, oh, you can do this and you can do that.
• 5:05
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I would host your events and before I knew it.
• 5:08
  [SPEAKER_02]: hurts for hope that idea, that vision, that was in my heart, that came from my heart, became an official 501C3 charity.
• 5:15
  [SPEAKER_02]: And since that just from just operating from my heart, really attracted more people, volunteers, and even resources of, or I'm sorry, agencies that needed our care packs.
• 5:29
  [SPEAKER_02]: It all came very organically.
• 5:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, your journey from success to purpose really sets the stage for your influence.
• 5:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: one of the central ideas in our ancient series that influence starts with identity and values.
• 5:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: In your own career and philanthropic work, what personal values or defining experiences shaped how you lead and how you build community and service into your mission?
• 5:57
  [SPEAKER_02]: Some of my values, the first one is authenticity.
• 6:01
  [SPEAKER_02]: I truly believe that everything starts
• 6:08
  [SPEAKER_02]: Because if you don't life just feels like a force and a push because you're really trying to push yourself in a category where you just that that's not truly you so getting in touch with that and being present and authentic as much as you can.
• 6:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: is a game changer.
• 6:28
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I feel that when you show up as your authentic self, you give other people permission to be their authentic selves.
• 6:34
  [SPEAKER_02]: And it creates this beautiful organic true connection.
• 6:39
  [SPEAKER_02]: So authenticity is huge.
• 6:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: My other value I have is growth.
• 6:45
  [SPEAKER_02]: And that's a huge part of the Vision Project because
• 6:50
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'm embarrassed to say I didn't really read very much before because I had the mindset of and to busy, you could read when you have time for it and I never had time, but that was my mindset.
• 7:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: I was like, oh, I'm just going to stay at work and work longer.
• 7:03
  [SPEAKER_02]: But truly when I
• 7:05
  [SPEAKER_02]: be prioritized growth.
• 7:07
  [SPEAKER_02]: Even if it's just a little bit every day, I learn so much which really helped me enter into that flow state.
• 7:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: So that's how I'm able to accomplish so much in a short period of time, it's by that continuing, you know,
• 7:21
  [SPEAKER_02]: learning incrementally every day that really compounds on a huge level.
• 7:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: So it's worked for myself and then when I facilitate coaching classes, I really take the things that I've learned that it's had the most profound impact on my life and I share that.
• 7:40
  [SPEAKER_02]: So because there's so much to learn there's a lot out there so it's also sorting through what really serves you the most.
• 7:46
  [SPEAKER_02]: So the continual
• 7:50
  [SPEAKER_02]: That's huge.
• 7:51
  [SPEAKER_02]: Surrounding yourself with other people who are growth mindset oriented, really will help propel you to that next level of development and really help you naturally take action towards things that move the needle forward.
• 8:08
  [SPEAKER_02]: I found that to be really profound.
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: You've translated those values into real measurable impact.
• 8:15
  [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you, and also my other one too, because this really has a huge, huge, huge influence on my life to its faith, because we all have the choice on daily basis, minute basis to choose faith over fear and really when we want to have a powerful influence and if we have big huge visions and want to make an impact in this world, it requires a lot of faith.
• 8:43
  [SPEAKER_02]: because so when I left my day-to-day in the mortgage industry to share the vision project and how to help people get into the flow state, I had no idea how to do it and that's the truth.
• 8:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, when you have any big, you can plan all you want and yes, you get to have a plan, but life will never always go that way.
• 9:02
  [SPEAKER_02]: So to have that faith and choose that over fear when things when obstacles come in the way to say, okay, how can I look at this as a way to shape me?
• 9:11
  [SPEAKER_02]: Like, or is this pushing me in a different direction that I should be?
• 9:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: Mine fit is so powerful in that regard, but it takes a lot of faith.
• 9:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: and it's so true.
• 9:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Through hearts for hope, you've delivered thousands of care packages to people experiencing homelessness.
• 9:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Can you tell us about a moment when you felt you made a significant positive impact on someone's life through this work?
• 9:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, one of those accounters that affirm the direction of your service?
• 9:40
  [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, absolutely.
• 9:41
  [SPEAKER_02]: So, the
• 9:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: moments a volunteer reached out to me and this is why I love it so much because not only did it impact the person who received the care pack, but it impacted the volunteer as well.
• 9:52
  [SPEAKER_02]: So the volunteer reached out to me and she was helping a gentleman who's living out of his car in Olgen and he had some type of issue where there was a leak in the car.
• 10:03
  [SPEAKER_02]: So she was just such a kind and beautiful soul that she's like let me help you and she helped him clear out all of everything that she was hoarding in his car.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_02]: And she saw one of the hearts for hope bags that she actually helped pack and she was taking it out and he said don't take that.
• 10:22
  [SPEAKER_02]: He's like, please, I want to keep that and he's like in those socks because we get socks donated from Bamas.
