Erica Carrico is an international life purpose & career coach, free spirit, stargazer, mommy of 2, and world traveler. Through her coaching services, speaking, and writing, Erica helps wholistic and spiritual professionals who are frustrated and stuck in the wrong career, escape the rat race so they can finally earn a living doing what they absolutely love. What they were put on earth to do. Grab her FREE workbook 5 Steps to Your Dream Career.
Erica has a BS in Psychology, an MS in Nonprofit Management, life & career coaching certifications, 12+ years in international recruitment & business leadership, 2 successful career changes under her own belt, has traveled through over 50 different countries, and is obsessed with helping thousands of people around the world live lives full of purpose, passion, freedom, and adventure.
Hey Erica, can you introduce yourself to us?
I’m an international life purpose & career coach, I guide my clients out of meaningless careers and into a soul-based business. One that’s aligned with their true purpose so they can finally earn more money doing what they absolutely love – what they were put on earth to do.
I fully believe each and every one of us has a purpose – it’s why we’re here! We all have our own unique gifts, talents, beliefs, only we can share with the world. If we aren’t fulfilling our purpose, not only are you doing ourselves a disservice, we’re doing the world and those were meant to help a disservice as well.
Can you take us through your journey to where you are now?
I’m insanely in love with my business. I love it so much that it doesn’t feel like work, and sometimes I prefer working in my business over being at home (gasp!). I 100% know I’m doing exactly what I was put on earth to do. But it hasn’t always been this way.
For years, I was trapped in a career that I knew deep down wasn’t right for me. I spent 5 years climbing the corporate ladder and 7 years as a non-profit Director, and although I was successful in my career, I was freaking miserable.
I felt trapped, stuck, chained to a desk, watching my life pass me by. I was angry that I wasn’t living the freedom-based lifestyle I knew I was meant to live, and I sure wasn’t doing what I loved every day.
I felt like I was wasting my life away. I was so jealous of people who were following their hearts, earning a living through their passions, living a life of freedom and adventure, and absolutely loving their lives. I remember telling my husband one night my career is literally destroying my soul. It killed me to the point where I couldn’t even look on Facebook and I closed down my Instagram.
It left me with a feeling of deep sadness (and let’s not even talk about anxiety!). Why? Because I knew I was meant for more. Because I was not living my purpose. I was not living my dreams. And I knew I was settling in my career – and in my life.
Finally, I hit rock bottom. I hired a coach, and that’s when everything changed. Since then, I’ve moved countries (twice), spent a year backpacking around the world, got my Masters Degree and changed careers, started my own very successful coaching business, married my gorgeous husband and had two kiddos, I’m healthier at 38 than I was at 25, and am now living my dream life full of passion, purpose, adventure, and freedom.
And do you know what the best part is? I get to help other people finally live the life they were destined to live.
What is a day in the life of you like?
Every day is different, which is what I love! Some days are full with client calls, others I’m prepping for speaking engagements or workshops, some days I’m writing or making videos (in the mountains!), and at least one day each week I take off to do something I love. I live in beautiful Colorado so usually hiking, horseback riding, snowboarding or skiing.
How did you launch your career as a life coach?
I knew I wanted to be a life purpose and career coach for years before I finally pulled the trigger. But like so many people, I got in my own way and held myself back. Fear of failure, fear of judgement, fear of being seen, and even fear of success.
Finally, the call became too strong (I was diagnosed with kidney cancer), and I knew it was something I had to do. I truly believe that if we’re not living our purpose – if we’re not fulfilling our divine assignment, it will begin to manifest into physical symptoms (anxiety, depression, emotional eating, addiction, even illness) in order to get our attention. It sure as hell got mine! And I listened.
What training did you undergo and where did you study?
I came from an international recruitment background and also worked for a company that helped people change careers, so for me, it was just a case of becoming a life coach certified. I trained and became certified through the Beautiful You Coaching Academy in Australia.
How you are helping spiritual professionals, who are frustrated and quite possibly stuck in the wrong career?
Throughout our time working together, my clients:
- Become crystal clear on what their life purpose is.
- Are 100% certain on what soul-aligned business they will be starting.
- Have laser focus, clarity, direction, and a plan to move into their new business.
- Have the confidence to know they can do and be whatever they want to be.
- Go from being frustrated, overwhelmed, lost, and confused to fulfilled, inspired, and on fire in their career and in their lives.
- Are insanely happier, vibrantly alive, and living a life of purpose, passion, freedom, and adventure.
- Are in love with life again – and most importantly, they are in love with themselves.
Can you give us 3 tips for building a sustainable business that we will remain passionate about?
- Make sure your business is aligned with your life purpose – when we have a mission that’s greater than ourselves, it’s so much easier to keep going through the challenging times.
- Build your business in a way that’s aligned with what you love doing (i.e. if you’re a natural performer, do videos instead of blogging)
- Combine what you really love, with what you’re naturally good at. This is our zone of genius and where the ultimate success lies.
Who does the team involve behind you?
I have the most amazing virtual assistant, a graphic designer, a video editor, a team of spiritual healers who I see quite regularly, a business coach (or coaches!) to help me expand and get out of my own way, and of course my biz besties who help me through the tough times, my husband who’s always cheering me on, and my little ones who have absolutely no idea what I do, but they’re always celebrating my wins.
Where can you see yourself within the next 3-5 years?
