Krystal J [00:01:08]:
Today we have the incredible Chaitali Desai. She is a business and success and mentor serving as a catalyst for the Soul-Led Entrepreneur. Love that phrase. We're definitely going to be diving into that, but this is for the woman or entrepreneur just in general, that deserves it all, that desires it all. The purpose, the power, the prosperity. She is on a mission to assist female entrepreneurs and high achievers in amplifying their voice, igniting their fire, and breaking through societal conditioning to become unapologetically empowered. If you are listening to this, and you are just as excited as I am, we know this is going to be a great conversation. So let's go ahead and just dive right into Chaitali, thank you so much for joining us today.
Chaitali B D [00:01:53]:
I'm so excited to be here. Krystal, thank you so much for having me on. I can already feel like the energy is buzzing, so this is going to be a really cool topic.
Krystal J [00:02:02]:
I know. I was really, really looking forward to this conversation. I also forgot to mention that she's also the host of her own podcast, Soulful Mastery. Am I getting that right? Soulful Mastery.
Chaitali B D [00:02:12]:
Soul Mastery.
Krystal J [00:02:13]:
Soul Mastery. Okay, and I had the pleasure of being on her podcast, so if you didn't check that out, I will be sure to link that episode in the show notes. But yes, the energy when we talk, I think is so incredible. So I'm excited to allow you to take the spotlight today and share all of the amazing things that you're doing. So why don't you go ahead and take us back a little bit, um, into your journey, how you got started, and what is it that you're doing today?
Chaitali B D [00:02:41]:
Oh, well, I think I got started by happenstance. You know how it goes. Um, as motherhood starts to take its place or its priority, I stepped away from my career, which was in medical, sorry. In molecular genetics and medical psychology. We were in our third trimester when we moved with our first child, and I was huge. I looked like I was gonna deliver at any moment. So I just took that time to go, okay, let's take care of this temple of mine.
Chaitali B D [00:03:12]:
Shortly after we had her, we were pregnant again with my second. And fast forward, we got the opportunity to move overseas. We are a corporate family, and I was all for it. So I closed down this wedding and special events business that I had started because I was a stay at home mom who thought that would be an at home job. Just FYI, people don't get married in your backyard. But anyways, sometimes you have to learn that message the hard way. So then we moved overseas, and when we lived overseas, no matter what country we were in, I always noticed one thing.
Chaitali B D [00:03:48]:
Even if we were out in the bush in South Africa, we had Wi fi. So when we came back to the States, I knew whatever I was going to do in my entrepreneurial journey, it was going to be online. And I started with network marketing. Not knowing it was an industry and using that as the catalyst, I started to really step into what I was designed to do. Meaning what we're talking about today, really helping female entrepreneurs not only step into their power, but to understand that it's safe and it's time. I mean, it's beyond time. So I'm here to help be that change agent that catalyzes this next generation.
Krystal J [00:04:31]:
I love that. What do you mean by safe? Can you break that down for us?
Chaitali B D [00:04:36]:
Yeah, look, for centuries, right? You know, I know we talked about this briefly on our episode together. And you look at epigenetics we are holding in our cellular memory. Twelve generations worth of stuff, whether it be positive, negative, however you want to describe it, but ourselves remember. And you know, women, they've lived through femicide not once, not twice, repeatedly. And our cells remember that. So at times to say, hey, this is what I want to do. And to own that, to really, really make peace with the fact that your desire is so much more, whether it be financially, whether it be of impact, of power. It doesn't matter.
To say that you want it, I think, is so hard for women and to create that inner safety, to say it's okay to want more. There should be no guilt, there should be no shame. But we know, as entrepreneurs, as moms, as females, that we walk with that. So it's learning to build that safety within ourselves, in our mind, and then move from that space.