• 10:28
  [SPEAKER_02]: He's like those are so wonderful, but she that care pack means such a big difference to him and to see the volunteer be able to experience.
• 10:38
  [SPEAKER_02]: the other side of it, not just packing that bag, but to feel the impact that it had on the gentleman was just awesome.
• 10:47
  [SPEAKER_02]: So I love hearing those stories.
• 10:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm sure you have so many of them were just they actually bring to life what it means to lead with compassion and connection.
• 10:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, absolutely.
• 10:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Caroline, with the vision project, the VP manifest, you have professional shift from burnout to clarity, vision, and flow.
• 11:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you work with individuals who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, how do you guide them to take ownership of their mindset, energy, and actions so that they can influence others positively through their own transformation?
• 11:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: absolutely.
• 11:27
  [SPEAKER_02]: So it all starts again and it goes back to that slowing down, right?
• 11:32
  [SPEAKER_02]: We professionals high achievers and which is probably everyone listening to this podcast because you're a high achiever and a leader if you're listening to this right now, I can tell you that off the bat.
• 11:44
  [SPEAKER_02]: You know, we, we a lot of times gets
• 11:48
  [SPEAKER_02]: involved in the doing, the doing, the doing, the doing, but it's like, who are we being and who are we?
• 11:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: So I start there first.
• 11:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: So it's really guiding people to slowing down to getting out of their heads in their logical brain and into their heart space.
• 12:04
  [SPEAKER_02]: Because sometimes connecting with your authentic self doesn't even come as a word or like it's a feeling.
• 12:10
  [SPEAKER_02]: So really I am honored to be able to help people slow down and get into that space to get into that heart space.
• 12:18
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I lead a lot of guided meditations, activation meditations to help them connect with who they are and things pop into their head, like, oh, ideas.
• 12:28
  [SPEAKER_02]: And then we start there.
• 12:29
  [SPEAKER_02]: So we start with getting into alignment, getting into, in touch with our authentic selves.
• 12:35
  [SPEAKER_02]: And then from there, I lead with different, again, through the grow process, which is learning, you know, sharing what I've learned through my transformational journey.
• 12:47
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's a combination of getting your thoughts and your emotions and your actions aligned with who you truly are.
• 12:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: And when you do that, you don't need motivation.
• 12:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: You're inspired.
• 12:58
  [SPEAKER_02]: You're inspired to take action.
• 12:59
  [SPEAKER_02]: Action feels effortless.
• 13:01
  [SPEAKER_02]: And it's the important part that actually moves the needle.
• 13:05
  [SPEAKER_02]: And that's what it's like to be in flow.
• 13:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for sharing that we talk about slowing down here at the i&team series and i&e business advisors that in fact in our first book it was the largest chapter we say slow down to speed up yes yes and it it can be out of it.
• 13:25
  [SPEAKER_02]: be wise with my my language and it can prove to be a challenge with high achievers because we're not wired that way we're not you know program that was especially in like the business world today we're not programs we're rewarded for doing more doing doing doing doing doing and I'm not saying not to do but it when you can slow down and come from a place of alignment first.
• 13:46
  [SPEAKER_02]: the action that ensues will be so much more powerful and you will be more connected with that person as well.
• 13:55
  [SPEAKER_02]: So it's very powerful.
• 13:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: So to end in today's environment tools and technology can really help with that.
• 14:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, exactly.
• 14:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Are you using AI or any other advanced tools in your work?
• 14:08
  [SPEAKER_02]: I do.
• 14:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: I do use AI and I love it because it's about how you use it, right?
• 14:13
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I feel like if you're not using it to some capacity, unfortunately, well, you'll probably fall behind, but what I use it for, I use it for refinement of my content and it's actually pretty cool because I'll start with a concept that I really want to drive home and.
• 14:27
  [SPEAKER_02]: you know, gives me different, you know, options of how I can language it because, you know, different depending on who you're working with, people hear things differently.
• 14:34
  [SPEAKER_02]: So I love that perspective.
• 14:37
  [SPEAKER_02]: So just like in terms of refinements in that and then also in, you know, marketing with some emails and newsletters, I can get my, my message across in a way so much faster and easier
• 14:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: So that is helping me tremendously.
• 14:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's so true.
• 15:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: When people are influencing others, leadership presence becomes important.
• 15:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, your work spans both direct service for the homeless care and high-level personal transformation.
• 15:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: From your perspective, what does responsible influence look like when you are building both a humanitarian initiative and a leadership coach business?
• 15:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: How do you stay aligned, ethical, and accountable, and effective through all that growth?
• 15:32
  [SPEAKER_02]: That's another, that's a great question as well.
• 15:34
  [SPEAKER_02]: I feel that collaboration and open-mindedness is huge.
• 15:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: So I'm always open to learning new things, to new possibilities.
• 15:47
  [SPEAKER_02]: I think one of the most dangerous things that are the leaders who think they know everything.
