Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Hilton.
Hi Karen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The truth is I crash-landed into being Founder & Chief Vision Caster for both of my businesses – T.A.P. Executive Coaching and Rock Your Vision.
And although I’ve been at this for almost a decade, I feel like I’m just getting started and constantly riding the waves of the learning curve of being an entrepreneur.
But for that part of my story to make sense, you have to know a little about my mom’s journey.
In January of 2013, on what seemed like an ordinary day, I called my mom, 80 years young at the time, as I started out for work. Despite saying she felt fine, I sensed something was off. By 10:30 that night, I watched as paramedics tried to keep her alive.
That night, I clung to the belief that she would defy the odds – again. Mom had endured poverty, overt racism, the isolation of being a military wife, the loneliness of being the only African-American in most of her social circles, and the mixed emotions of being far from her family. She survived a divorce at nearly 60 years of age, with no financial standing and only entry-level work experience.
She was a caregiver to her mother and sister, at the same time. She survived a catastrophic surgery complication, an automobile accident involving an 18-wheeler, and Stage 3 ovarian cancer by more than six years.
Sitting in that intensive care unit, I desperately wanted to believe that she would once again defy the odds. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was time to start saying goodbye.
The night Mom was admitted to ICU, I surrendered to a feeling I hated – not being in control. I was, after all, supposed to be extremely good at being in control of my life. I had children, a husband and other family members counting on me. I had employees who needed answers, team members who needed support and a company that wanted a fully present leader. I had commitments – all of which were important to how I defined myself.
The day after Mom was admitted to the ICU, I struggled with whether or not I should keep a local-speaking commitment. With one of my dearest friends at my side for moral support – I walked onto the platform. I pushed back the overwhelming grief, knowing that my beloved mother and best friend was fighting for her life, and pressed on.
The standing ovation was almost painful. I wanted to scream, “Somebody help! My momma is dying!”
I rushed straight back to the hospital, ripped off my suit and pearls and collapsed at my mother’s bedside. The days and nights that followed were punctuated only by the somber support of family and friends, and the beeping of Mom’s ICU monitor.
In April of 2013 – four months later than I should have – I resigned from my corporate job and continued the day-to-day hospice journey with my mother. I had come to the end of myself and, as it turns out, the beginning of who I was going to need to be.
As a human resources leader, I’ve made a career out of developing people and the organizations. I was an “expert” at understanding human behavior, conflict, and risk management. And yet, it took a crisis to reveal just how unhealthy I was.
How did I get to the point of pushing myself so hard that I missed critical clues about my health, habits and mindset? How did I forget to define success according to my values instead of my net worth or network? And how did I miss the signals that I couldn’t do everything?
I would never have chosen to be a caregiver. But it was the beginning of my journey to where I am today.
I eventually began to connect the dots of the lessons from my mother’s life and death, to my own.
On September 25, 2013, I kissed Mom’s face left the room to fetch her medicines. As I returned to her, she sat up like she had seen a ghost, said “Karen, come quickly!” and by the time I got to her she was Heaven-bound.
Despite the obstacles she overcame and her successes my mother struggled to speak up for herself and the things she needed. She never truly heard her own voice because, in her era, it wasn’t expected that she would use it.
By the time she realized she could, she didn’t know how. She perceived her contributions as insignificant and dutiful. As a result, she unconsciously down-played her potential.
And here’s what I discovered in the silent weeks after mom passed: Mom’s story was in many ways my story. And the story of millions of women.
My Vision has always been to provide practical, relevant and dynamic support for those who are committed to transformational personal and professional growth, in every season of life and work.
T.A.P. serves the corporate space and Rock Your Vision serves individuals who are committed to personal, entrepreneurial or mission-driven leadership, through the lens of Christian faith.
My mission is to inspire, encourage and equip one million Vision-driven leaders & entrepreneurs to make not just a difference, but also an impact.
My mother, without knowing it, started a movement – first in me. And now, almost a decade later, she has ignited a movement in thousands of others. And if she were alive today talking to us about where to start, I think she would agree with me in saying “You have more options than you realize”.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I hesitate to say “I wish it had been a smooth road”, but most of what I’ve learned that has been useful, educational and foundational in my professional and personal life has been when the road was bumpy.
If I’m honest, I played it safe, avoided risk and tried to ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit to grow my practice.
What I learned is what I tell others who are just starting out:
– Stop waiting for permission to have and pursue a dream/passion.
– Recognize that not everyone who says they are in your corner actually is. That’s ok. Embrace that. Build a diverse personal board of directors who can give you support, insight and feedback.
– Confidence isn’t the absence of fear, it’s what you discover once you’ve done that thing that terrifies or tries to silence you.
– Face your stuff. Be honest about what excites you and what exhausts you. Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses. Recognize where you need help, what you have questions about and what you don’t know how to do.
– Live your own “magazine life”. Celebrate where you are.
– Prepare but don’t forget to launch.
– Know your own story. People will connect with you when YOU have connected with you.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
For the past ten years, I’ve primarily focused on building my corporate practice as an executive coach, keynote speaker & C-Suite advisor.
That work continues to grow and we’re now expanding Rock Your Vision through the launch of two new memberships – Vision Casters Academy and The Inner Circle.
Vision Casters Academy is a monthly membership offering a dynamic group coaching model built around my signature Vision Blueprint framework. Members enjoy live monthly workshops, done-with-you implementation sessions, networking including a member directory, live Vision Master interviews and other benefits that are members-only exclusives.
The Inner Circle is appropriate for female leaders and entrepreneurs who have already demonstrated a level of accomplishment and experience through roles of significant scope and responsibility, have founded and/or grown a viable business with a vision to future growth, or have demonstrated leadership and impact in the community, ministry or civic sector.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
When I was first starting out I wish I had known that feeling afraid/uncertain was a normal part of the process. I also wish I had asked for help sooner. In fact, this is so important to me that I built these into our core pillars.
Finally, sometimes progress means doing less, slowing down, letting go and starting over.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tapexecutivecoaching.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/rockyourvision
- Facebook: facebook.com/rockyourvisioncommunity
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/coachkhilton
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/fKTy4Jl2NAs
- Other: Vision Casters Academy: https://coachkarenhilton.mykajabi.com/vision-casters-academy
Image Credits
Donald Douglas Photography, Kimazing Photography, The Magnolia Black