In 3-5 years I see myself speaking at spiritual festivals around the world, writing and launching a book, and running my high-end coaching programs to help people awaken and start their very own soul-based businesses. My family and I base ourselves in the beautiful mountains of Colorado but we spend several months per year in Australia (where my husband is from).
What strategies do you have in place when looking at the expansion of your business?
Honestly, this is such a learning process and changes from year to year. I make decisions quite a bit based on intuition, trial and error, and obviously working with business and strategy coaches to help keep me on the right track.
Can you tell us what areas you have struggled in professionally?
The biggest area I struggle with is perfectionism. I used to think everything had to be absolutely perfect before I could put it out into the world. This did nothing but hold me back and lead to insane procrastination. My new mantra is “progress over perfection” and that really helps me to keep taking inspired action.
Have you ever had any other mentor? If so how has this benefitted you to grow?
I’m always working with a mentor in some way, shape, or form. They help you to see different perspectives, expand your thinking, see where you might be feeding limiting beliefs. They challenge you to step outside your comfort zone and push through the fear when fear sets in. I’ll never not have a mentor, they’ve meant so much to me over the years.
What outlets do use to market your business?
Instagram, Facebook, I write a lot for places like Tiny Buddha, Elephant Journal, The Ladies Coach, podcasts, videos, referrals, speaking events, and workshops.
Which methods are you using to build your own support network?
I’m in a group coaching program right now with other women who are at the same stage in their businesses as I am and that’s been amazing! Also really connecting with women who I went through coach training with, we just got back from a business retreat and it was incredible.
What do you believe are the common misconceptions about being an entrepreneur?
That it’s fun all the time, or that you don’t have to work hard. I think we actually work harder and longer sometimes, and if we’re not careful, it’s easy to put in 12-hour days.
What would you like to see changed for millennials in business?
I think millennials are really doing things right. They want to love what they do, to make a difference in the world. They aren’t putting up with sh*t. They’re taking time off, traveling the world, putting college off for a few years, they want to live life, to enjoy life, and to be of service. Which I think is all super cool.
What is the best piece of business advice you have received to date?
Stay. In. Your. Own. Lane. Don’t compare yourself to other people in the business. You have no idea how far along they are in their journey or the road they’ve traveled to get to where they are. Comparing yourself to them does you absolutely no good.
What is the number 1 critical lesson you have learned in your career so far?
You’ll never be truly happy until you’re doing something you love, something you’re good at, something that’s aligned with your life purpose.
How do you create an evenly balanced work and personal life?
This is definitely a challenge and something I think I’ll always have to work on. I take at least one day off per week to do something fun for myself, I make sure I’m present at home with my kids, when we go on vacation I leave my work at home. I try to take care of myself on a daily basis through movement, meditation, spiritual rituals, and clean eating. Some weeks are better than others, but that’s just life in general.
The highlight of your career so far?
I’d say being nominated for Emerging Coach of the Year in my first year of business. I flew to Australia for the awards banquet and was in a room full of industry leaders. It was incredible to finally be able to meet the many people I’d trained with, learned from, and been coached by from all around the world.
What gives you ultimate career satisfaction?
Seeing my clients have deep, life-transforming results. There literally is nothing better. Nothing.
What challenges have you seen to have been presented during the growth of your business?
Whenever I’m about to do something big or new, I always shut down. It’s such a cycle. I get excited, then overwhelmed, then fear kicks in, I procrastinate, have a meltdown, spend time building myself back up, and finally coming around to doing #thedamnthing and wondering what the hell all the fuss was about!
Which other leading entrepreneurs and pioneering game changers do you also admire and why?
Yvette Luciano who founded Soulpreneurs. I just adore her mission. She’s all about building a business in a way that’s aligned with your soul and in a more feminine way. Flow, ease, balance, intuition, heart-centered, everything about her and the work she’s putting out into the world are amazing.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
‘Rise Sister Rise.’
Top 3 go-to Podcast channels?
I love ‘The Priestess’ Podcast, and in all honesty, that’s the only one I listen to on a regular basis. I spend so much time on laptops and phones within my business, that when I finally do have free time, I’d rather be doing something fun outdoors.
How do you measure your own terms of success?
Am I better than I was yesterday? How have I grown and what have I learned? Who have I served? Am I serving people in a powerful way? To, me that’s the true meaning of success.
What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you?
#BEYOUROWN is right in alignment with the message I speak. We are unique souls here on this planet, with our own unique missions. We’re here to awaken and make a difference in the world in our own special way. If we hold ourselves back, if we dim our light, if we try to fit in or be like those around us, we’re watering down our essence… who we are. I believe everyone’s ultimate goal should be to “Become Who You Are.” #BEYOUROWN
Lastly, what is next for you?
This year I’m prepping for the launch of my Awaken Your Purpose group coaching program that kicks off in January. Throughout this program, I’ll be taking a group of spiritual-minded ladies (think sacred sisters!) through the process of becoming 100% clear on their life purpose. Leading up to this I have several speaking events, including one in Vancouver Canada which I’m super excited about, and making sure to take plenty of time to rest, restore, and connect (aka lots of time in the mountains!).
The more people who can awaken to their purpose, the more beautiful this earth will become.
Instagram: @ericalynncarrico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericalcarrico
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericacarrico/
Website link: https://www.ericacarrico.com
