We were lucky to catch up with Kristi Dear recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kristi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?

Hi, I’m Kristi Dear—a Mindset Coach and multi-million-dollar network marketing earner. But my journey to this stage was just that: a journey.

Twenty-five years ago, at the age of 23, my husband and I were struggling to make ends meet. With a baby on my hip and my husband working two jobs, we were barely getting by. Fast forward eight months, and I found out I was pregnant again. Neither of us had a college degree—I had a GED—and I often wondered how we were going to make it all work.

Then, one day, I came across the scripture, “As a man thinketh, so is he.” That simple truth changed everything. It was my turning point—the moment I decided to dive deeper into the power of our thoughts, our words, and our focus. I soaked up everything I could about this new understanding and started applying it to my life.

I created my first vision board and began visualizing the life I wanted to create. I complained less, appreciated more, and shifted my focus to what could be instead of what was. I never thought someone like me could ever do or have more, but as I changed my thinking, our world began to transform.

I lost 80 pounds, became a personal trainer, and helped others transform their lives. My husband was able to quit his second job, we moved into a new home in a beautiful neighborhood, and our income increased. I saw firsthand the power of changing my vision and mindset.

Years later, I became a mindset coach and then decided to start selling shampoo by joining a network marketing company. Now, I’ll admit—I had always said I would NEVER do this type of business, but something about it pulled at my heart. I wanted to increase our family’s income, help more people, and make a bigger impact. I believed I could do it through this business.

When I joined, I was terrified. I worried about what others would think. What if I failed? What if I didn’t succeed? What would people say? But then another thought came: What if I do succeed? What happens then? I decided in that moment to lean into faith and use the same techniques that had helped me as a struggling 23-year-old.

I cast a vision of what I desired. I imagined all the people I would help, the team I would grow, my increasing income, my bills being paid, and driving the paid-for Escalade from the company. I saw myself using my story to inspire others. Within five months of joining, I earned my Escalade. In ten months, I reached the top of the company. And in just 2.5 years, I became the 19th person in the company to earn $1 million in commissions.

I don’t share this to impress you but to impress upon you the power of vision and mindset. Many people didn’t think someone with a GED could achieve what I have, but I’m here to tell you that God doesn’t play favorites. If you see someone with the success you desire, get excited because I believe that’s God’s way of showing you what’s possible.

That doesn’t mean the journey has been easy. There were bumps along the way. The years 2023 and 2024 were some of the hardest in my personal life and business. From my youngest child’s terrible car accident, which left us in the hospital for an extended time, to my father’s sudden passing, to friendships lost and business partners leaving, it was a challenging season.

But I leaned on God, surrendered, and faced adversity with the belief that even when I don’t understand why, all things are working together for the greater good. Now, as I step into 2025, I see how these so-called setbacks made me stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to help others who need love, compassion, hope, and belief.

We all face hardships—moments that feel like they could knock us down. But how we respond will make or break us. You never know how God is using your challenges to prepare you for something greater. Sometimes, it’s not just about you but about how you can help others through your journey.

This year, I’m committed to helping as many people as possible believe in themselves and use their hardships and setbacks as the foundation for their comeback story. Let’s dream BIG, believe BOLD, and trust God to work BIG miracles in our lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

In my business, I help people transform their lives with cleaner, safer products through my partnership with the #1 premium hair care brand in the world. Our beauty company empowers individuals to make healthier choices for their hair, skin, and wellness while also offering the opportunity to create their own freedom-based business. By working from anywhere—just as I have—my team members can design a lifestyle that fits their dreams and goals.

As a seasoned Mindset Coach, I bring years of experience to support my team in reaching their full potential. I help them identify and release any blocks or limiting beliefs holding them back, allowing them to achieve their big dreams and goals. My coaching focuses on building confidence, cultivating a success-driven mindset, and creating strategies for growth.

In addition to supporting my team, I coach clients outside of my organization to help them grow their businesses and achieve their desired level of success. Whether it’s in the beauty industry or other entrepreneurial ventures, I’m passionate about helping individuals believe in themselves, take bold action, and manifest the life and business they desire.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building my social media following has been all about showing up as my authentic self—real and uncensored. I didn’t try to be perfect, and I didn’t always have makeup on, but I focused on sharing stories and tips that helped me on my journey. By being relatable and transparent, I connected with people in a genuine way.

I shared how these products have made a difference in my life and how they can help others. But I didn’t stop there; I also provided valuable tips and techniques for creating a more prosperous, abundant life and business. My goal has always been to inspire and empower others, showing them what’s possible.

I believe the key to success on social media is being real, modeling after other successful people, and, most importantly, thinking about how you can serve your audience. Instead of focusing on “What’s in it for me?” I concentrated on “How can I help them?” This mindset has allowed me to build trust, grow my following, and make a meaningful impact.

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

When 2023 and 2024 were tough years, and sales in my business weren’t where I wanted them to be, I found myself questioning my abilities as a leader and beauty rep. It was a challenging time, but I made a decision: instead of focusing on the gap or the lack, I would focus on the gain—on the good things that were happening.

I shifted my mindset to appreciate what was going right. I visualized my numbers increasing, more people enrolling with me, and more people using the products or joining the business. I practiced gratitude for every paycheck, even if it wasn’t exactly where I wanted it to be, and then I directed my energy toward the income I desired.

As I continued to hold this vision with gratitude and appreciation, something miraculous happened in the last three months of 2024. My business experienced a significant boost in growth, and my paycheck more than doubled. I firmly believe this transformation was the result of focusing on gratitude, appreciating the present, and staying committed to my vision.

Miracles are everywhere—we just have to believe they can happen to us.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristi.dear/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristi.dear.3
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-dear-mindset-matters/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristiDear

Image Credits

DayDream Photography

I should also share that during this time, I wrote a book titled Manifest Your RICH Life Now and a companion journal. Both outline the 5-step process I used and continue to use to navigate challenging times and create success. These resources are available on Amazon and have been instrumental in helping others achieve their goals and manifest their dreams.