BLISS_RebeccaKirstein

A connector, collaborator, photographer, Mom and business junkie, Rebecca passionately shares her strategies that honor the feminine spirit in business that are rewarding, profitable and fun. As women, we are natural born collaborators – it’s how we are programmed. We aren’t wired to compete, we’re wired to connect, collaborate and innovate. Instead of pushing harder on sales, Rebecca created the Freebird Collective, a complimentary group of women who fill each other’s businesses to capacity through referrals. Today, she teaches other women her secrets to a thriving referral based business.

What do you BELIEVE in?  I think the obvious answer is love. Who doesn’t believe in love? When I sit with that question a little longer, I’m drawn a little deeper with my answer. I believe in contribution. I get up every day and look for ways to contribute. To my family, my friends and my community through the work that I do and the person I show up as for all the people who cross my path every day. I have big ideas, big dreams and big vision but what I am most moved by is the little things, the day to day minutiae of life is where there is the most opportunity to inspire, encourage or support one another; a kind word, a smile, a moment of silliness, understanding, compassion. There is a quote I love that says “It’s not the depth of your intellect that will comfort you or transform your world. Only the richness of your heart and your generosity of spirit can do that.” Or, as my daughter and I like to summarize it: “The more you give, the more you get.” There is nothing I believe in more strongly than that.

How does LOVE show up/present itself in your life?  Well, um…everywhere. I am love. I live for love. My daughter, my family, my chosen family. It is all made of love. As the saying goes: “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” I often can’t fall asleep because I’m so in love with life that I can’t stop thinking about all there is to do, all the places there are to go, all the people there are to meet, all the things there are to create…all the love there is to be experienced. This is why I need to establish a more consistent meditation practice! ☺

Who or what INSPIREs you?  Generosity of spirit inspires me. Living where I live, being surrounded by the people I get to call my  community really inspires me. I’m in awe of the talent, spirit, generosity and love there is in this community. It is filled with a genuine generosity of spirit and every day I am more inspired by the people I get to call my community.

How do you, or can you, SERVE your community? I serve my community in so many different ways but the ones closest to my heart today are:

  1. The non-profit Portraits for the People that I founded in 2009. We have given away hundreds of FREE portraits to the people of Victoria over the past 5 years. I’m really proud of that.
  2. The Freebird Collective: Finding ways to serve the small business community of Victoria in ways that can really make a difference was a BIG dream of mine for many years. The reality of this collective is so far beyond what I could ever have imagined. I beam with pride for this group of extraordinary women who are changing lives every. Single. Day.
  3. My daughter. This one may seem strange to some but I truly believe that my greatest gift to this community and to the world is in raising the truly kind, innovative, community spirited and generous soul that is my daughter Madison. She will change the world more than I ever could.

What does it mean to you to SURRENDER? Surrendering means letting go of the past. Living in the present. Looking forward to the future without expectation. I’m a planner and as we all know, things rarely go according to plan. Learning to let go has been a big lesson for me.  Trusting my intuition. Letting my heart be my guide. Knowing that perfection is a myth. I am perfectly imperfect and I only get more imperfect as time passes. Loving my jagged edges and rough patches as much as my shine and my gifts is true surrender. I’m not there yet….but it’s a work in progress. ☺

 

Owner/Photographer – BK Studios Photographers – www.b-kstudios.com

Founder – The Freebird Collective & Portraits for the People – www.freebirdcollective.com