Krystal J [00:05:51]:
I love that. And how much of that work do you think has to be done? Like, externally, obviously, with children, with a partner. And we just, as women, we're so conditioned to just be that nurturing person for other people, to always put other people before us. And I think that's why it feels so uncomfortable to put ourselves in a position where we're being put first, where our desires, our needs are being put first. So what was that journey like for you? I mean, when you met your partner, when you started having a family, were you kind of already in that entrepreneurial space?
Chaitali B D [00:06:30]:
No. Oh, I take that back. Not exactly. I was a dabbler, so I was working my nine to five, but I needed a creative outfit, so I would make jewelry or I would do henna. So many random creative things that would keep me going. But then when I lost, or when I decided to step away and I lost, I used air quotes there. My title of a nine to five employee, I kind of lost my identity. Now I was just a mom.
Chaitali B D [00:07:02]:
And for anyone who's listening and, like, you feel irritated by that statement, congratulations. You understand exactly what that angst feels like in the moment, because societally, we do not talk about this. And especially being minorities, we definitely don't talk about it. There is such an angst of saying, and it's weird because you're almost, to a certain degree, it can feel demeaning to say, oh, I'm just a mom. And you're apologetic about that without even realizing that that's probably one of the greatest gifts you will give the world, are those that came from you. But even owning that, that was actually the catalyst for me to be like, wait, I'm not just a mom. I hold all of this together as women do, not only for my family, but for everyone who comes in contact with us, like, in that ripple effect. Did that answer your question?
Krystal J [00:08:00]:
Yeah. And I am so glad you brought that up, because that is something that I think is kind of, like, always at the forefront of my mind as well, right? That feeling of, like, almost shame or guilt of wanting more than just motherhood, when motherhood is such a great blessing, and that's not something that I will ever, ever discount. I actually recently had a photo shoot, and obviously, I am currently 38 weeks pregnant. And so, of course, when you're reaching out to a photographer or something and you're pregnant, the expectation is that you want this beautiful maternity shoot. And I was like, I actually want it to be like a professional branding headshot shoots where I happen to be pregnant, where the forefronts of this photo shoot is that I am a business person and I want to be successful, and I really care about my business.
Krystal J [00:09:01]:
And part of me was like, will that be taken the wrong way? Like that? I want to put that before my pregnancy, but it's kind of like, working through that mindset, right? Of, like, it's okay to celebrate both. It's okay to celebrate all of these different facets of your life and of your personality and of all these things that you want. Um, so being able to step into that and realize that its okay. And like you said, create that safe space for yourself to know that it's okay to want. That is so powerful.
Chaitali B D [00:09:34]:
Yeah, 100%. And I think that's part of the conversation that we get to have and we get to bring to the table that it's aimed, you can have it and a profession and a pregnancy and this and that. Like, we don't need to limit ourselves to be like, oh, it's only this one aspect. It gets to be all of it. And we get to understand that we get to hold all of it, because whether or not we want to admit it, we already do it. But now it's consciously saying, oh, I'm already doing this. You know what? Let me see if I can turn it up a little bit. I always think of Emeril Lagasse, like, bam, turn it up a notch, you know, can you do it? Of course you can. Will you do it, though? That's where your personal power comes into play.
Krystal J [00:10:22]:
So what kind of tips do you have for any woman that is out there kind of struggling with accepting that, that it is okay to be more than just a mom?
Chaitali B D [00:10:33]:
I think we get to remember that we came into this earth multifaceted, and we get to constantly be multifaceted, even. I'll take my own journey in motherhood. Like, it took me a while to grasp this concept because it felt like it was this dance. And for every couple of steps forward I took, I felt like, oh, I'm taking, like, the slide back and making peace. With that there. It's not like every overnight success was years in the making, you know, and make peace with that, because it's really the same love that you so willingly give everybody else, whether it be your family, your extended family, friends, clients, you are just as deserving of that same love. So start with you. That's where it begins. And then let it just naturally feed out, you know, because we don't live in a box.
