We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Natasha McCrea a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Natasha, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
When a multi-passionate woman leans into designing the life she wants she will build the muscle of resilience. And, that is where I get my resilience from. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, to recover quickly from difficulties. The art of resilience is a practice. In addition, this muscle is built by setbacks and challenges.
I have always been a risk-taker. I was that child who would climb trees taller than my house and jump makeshift bike ramps made by the older boys in the neighborhood. That coupled with my parents telling me I could do anything has built my resilience.
I have also always been a dreamer; when a dreamer keeps dreaming amid challenges, you just keep pushing through tough times. By age 23, I was a divorced single mother who had dropped out of college.
Taking risks, dreaming big, and never giving up is what makes me resilient.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
What excites me most about my work is the opportunity to create meaningful connections and contribute to positive change. Whether it’s through a sip of Jackson McCrea whiskey, a workshop with Love CEO Institute, or the powerful storytelling in my films, I am dedicated to leaving a lasting impact.
As a child I wanted to be an adventurer so when society told me I had to pick one thing I rebelled. I was not made that way and it took me well into my 40s to figure that out. So I jumped around trying one thing at a time. I felt very fractionated. When I finally decided to lean into all of who I am and what I have to offer to the world, life started to feel good.
I decided to design the life I wanted and get to know myself and what makes life most enjoyable. When I figured it out, all the pieces began to fall into place. And, I love being on this life journey of exploration.
I am a multi-passionate entrepreneur. I’m incredibly passionate about my various ventures, and it’s always a pleasure to share my story.
As the co-founder of Jackson McCrea whiskey, I am proud to be part of a brand that stands for inclusivity and craftsmanship. Our whiskey is a 5-year-old Tennesee Rye that we bring to California and rest in french oak Syrah barrels. Our whiskey is made by women, for women, and it is enjoyed by everyone. It’s a celebration of the true diversity of whiskey drinkers. As for what’s on the horizon, we have some exciting plans for expansion and new initiatives that will further align with our values of empowerment and equality. I can’t wait to share these developments with our community and continue the journey of making a difference in the world.
In addition to my role in the spirits industry, I am the founder of the Love CEO Institute, a personal development company specifically tailored for women. My mission is to empower and uplift women, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive both personally and professionally. I believe in the transformative power of education and mentorship. I aim to make a positive impact on the lives of women around the world through public speaking, workshops, and a robust online community that offers the tools for women to design their most fulfilling, fun, fabulous lives.
On the artistic front, I recently directed my first narrative short film, “Perception,” a project that allowed me to explore storytelling in a new and exciting way. I am also in the post-production phase of a documentary that delves into the legacy we leave on this earth through food.
I aspire to provoke perception shifts in all the work that I do.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are vision, positive thinking, and empathy.
You must have a clear vision to design the life you truly want. Even if life has dealt you a horrible collection of bad experiences. You have to choose to get past the negative emotions that come with it. As an adult to have the ability to push past it. And, you might just need to get guidance to help you.
Because if your focus continues to be the “bad” thing that has happened you will not be able to develop the vision for the life you want and you will continue to develop the life you don’t want.
The first step is keeping a dream journal to write out your dreams in detail. Then take those dreams and put them on a vision board. Then make affirmations to reinforce these dreams.
You must choose to believe that your world is full of unlimited beautiful possibilities. This is one of the best ways of taking care of yourself mentally.
When you take care of yourself, you will have the ability to understand others on a deeper level. We are all born with a level of empathy that can be diminished with negative conditioning and personal heartache. We must maintain or reignite the empathy in ourselves. Some of the benefits are less stress, fewer misunderstandings, and improved social skills. The benefits are vast and you will have a more fulfilling life.
To improve empathy you can start by gaining a better understanding of your own emotions and asking more questions
In my coaching practice, I coach individuals on how to develop these skills and design the life they long to experience by using a methodology I created called love intelligence. Love Intelligence is an array of characteristics and behaviors that display compassion for one’s self and others. It is the ability to perceive, understand, express, and receive love.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking to connect with individuals who seek to live life out loud. That can come in the form of
Angel investors for Jackson McCrea whiskey. We are looking to expand and grow. With that comes the need for additional funding.
External Partners Division of corporations looking to offer executive coaching, and personal development to their employees via workshops, office hours, or off-sites.
Film Industry professionals looking for a creative trailblazing director with a holistic approach to effectively communicate their vision.
High-achieving women looking for an executive coach who will help them gain clarity to design the life they truly want with less stress and overwhelm and more pleasure.
Let’s collaborate. I love meeting new people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://natashamccrea.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashamccrea/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealNatashaMcCrea/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashamccrea/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvJHJvbwibXCYdZ22PjSGpg
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