Embracing Resilience and Passion

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with entrepreneur and speaker Kristina Karlsson, the founder of stationary design business kikki.K and now Dream Life. Our paths crossed recently when we were both speaking at the Forbes Women’s Summit, and reconnecting after so long was a true delight. It had been nearly a decade since Kristina published a limited edition of my first book, Getting Real About Having It All, in kikki.K stores, and there was so much to catch up on.

Kristina’s journey as a founder and leader is nothing short of inspiring. At just 22, she founded kikki.K, a Swedish design and stationery company, and grew it into a beloved global brand. Growing up on a farm in Sweden, Kristina dreamt of seeing the world. This dream led her to a ski resort in Austria, where she met her partner, Paul, who eventually brought her to Australia. However, upon arriving in Australia, Kristina felt lost and uncertain about her future. It was during a 3 a.m. moment of frustration that Paul suggested she write down her dreams. This exercise marked the beginning of her incredible journey.

Kristina’s list included desires like driving to work every day and loving it, having her own business, maintaining a connection with Sweden, working with Swedish design, and making $500 a week. Despite having no business experience, Kristina decided to start with what she knew she wanted: a beautiful home office. Frustrated by the uninspiring office products available, she realized her calling and decided to create beautiful Swedish design stores specializing in stationery.

From borrowing $3,000 from Paul to create initial products to opening the first kikki.K store, Kristina’s journey was filled with determination and vision. The company grew to 120 stores across six countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, the U.K., and the Middle East.

The journey was not without challenges. The business faced numerous setbacks, including administration, a potential sale that fell through, and the impact of COVID-19. Yet, through it all, Kristina’s resilience and optimism never wavered.

Kristina’s ability to navigate these challenges stems from her dedication to personal growth and well-being. In our interview, she shared that these are some of her personal well-being strategies and tools:

• Meditation: Kristina meditates daily, which helps her manage her mindset and process thoughts effectively. She emphasized that regular meditation provides her with the mental space to handle challenges.
• Journaling: Kristina practices daily journaling, writing three pages every morning. This habit, inspired by The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, helps her think on paper, process challenges, and gain insights.
• Walking: Another key strategy is walking daily. As an introvert, Kristina finds this activity essential to helping her clear her mind and maintain a routine.
• Gratitude: Practicing gratitude, even during tough times, is a significant part of Kristina’s well-being strategy. She maintains a gratitude journal and starts her day by thinking about what she is grateful for.
• Support Network: Having a strong support network has been vital to Kristina. She emphasized the importance of maintaining such friendships, especially during busy times, for a constant source of ongoing support.

When asked about the impact of her journey on her mindset and emotional well-being, Kristina shared that these practices provided her with the power of perspective to help her navigate difficult times and maintain a positive outlook.

Kristina also touched on the concept of storytelling and the narratives we create around our experiences. She believes that understanding and shaping these stories can significantly impact our mindset, confidence, and ability to take action. By focusing on the positive and staying connected to her values and purpose, Kristina has been able to maintain her resilience and passion throughout her journey.

As an entrepreneur, Kristina’s belief in the importance of dreaming big resonated deeply with me. She encourages women to dream without limitations, asking themselves what they would do if they knew they couldn’t fail. This mindset has been a driving force behind her success and continues to inspire her in her current ventures.

Today, Kristina’s passion for inspiring others is evident in her new business, Dream Life. Her goal is to inspire 101 million people to write down three dreams and pursue them. She runs a coaching program focused on personal growth, a global book club, and a new stationery brand called Dream Life. The brand utilizes innovative print-on-demand technology, allowing for customized and personalized products without excess inventory.

Kristina’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, passion, and the importance of staying true to one’s values and purpose. Her story serves as an inspiration to all women, reminding us that with determination, optimism, and a commitment to personal growth, we can overcome challenges and achieve our dreams. Her story is a powerful reminder of the strength and potential within each of us.

Resilience Essential Reads

Resilience as the Ability to Bounce Forward

The Ground that Grounds Me: Finding a Timeless Center

If you enjoyed reading this and want to explore more about embracing resilience, personal growth, and dreaming big, you can watch the interview and get all the exclusive insights and tips by pre-ordering the Women Rising book here.