A member of the RIch Chicks Development Board recently interviewed Karen Karsten, RIch Chicks’ Executive Director as she celebrated her first year on the job.
RCB: What led you to Rich Chicks?
K3: The Rich Chicks philosophy of prosperity in all aspects of life really resonates with my own core values. Also, their involvement in the community is very unusual for a small business. I love that part of it. I guess it is part of my soul purpose: helping women recognize and use their own power to take care of themselves in every way.
RCB: You talk a lot about prosperity. What does that mean to you, personally?
K3: The greatest prosperity we have is not money. It is the power of choice. Not just to have a lot of choices available to us, but to create choices for ourselves—even when there doesn’t appear to be one.
RCB: Great name, Rich Chicks. What is a Rich Chick anyway?
K3: Rich Chicks is a fun name for a serious company. Being a Rich Chick is really about knowing your values and creating your life by making decisions according to those values. Being a Rich Chick is timeless—it is a state of mind and encompasses all stages and ages.
RCB: What was the most exciting thing to happen during your first year?
K3: The 2010 Gala was fantastic. We honored twelve amazing women who have added incredible richness to their own lives and the lives of others. Being able to recognize these women in a very public way enriches us all.
RCB: What’s the most important thing about Rich Chicks?
K3: Without a doubt, it is our education—and the fact that it is serious stuff, but we make it fun. Our core classes Wealth 101, Wealth 102, Monetary Identity and Gray Market Income all help women understand wealth in a completely different way. It’s not about money, although we do teach the basics, it’s about knowing what is important to you as a person and applying those values to how you actually live your life.
RCB: You seem like a pretty calm person. What really bugs you?
K3: Right now, the situation in Wisconsin really hits me in a deep place. It reminds me that a lot of the rights women have gained in the past are legislation that can be unlegislated. But don’t get me started on that, I could go on for hours.
RCB: I heard you mention in a meeting that you don’t think most people actually lead their lives. What does that mean?
K3: Just that—people let their lives lead them and then wonder how the heck they got where they are when life didn’t turn out the way they had hoped. You have to know what you want—what you really want. Then you can make plans and create a map to get where you want to go.
RCB: What’s next?
K3: We are developing teleclasses and other ways of delivering our education. We love in-person classes and the community they create, but we realize that not everyone who needs the education Rich Chicks offers can come to us. So we’re planning on coming to you!
RCB: Any last words?
K3: I want to thank my marvelous Business Development Board—all volunteers, for their help and support. Nothing could happen without them. You will love this video they made for me—aren’t we just way fun? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Ny6yaXaa8
About Karen