We were lucky to catch up with Jacqueline Kravette recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacqueline, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on involves my non-profit work. I advise an organization called The New Roots Institute. Their mission is to empower the next generation to end factory farming. Part of their work involves presenting in person to classrooms, high schools, and colleges to describe how factory farming impacts animals, the environment, and human health. From there, they work to shape new advocates to spread this message to others. During COVID, the team could not attend classes, so much of it happened via Zoom. I had the honor of witnessing some of these sessions take place. When provided with information and truth, it is miraculous how receptive and inquisitive teens and young adults are. Seeing someone’s eyes open, learning new things, and empowering them to make real and sustainable change is the most significant gift I could envision.

Two students in this first class are now full-time interns at the organization. They now go to schools and share the message with others. Seeing how change can take place from a grassroots perspective has been the most meaningful message I’ve received.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

From an early age, my life has been comprised of challenges that have required me to seek solutions to feel whole. The attempts began with my trying to become perfect, attaching myself to people—romantic relationships, family, or friends—and just sheer distraction and numbing out. I have exhausted all of these avenues. Then, I attempted to “fix” myself utilizing modalities and religions ranging from Scientology to Kabbalah to 20 years of various therapies, courses, and holistic healers.

The bulk of my journey oscillated between trying to make my body perfect and searching for different solutions to accept myself fully as is. Both roads took and continue at times to take me further from myself and the ability to have genuine empathy and connection with others because I was obsessed with myself.

Our world is rapidly moving in that direction. If my experiences have taught me anything, they have shown me that witnessing and observing these common patterns is the first necessary step. I want others to be contented by coming to these realizations, not only because they will be happier but also because the more people who live this way, the more we can normalize community, compassion, and kind-heartedness. But it must start with ourselves. The more we are on that path, the more the scales tip to that becoming the framework of life – the new matrix.

As a writer and speaker, I delve into perfectionism and the obsession with fixing ourselves. I work with people individually and in groups in the work environment. I utilize a system to cut through the noise, refocus individuals to first be in touch with all their qualities—good and “bad,” and then illustrate and help implement a system to shift the collective good to outward focus and collaboration. This creates a healthier and more effective life, work environment, and, ultimately, world.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

People’s attitudes and behavior do not change when they are told what to do by someone who places them in a superior position. Illustrating someone else’s “flaws” is a recipe for achieving only a closed door. When working with companies and organizations, the most effective strategy is highlighting and sharing my journey, imperfections, and fears. Through that vulnerability and honesty, trust between us is built. That relatability creates an environment that allows significant change. Although risky from a monetary standpoint, the word-of-mouth strategy has always provided my next client.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I have the BRCA gene. I always knew that there was a significant probability of being BRAC positive, as the majority of my extended and immediate family had breast or ovarian cancer. By the time I was 25, I had three biopsies and spent at least 3 hours every three months at the cancer center getting prevention screenings. I knew I would have the test, but only when I knew I would take definitive action.

Twenty years ago, I had a prophylactic double mastectomy at 28. This was not as common as it is today. I was one of the first people in the country to take such action. I followed that by having an oophorectomy at 34. I had both of these surgeries as a single woman with no children. I knew that anyone who would come into my life, that right person, would support and be proud of my actions, not judge my “choice.”

I was not willing to wait until I got cancer; I was determined to get ahead of it and remove that stress and fear from my life. Since then, I have spoken many times on this topic at schools, cancer centers, and on CNN when Angelina Jolie revealed her preventative double mastectomy. I use this story to illustrate how perfectionistic thinking — trying to have the perfect physique and always appear a certain way — doesn’t exist. Moreover, it often conflicts with what will empower your life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jacquelinekravette.com