We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Gray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, what role has risk played in your life or career?

I believe that many people perceive risk as something negative. They tend to look for ways to avoid risk at all costs. For me, it’s actually been a very different experience, even with my Financial Background. I’m not opposed to the traditional ways of gathering facts, information and making an informed decision, but I’ve also learned to take a moment and check in with how I feel about a decision before I make it. This is completely contrary to what most of us have been taught in school and society, but my greatest experiences and most successful decisions have truly been led by a gut intuitive instinct. I’ve also completely walked away from seemingly lucrative opportunities because they just didn’t feel right to me – regardless of the amount of risk or reward involved.

I would sum up my opinion by saying that Risk is relative and everyone has to do what they believe is best.  For me, I do my homework and due diligence but before making a final decision I always pause and listen to that inner voice to guide me to do what’s right for me!! Considering that I have a life & business I love – I’d say that process is working really well!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

My coaching business has definitely evolved and grown over the last 14 years.

I actually began coaching pageant girls with their Confidence, Speech and Interview skills in 2008 when my daughter was competing in High School Rodeo Queen pageants.  What started as a “part time thing” has now evolved into my Passion and Calling.  I don’t just coach as a vocation – it’s WHO I AM.  Today I get to support Corporate Leaders, Executives, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and those who are looking to transition or start a business.  I help amazing, passionate men and women align their passion with their purpose so they can create lives they dont want or need to escape from.

The main lesson I have learned through my own journey is one that I share with each and every client I support. Life is uncertain and hard things happens to everyone, but “WE ALL GET A CHOICE IN HOW WE REACT”. This is the key or secret to the amont of success and happiness you will experience in your life.  It’s that simple.  I know it’s really easy to get down about our situation or compare our life to those around us or to what we see on social media. Either way, it’s easy to make assumptions about what we think someone elses life is like and end up feeling horrible about our own – merely based on what we “imagine to be true”. The actual truth is, we have no idea what anyone else is going through or what they may be facing, because most of us choose to put our best face forward and hide our struggles from the world.  What I do know is that we all face the ebbs and flows of life and the challenges it brings our way.  Most of us try to hide our harsh realities from the public and keep our challenges to ourselves, although there are those who prefer to shout their drama from the social media roof tops and wear their struggles like a girl scout badge. (I sometimes admire that amount of courage and lack of give a $#!+ about what people think) Bottom line, neither way is wrong. It just further goes to prove that life happens to every one of us us if we are fortunate to life long enough to experience it… but it isn’t the things that happen to us that matter – it’s how we choose to react to what happens that ultimately makes the difference!

So if I could share anything about my personal story and the mission of our brand – it would go hand and hand with that lesson… Life has happened to me as well and I have chosen to turn those experiences into fuel for change, momentum and a passion to serve and help others. I choose to create a legacy of love, light and kindness… That is the vision for my Gray Legacy Partners brand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

We have lots of friends and family from outside the metroplex are and we love to host them as Casa de Gray! We feel like the DFW Area has anything that anyone would want to experience. (Especially FOOD! Our favorite restaurant is Taste of Texas 1845 in Flower Mound. It’s a must for any new guest to the area!)

Depending on who comes to visit, we might do an active sports weekend with a trip to the see the Rangers play baseball in the gorgeous new Globe Life Field Stadium in Arlington and then hang out in the open area just outside the park where you can listen to live music, grab food and a few adult beverages.

If friends with small children come, there is no shortage of activities to visit including the Great Wolf Lodge, Grapevine Mills Lego Land… and no visit to the mall would be complete without dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. (The blinking light drinks are my niece’s favorite!) We love to take our kids to the Dallas World aquarium or Fort Worth Zoo.

The ultimate weekend visit is to Fort Worth. They have really made that experience so special! From all the things happening around Sundance Square with Food, entertainment, music, art and more… to Cowtown Coliseum and the Stockyards… The list of our favorites is endless (Especially if it’s Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Season or Christmas!)

I can literally find something to love in every corner of the Metroplex and Texas folks are the friendliest in the world!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Soul Sisters! I met this group of powerful women during my IPEC Coaching Certification Training. We were put into a group and over the course of the training we formed an amazing bond – like sisters United by our common love of coaching and the pursuit of spiritual knowledge. Casey Hasten, Madalyn Scipione & Angie Hooper have helped support and encourage me to become the coach & woman I am today. We’ve laughed, cried and coached our hearts out together. Also, my current coach Dana Sangum & my mentor Julie Ziglar Norman. Both women have challenged me to be a better version of myself and helped me to fully embrace my wounds and imperfections as gifts that I can use to help others. Finally, my family – especially my husband Jason and my daughter Stephanie.  We all need people in our lives that see and believe in our gifts, sometimes they even see them before we do. Jason and Stephanie have been that for me.  They have believed in me and supporte me along every step of my coaching journey.  I truly am living the life I never dreamed was possible but always hoped for.  I’m a living example of the power of coaching and feel blessed to get to share this gift with others.

Website: https://www.GrayLegacyPartners.com |

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkarengray/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkarengray/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachKarenGray/

Other: Rock Movers Podcast: https://anchor.fm/rockmovers

Image Credits
Lauren Bethany Photography Jenny Tavarez Photography Pamela Tuckey Photography

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