We were lucky to catch up with Chelsea Kunde recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chelsea, 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?
I find myself to be a very resilient person in general but when I was 26 years old I was diagnosed with cancer (Hodgkin’s lymphoma). It was a devastating diagnosis and one of the most challenging times in my life. Throughout my treatment, I was able to still have good days despite going through chemo, feeling weak, and losing my hair. I also had very hard moments but throughout, I was able to stay optimistic and fight. Cancer changed me forever. On one hand, I have a hard time trusting my body but on another hand, I feel strong and confident that I can do hard things. That I can overcome obstacles and whatever life throws me. I am thankful for learning this through this experience.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My company is called Building Blocks Family. I provide loving and practical family solutions to families with kids ages 0-6 years old. I provide private consultations and teach classes on topics of sleep, discipline and potty training. I love what I do because of all the families I get to work with and I love providing a safe space to talk about parenting. Parenting is challenging and I like to provide to my clients a space to be real, be vulnerable and also to gain practical tips and tricks. So much out there that we see, specifically on social platforms, are highlight reels and this can be difficult when parenting. My hope is to provide a space for people to not feel judged or where they have to be perfect. Imperfections are part of parenting. I love connecting with families daily and helping them to lay the foundation to have success in raising their children.
I also founded (along with three other women and friends) a nonprofit called Wigged Out. We provide financial assistance to those with medically related hair loss. We hope to bring back a sense of self for them and make them feel good. We started this after my own cancer journey and I love giving back to this community. Our nonprofit has really grown and we continue to help more and more people every month. Save the date for our Golf Classic on December 15th, 2023!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three skills or qualities I have that has helped in my success is being confident, a good listener, and a hard worker. I had to take a risk when I opened up my own company. Prior to Building Blocks Family, I worked in Community Mental Health. I loved that time in my life but I was ready for something different. I knew I had a niche in parenting skills but it felt very risky to start my own thing. With the support of my husband and my own confidence, I jumped in. I am glad I did because the risk paid off. I have aways been told by friends that I am easy to talk to and a good listener. There is also a sense of patience you have to have for this skill as well. So I knew, a huge asset I could bring to BBF was just that, listening. Providing a space to families where they can feel open and safe to let me into their parenting world. Lastly, I am a hard worker. Part of that is my personality trait of being a perfectionist. I want to do well and succeed. I am motivated by that and it keeps me working hard. These three strengths of mine have made it possible for BBF to continue and be successful.
I would say to someone asking advice to look at themselves honestly and pull the strengths they already have and refine those. Don’t worry about the traits you lack as much as strengthen the ones you already have!
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest challenge for me always is the balance between being a Mom and working outside of the home. I have weeks where I feel like I am nailing my job and falling short on my parenting and vice versa. I have gotten better about knowing this is normal and every week may feel different. I am lucky that I can build my own schedule but I do worry often that I am falling short at something and this worry is hard to manage at times.
Contact Info:
- Website: buildingblocksfamily.com
- Instagram: buildingblocksfamily
- Facebook: buildingblocksfamily
- Other: Tik Tok: buildingblocksfamily
Image Credits
Kate Nelle eight one social
