The “Key” to Maintaining an Open Heart in a World Filled with Pain and Uncertainty

I recently had the pleasure of hosting Caitlin Crosby, the founder and CEO of The Giving Keys on this week’s episode of Flourish or Fold. Caitlin is a visionary who has been named among Oprah's Super Soul 100 list. Her company, The Giving Keys, is a jewelry and lifestyle brand that operates on a pay-it-forward model which creates products with inspirational words and encourage customers to pass them on to someone who needs them more. Each key comes with a story of why it was given away.

Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:

The Birth of The Giving Keys: Caitlin's journey began with a simple hotel room key turned necklace. This sparked an idea that has since employed over 150 people transitioning out of homelessness.

Adapting to Change: The pandemic forced The Giving Keys to pivot their business model. They now donate proceeds to nonprofits helping those experiencing homelessness find jobs and continue to share inspiring pay-it-forward stories.

Authenticity and Genuine Care: Caitlin emphasizes the importance of authenticity when starting a brand or movement. She believes consumers can sense when someone is not truly invested in their cause.

The Power of Creativity: Caitlin shares the pros and cons of being a freely creative and vision-led entrepreneur. She acknowledges that being driven by emotions can sometimes be a challenge, but it also allows her to bring her ideas to life in the moment.

Overcoming Challenges: Caitlin opens up about the hardships she faced when her former CFO embezzled funds from the company, and the struggle of balancing motherhood and running a stressful business. Despite these challenges, she remains determined and has found empowerment in taking on additional roles within the company.

A Message of Hope: Caitlin leaves us with a heartfelt message, assuring us that we are not alone and that there is always hope. She encourages us to believe in our purpose and not give up.

As a token of appreciation for your support, Caitlin is offering a 30% discount on The Giving Keys website with the code "flourish30". Each purchase helps uplift humanity and support important charities.

I hope you find Caitlin's story as inspiring as I did. Remember, true joy and happiness come from meaningful connections with others. So, why not like, comment, download and share this episode with someone who could use a little inspiration today? We're excited to hear your thoughts and what you've learned from our conversation.

To learn more about Caitlin and her work visit: https://www.thegivingkeys.com/ and on Instagram @caitlincrosby

Here are some highlights of the episode to look forward to:

The giving keys and its mission (00:04:31): Caitlin explains the concept behind The Giving Keys, a pay-it-forward jewelry company that empowers people through inspirational words and stories.

Meeting a homeless couple and starting The Giving Keys (00:06:13): Caitlin shares the authentic moment that led her to employ a homeless couple to engrave inspirational words on old keys, which eventually grew into The Giving Keys.

Evolution of The Giving Keys and its impact (00:08:32): Caitlin discusses how The Giving Keys adapted during the pandemic and shifted its focus to donating proceeds to nonprofits that help people transition out of homelessness.

The moment that sparked The Giving Keys (00:11:34): Caitlin recounts the moment she saw two people holding a sign that said "ugly, broke, and hungry" and how it inspired her to help others.

The importance of authenticity in starting a brand (00:14:11):