Krystal J [00:11:30]:
Oh, my gosh. Yes. That is something that I have been saying often. There are so many, like, really amazing nuggets and words of wisdom that we share with our children, that we share with the people we care most about. But we are not stepping into a role where we're practicing that for ourselves.
Chaitali B D [00:11:47]:
Yes.
Krystal J [00:11:48]:
And we need to. We should care about ourselves just as much, if not more than all the people around us, right? And pouring that love back into ourselves and allowing ourselves to step into that role, to step into this big vision that we have for ourselves. So you work with Soul-Led Entrepreneurs, I love that phrase, break that down for us. What does it mean to be Soul-Led? And how are you really finding that balance of leading from that place where you're really connected to your soul, but also navigating the world of business, which tends to feel very masculine and strategic. What does that balance look like and how do you really grow from a soul and perspective?
Chaitali B D [00:12:31]:
So I'll start with a balance first. I don't think there is a balance. There's going to be times where you're heavy in your masculine putting structure together, processes, procedures, and oftentimes, somewhere in the beginning of your business or when you're in that scaling mode, you need those structures in order for the feminine to be able to come in and create again, because it comes down to that safety. And I know that we've talked about it, and I know how much you love feminine energetics. I think this is a cool dynamic. I in human design, just quickly, I'm a manifesting gender. But all of my variables, I'm quad left, meaning they're all facing the left. And that is very masculine energy.
Chaitali B D [00:13:15]:
And forever in a day, I fought a structure, let me tell you. Have you ever fought yourself on something? What a bloody waste of energy it's been. But as I started to really tap into my Google calendar, I'd be like, okay, here's a rough idea of what the day is going to look like. Okay, when you're onboarding a client, here's a rough idea of what that looks like. Scheduling my work time to fit my family, because that is still my priority. I get to play with those pieces. So I often think of it like a puzzle. Okay, how does this all fit together? And you start with the corners, right? As every good puzzle person knows, you want to find your corners, the structure that gives you the outline of what you're creating on the inside, and then fill it in.
Chaitali B D [00:14:55]:
And I think really getting to that point where I understood that it's never going to be 100% one or the other took a lot of the pressure off. Be like, all right, well, right now I need to put a structure together. Okay, well, today, you know what? I am just in flow, and I'm creating, creating, creating for those that are Soul-Led. There is this feeling. Maybe it's a voice for you. Maybe it's this, like, nudge that doesn't go away. No matter how you try to do something else, you always have this feeling like, oh, I should.
Chaitali B D [00:15:36]:
I get to do something else, but I don't know if it's time. And that thing that you keep thinking about that you're like, I don't know, that's that Soul-Led drive. It's like heart centered. And I'm sure it's for you also. Like, when we started this business, we don't necessarily go in and say, I'm here for the money. There's something behind the money. And it's that piece, and that's that soul calling that you get to explore.
Krystal J [00:16:05]:
Yeah, I really love the way that you framed it. Where it's kind of like allowing that masculine part of it to really create the base of everything, which will then allow you to amplify the feminine part of it, right? What you're really feeling in your soul and in your core and where the energy is taking you. So talk to us a little bit more about the energetic alignment in growing and scaling your business. Do you have any, like, specific stories of where you had been in a place where you were kind of just saying yes to everything right? Which is, I know, like a common part of the journey that a lot of entrepreneurs go in because they're just focused so much on the scaling, right? But then that's where you kind of lose your mission a little bit or you're getting burnt out and you're not really paying attention to that soul part of things, that core part of you, of your original why. What were you? What were you trying to create in the first place? So do you have any stories that you can share where you finally were like, you know what, let me really focus on the energy that's being brought to what I'm doing and lean into that more.
Chaitali B D [00:17:12]:
Yeah. I was actually in a role, for three, four years, and when I started, I was so excited to get the role right. And it was aligned at the time with my growth, stepping into a position of power, if you will, and it led to the prosperity, and it helped me uncover, like, a deeper version of my purpose. And that's why I lead with purpose, power, and prosperity. It's three very strong energies that majority of us are scared of, especially purpose, because purpose, it's so overused, but without it, you're just kind of floating. You're just out at sea, like, oh, okay, let me try this. It doesn't feel great.
