Her “Impossible” Goal Is Changing Lives: Meet Charlie

Every day this week, I’ll shine the spotlight on an ASPIRE Success Club member who will inspire and remind you that – with the right support, tools, and focus – you can achieve big dreams and Bold Goals! And if you want the ASPIRE Success Club to support you, join now while openings are still available – click here for details. ~ Dr. Christi Hegstad

SUCCESS STORY: Charlie Kiesling, Executive Director 

Amanda The Panda Grief Center 

At the start of the year, Dr. Christi had each ASPIRE member set a Bold Goal – something that would stretch and challenge us, that would take the better part of the year to achieve, and that was truly meaningful to us and our professional success. 

I decided to really go BOLD. I said that I wanted to have a stand-alone facility for our nonprofit, Amanda the Panda, for which I am the Executive Director. I knew that having such a facility would allow us to more fully impact the people we’re here to serve and fulfill our mission even more effectively.

I also knew this was a huge stretch of a goal – HUGE. 

I get goosebumps when I look back at how things have transpired! I completed the activities Christi provided us to lay out an action plan. Within just a few months of stating this Bold Goal, we found the perfect facility, our fundraising efforts received incredible outside support, the right people came into the picture… 

Long story short, we are now happily settled in our new stand-alone facility, which is centrally located within the community we serve, and we are able to focus our energy on helping those who come to us for support.

It wasn’t all easy, to be sure. We hit some bumps in the road along the way. But each time I came to an ASPIRE meeting, I was surrounded by the encouragement, tools, mentoring and motivation to stay focused. I’d leave with renewed energy, connections, and ideas to continue towards the vision we had created. 

And as I see those we serve using the new facility in the way we intended, I am so thankful we stayed the course. It’s been a meaningful experience that will continue to make a difference for many years to come!

Congratulations, Charlie! We’ve been blessed to support your success which makes such a difference for so many people. Readers, join the success by clicking here! And come back tomorrow for a success story that will show you how obstacles can actually serve as doors to your right livelihood.