• 15:52
  [SPEAKER_02]: So I'm always open to learning more, which is why I love collaboration.
• 15:57
  [SPEAKER_02]: And collaboration has opened so many doors, Greg, I'm so grateful, but you really do get to have an abundance mindset when you operate from the collaboration, it's not, you know, it's, it's happened with hearts for hope in terms of, you know, there are other people helping the homeless, I'm like, that's great and that's actually how I learned about what to put in my care packs.
• 16:19
  [SPEAKER_02]: I met with someone else who is servicing people experiencing homelessness and on shelter, like what do I do?
• 16:25
  [SPEAKER_02]: How can I help?
• 16:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: And our missions are a little bit different and but we're both coming from service and then collaborating with other organizations who then take our care packs and we'll deliver them to places that we wouldn't be able to reach.
• 16:38
  [SPEAKER_02]: So collaborations beautiful there with hearts for hope and then in terms of the vision project,
• 16:45
  [SPEAKER_02]: I've hosted three international retreats and I'm hosting two more next chair and I am just my heart is just overflowing with gratitude with my co-facilitators who are in the same space but have a slightly different area of expertise.
• 17:04
  [SPEAKER_02]: So for example, we're hosting a retreat in Ireland and a castle.
• 17:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: And this, my co-facilitator is just amazing.
• 17:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: Patra, her, she's a mind and body specialist.
• 17:18
  [SPEAKER_02]: So she really helps remove stress from the physical body, which really, that has to happen first before you can get into the flow state.
• 17:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: So she, that that's her area of expertise and just combining both together, just creates a magical experience.
• 17:33
  [SPEAKER_02]: And then I love learning and teaching about quantum mechanics.
• 17:38
  [SPEAKER_02]: And what else is possible to really take quantum leaps into that identity of your higher self.
• 17:44
  [SPEAKER_02]: So I'm co-ethicilitating one in Bali later in the year with a gentleman who's very, he's amazing.
• 17:50
  [SPEAKER_02]: He does a lot with Dr. Joe Distanz's work, so he can explain the neuroscience.
• 17:55
  [SPEAKER_02]: So it's just so nice having someone who can really explain that level of expertise.
• 18:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: to understand what's happening in your minds and then we can jump into that highest version of ourselves from flow.
• 18:06
  [SPEAKER_02]: So it's collaboration.
• 18:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: What message or words of encouragement would you like to share with our listeners who feel called to make a positive difference in the world?
• 18:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: But may not yet see how their unique guests or circumstances fit into that purpose?
• 18:22
  [SPEAKER_02]: So that I would say give yourself grace, slow down,
• 18:30
  [SPEAKER_02]: Through my journey, I've noticed, I've caught myself in times, comparing myself to someone else who's on a different journey, and I highly respect them, and I have to remind myself, well, that's not my journey, and though I love what they're doing, my journey is going to look a little bit different.
• 18:49
  [SPEAKER_02]: So I would say drop in, connect with your heart, connect with your intuition.
• 18:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: Definitely learn as much as you can, but understand that you can still respect what other people are doing and knowing that that's not quite your path or that maybe something that they're doing is aligned with you, but maybe at a later time so really dropping into the presence slowing down and listening to your heart.
• 19:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: Carolyn, thank you for sharing your story, your mission, and your heart today.
• 19:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: Your work through hearts for hope and the vision project stands as a clear example of what it means to live with purpose, to use influence responsibly.
• 19:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: and to serve both individuals and communities.
• 19:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, you've shown that transformation is possible, not just for one person, but for many, and that excellence and leadership and service go hand in hand in the world.
• 19:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm so honored to have you on daily influence.
• 19:49
  [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, thank you so much, I'm honored to be here.
• 19:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: Carolina for all listeners want to get in touch with you.
• 19:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: What is the best way to do so?
• 19:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: Sure.
• 19:57
  [SPEAKER_02]: You can go to CarolynLitten.com.
• 20:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: That has a link to all my social media platforms.
• 20:04
  [SPEAKER_02]: My website, so that would be the best way you can subscribe to my newsletter.
• 20:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: If any of this resonated with you and you want to learn more about how to stay in the flow, definitely check out CarolynLatin.com.
• 20:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Great.
• 20:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: We'll put that in the show notes.
• 20:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: Carolyn, thank you so much for joining us.
• 20:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm so grateful to have you in my life and for you to share your words of wisdom with our audience.
• 20:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you.
• 20:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, you're welcome and likewise, thank you, Greg.
• 20:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: In to our listeners, thank you for tuning in to Daily Influence.
• 20:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: I hope today's conversation brought you inside an inspiration.
• 20:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: If it's spoke to you, share it with someone who could use a little positivity today.
• 20:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Remember, small actions create big impact.
• 20:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: Keep showing up, leading, and growing one day to time.
• 20:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Until next time, stay inspired and keep having a positive or responsible influence.
• 20:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: Bye-bye.