Chaitali B D [00:17:59]:
There's no power behind it. But when you have that definiteness of purpose, everything you do becomes intentional, even, like, this conversation. We could have come here and it could go very, like, fluffy, right? where there's nothing really intentional behind it. But we know that. Okay, who's listening? Your listeners are those that are empowering themselves. Then you come to that, come to the conversation with that purpose, understanding that it feeds into that ripple effect. But to answer your question quickly, I stepped into that, and at the time, it fit.
Chaitali B D [00:18:37]:
And as that business scaled, I helped scale this one woman's business to multiple millions. And it was great to have that outcome. But what it cost me time. Ridiculous energy. My family took a vaccine because it was constant, unaligned hustle. I don't mind hustle. You gotta show up for your dreams. But there's a sacred hustle. And then there was that hustle. Where you're going without real purpose. That's where I think so many entrepreneurs just give up afterwards.
Krystal J [00:19:21]:
That part was so good. The heartfelt hustle and being able to make that distinction, right? There's hustle for the sake of hustle, for being busy, because you feel like it's doing something for you, right? Then, you know, later down the line, you're like, man, I've been burnt out for this past few months because I've just been going.
Chaitali B D [00:19:39]:
But, yeah, and the time, you don't even realize, you don't recognize it. And then when you stop and you, like, really pull back, it took me almost like seven, eight months to get my energy back. That's a lot of time, if you think about it, right? But to really step in and be like, okay, I need to step back. And going back to what we were saying, pour in to me so that I could pour out to others. So I very much believe in leading by example. And this is one of those situations.
Krystal J [00:20:12]:
Let's talk about the prosperity piece. So there's that third part of it, right? So power, passion or power, purpose and prosperity. I think that prosperity piece is one of the ones that could potentially even take the longest of all three, right? When you're starting to lean into your purpose, you're like, okay, this is what I want to do. This is what I want to create. And then you allow yourself to start using your voice, which is starting to amplify your power. But then that prosperity piece, where it's like, now I need to ask people for money.
Krystal J [00:20:43]:
Now I need the finances to help me keep going.
Chaitali B D [00:20:47]:
Yeah, it's uncomfortable for people, especially for women.
Krystal J [00:20:50]:
Exactly.
Chaitali B D [00:20:52]:
All in all sectors of business, whether you're corporate or an entrepreneur, or you're a nine to five, building something on the side. That piece is so difficult for so many of us. It was difficult for me in the beginning also, until I realized that I was giving money importance instead of giving the service the same level of importance. And what I mean by that is I put all of this expectation on money. Okay, if I'm going to do this Krystal, then you're going to do that for me, right? It was a very transactional relationship, and, well, to be frank, that sucks. You can't can't really tap into that because you already, before even the money will come.
Chaitali B D [00:21:42]:
You already have like 50 things that it's going to go towards with it, but it's never like, oh, my goodness, money has come to me. Okay, let me sit with it and say, all right, what's my next step? Is it to invest? Is it to save? Like, there's no real thought process behind it sometimes. And getting comfortable with shifting that perspective and understanding wealth consciousness is so much bigger than just the money, like the actual dollar or whatever currency you use. It changed the dynamic for me in many clients. And one of the funniest things funny now, but at the time, I had a client and she, as a child, they grew up Jehovah's Witnesses, and her parents would have her and her brother go knocking on doors. Well, I think she had to have been maybe 12 years old. So her brain is still developing, right? They had to go knock, and they were chased.
Chaitali B D [00:22:44]:
As she remembered the situation, like, you could see how it was changing her. And now she's having to ask people again because she's mentoring and she's mentoring children. So now she's talking to the parents, here's what I can do for your child. And now she has to ask for the money. She's like, I couldn't do it. So she was giving all her services for free, and at the time, she needed to be paid in order to continue. And I was like, listen, what is going on? And when she came up with the story and we addressed that thread, which doesn't have that money issue anymore. And the biggest thing there is to understand the power is in facing the thing you're scared of, whether it be money, whether it be creating wealth, there's a conversation that gets to happen underneath that.
Krystal J [00:23:37]:
I think while you were talking, it made me kind of realize the mindset that, you know, I looked at with mom guilt, right? With taking time away from my children and focusing on my business, I think the same thing kind of goes with money, too, right? It feels very selfish at first, but it's all about reframing that perspective and recognizing that allowing yourself to receive it, whether it's allowing yourself to receive the abundance and the prosperity, or allowing yourself the time to focus solely on yourself and not you as a mother, but you as a human, you as an individual, that is only allowing you the bigger capacity to make the impact that you were destined to make, right? It's not keeping you small. It's giving you the opportunity to help more people to show up in a bigger way. And I think that is so powerful to be able to just reframe that and say, it's okay to receive this money because there are so many things that I can do with it to help other people.
Chaitali B D [00:24:40]:
Yeah. Again, that ripple effect, right? Whether you're donating, whether you're able to invest in yourself, to make what you're teaching, mentoring, doing that much more profound, I mean, it's a win, but it's, again, making that shift internally because all game is internal first.
Krystal J [00:24:59]:
Right. What do you think have been, like, the biggest struggles that you've seen with the entrepreneurs that you work with and how do you help them get through it?
Chaitali B D [00:25:11]:
So one of the biggest things is, well, it's a couple of things, but it comes down to the mind, the conscious mind versus the subconscious. We all think our conscious mind is like the brains behind the operation, but it only accounts for 5%. The other 95%, who you are, who you be, what you do, that's in the subconscious unconscious. And that's 95%. And the subconscious unconscious, it runs on autopilot to a certain degree. A great example of this is hypnotic driving, and I know we've all experienced it. When you decide you need to go to your favorite grocery store, you get behind the wheel of your car, and all of a sudden you're at the grocery store, but you don't remember the distance in between. It's your subconscious mind took over.
Chaitali B D [00:26:01]:
I know it doesn't sound safe, but it's exactly what's happening. Your subconscious took over because it knows, and it's called hypnotic driving. It's a real phenomenon, but that's so often what happens to you by default, because that's what you told your subconscious mind. This is what we do. So until you change that programming, that's one of the first elements that we work on because you get to change that. And when that gets rewired, a lot of the other things that you're finding difficult seem to just kind of dissipate.
Krystal J [00:26:35]:
Yeah. What are some tips that you have to start retraining that subconscious mind?
Chaitali B D [00:26:41]:
It's becoming intentional within the day. I think another word would be mindful, like, what are you actually doing, right? And when you're doing something, are you present in the moment or are you thinking about what's going to happen at 06:00, 07:00, 08:00? what's going to happen in two weeks? Like, where is your mind, where are your thoughts? And starting to, like, wrangle them in. Um, there was a study. I don't remember the stats right now, but they're pretty high. And majority of people could be here like we are, but their mind has no idea what the conversation is. They're not present.
Chaitali B D [00:27:18]:
Um, and I think starting to practice that presence, even if it's two minutes, start small and build. Set a timer on your phone or whatever on your watch. Even if two minutes seems like overwhelming, start at 30 seconds. Can you be mindful in what you're doing? And a great time to practice is typically when you're having that first cup of coffee, can you actually taste the coffee, or are you just guzzling it, right? It's these small tweaks in the day which seems so trivial and so minimal, but they add up. It's that compound effect. So, one, becoming like what are you actually thinking? Two, when you're doing something, do that thing. So if you're having the coffee, thoroughly enjoy the coffee. If you're having a conversation, have the conversation. Everything else can wait. I mean, outside of, like, delivery or a life threatening something, it can most likely wait. So be present and then build from there.
Krystal J [00:28:22]:
Isn't that so incredible? How something so simple, how something so seemingly just like a basic and natural, can completely go out the window? And we've gotten accustomed to just being on this autopilot, right? Like, this is my routine. This is just how I'm living life. But taking even, like you said, just those 30 seconds to start being a little bit more mindful every single day and realizing the compound effect of that and how being present in those moments can kind of change the trajectory of everything you're doing. Moving forward is so powerful.
Chaitali B D [00:28:59]:
100%. And it's funny because you'll start noticing things that were always in the periphery. It's life changing. And I don't really like catchy words or terms, but it's applicable here, or hike words, but it's so applicable. Like, if you're walking, pay attention. You know, even just start by counting your footsteps because there's a rhythm that you'll start to develop. And as you're starting to notice your gait, then all of a sudden, you have space to hear inspiration come through.
Chaitali B D [00:29:33]:
You have space where I don't even like a feeling, like, oh, today I'm going to go left. And you go left, and you see a billboard or aside, and it's like an answer to your question. It's happened to me so many times, and it's happened to so many clients, I'm sure you can attest to it yourself. It's those pockets that you give yourself because you're so in the moment. You allow space, and in allowing space, you can tap into, like, that intuitive side of you that helps, that's guiding you anyway. So why not step into that and, like, have that conversation and allow it?
Krystal J [00:30:13]:
Yeah, absolutely. So with everything you're doing, what is your purpose really moving forward? Like, what is the big picture success for you?
Chaitali B D [00:30:24]:
It is wealth consciousness. In more women's hands, more wealth means more women get to step into their power and in turn, create more opportunities for others.
Krystal J [00:30:38]:
So good and so important, because that's definitely, like, as we've already discussed, that is one of the more uncomfortable things that we, I think, especially as women, right? We have to face. And it's such an integral part of business, being comfortable with finances, being comfortable, receiving that, to allow ourselves that abundance and prosperity so that we can continue amplifying our mission. Such a beautiful response. Where can everyone find you in all of the amazing things that you're doing Chaitali?
Chaitali B D [00:31:13]:
Social on IG, Facebook, and Linkedin. Or you can head to my website for easy access, the Soul Mastery Podcast for entrepreneurs who are looking for guidance, but they're not quite sure where to go yet. Or you can join me in the Soul Confidential Lounge. It's my complimentary community over on Facebook where I talk about everything, human design, energetics, hypnosis, you name it, to help you in life and in business, because I believe what we do in one aspect, we do in all aspects.
Krystal J [00:31:43]:
Absolutely. I love that so much. Of course, all of the links are going to be in the show notes, and I love just listening to you talk because, like, even regardless of how, like, big of a deal the topic is that we're talking about, you come to it with such an ease and such a softness, which I really love and I think is so beautiful. Do you have any final tips or piece of advice or insight that you want to share with our audience today before we close off?
Chaitali B D [00:32:14]:
Yeah, definitely. Look, anything is possible, but you must decide, and then you move from that aspect. But it's your decision. So decide. What do you want?
Krystal J [00:32:26]:
Yeah.
Chaitali B D [00:32:27]:
And it's going to be amazing. No matter what happens, life opens up.
Krystal J [00:32:31]:
And it meets you so good. All of these little gems, these little lines that you're dropping. I'm like, I need to just make a little quote. But absolutely taking that first step, that first decision, as scary as it is, if you allow yourself to make that decision, life will 100% meet you. I believe that so much. I absolutely believe that the universe or whoever your higher source, higher God is, will always provide as long as you're willing to allow yourself to put it out there, right? To ask the question, to make the decision. So beautiful. Chaitali, thank you so much. You are always a joy to speak with. So thank you for being with us today.
Chaitali B D [00:33:12]:
Thank you so much for having me on. I love it and I'm so excited for you, your journey, all the things. So thank you again.
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