We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristin Kaufman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristin , thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

It is interesting that this question is being asked, as this is the book I am writing right now. Legacy is so much more than what conventional thinking has assigned to that concept. I sincerely hope I will simply leave the world and the people in this world more thoughtful, self-aware, and generous. This is all anchored in unconditional love for all living beings.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

When the idea to start my own business first came to me, I was a senior leader in Corporate… running a large global business in the technology space. As much as I loved how I had been contributing for over two decades, I realized somewhere along the way. – I had ‘lost the plot’. The daily experience was no longer fulfilling to me. I was (as I refer to this now) ‘out of alignment’.

I wanted to continue to do what I loved, what I am good at doing… and most importantly, I wanted to tie my contributions to something much greater than myself. That is my definition of alignment. And…if any of these three pillars are not present in their full and optimal potential…neither is the individual.
There is no question that we are at our most powerful when we are aligned to our purpose. And when our gifts, strengths, talents, desires, and intentions support that purpose – that is the recipe for fulfillment.

I had that fulfillment for decades when leading large global teams in Corporate… then one day – I didn’t. When I left traditional ‘corporate America,’ I was asked by my dear friend and mentor, Dr. Noel Tichy, to join the New York City Leadership Academy effort, which was the centerpiece of the New York City Children First reform agenda. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein sponsored this agenda. The goal of this reform was to create a system of outstanding schools where every child and teacher has access to effective teaching and learning. I was chosen as one of two private sector business executives, to teach, train, and coach the 1,200 principals of the NYC public school system and the top 100 executives on the Chancellor’s staff. That three-year experience was the initial catalyst for me to form Alignment, Inc. ® That was nearly 20 years ago.

My desire was to take my personal experience in, Corporate and beyond, and tap into the power of alignment for other individuals like me, as well as teams, and large global organizations… and that is how my company Alignment, Inc. was formed and how it has evolved. I love being an entrepreneur, being in service to others, and applying my corporate business experience to help others reach their potential.

Starting a business is seldom ‘easy’. And it is much more difficult when the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression hit the world just a short year after I had launched Alignment, Inc. Ironically, it did not deter me in the least. In fact, it served as a tremendous catalyst. I have learned, as many of us have, that ‘smooth’ is a state of mind, as we all know. And no, it has not been ‘easy.’ Yet, as my parents taught me: every single bump, obstacle, or setback without question serves my growth – personally and professionally.

Whether it has been the 2007-08 financial crisis or the global pandemic of 2020-22, these challenges forced me to be creative, resilient, strong, and deliberate. Some of my most compelling product offerings were spawned from necessity to deliver my services in another manner. I had to figure out a way, as everyone did, to reach my ideal clients in a manner in which they felt comfortable while not giving up the ‘secret sauce’ they had come to appreciate when I lead large group retreats or strategic sessions in the flesh.

There also was the challenge of truly differentiating what I offer and my unique approach from the thousands of others that ‘do’ virtually the ‘same thing’. When I first incorporated, there was the challenge of building my ‘brand’ and my clientele. Yet, what I have learned is that everyone is different, and what I bring to the table is uniquely mine – due to my unique experiences. So, when we stay true to who we are, we attract the ideal clients for what we offer. The oft-overused description of being truly authentic is what differentiates. Full Stop.

And, thankfully, the lessons my parents taught me throughout my life proved to be true: serve your clients with purity of intention, be honest in all your interactions, and always exceed your client’s expectations. Those basic principals have served me well. As basic as they are, not all professionals embrace them.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have always been organized, disciplined, and driven to contribute as my highest and best self. Most people will tell you that I am an extremely hard worker who will do anything to achieve the goal set before myself and/or my team. And I have always been curious about what drives people – what makes them tick. As a young leader, I was impatient. I wanted results – at any cost – and would drive myself and others to the brink. It was a hard balance, as I was always torn. I love people – deeply and compassionately. I want what is best for them – always.
I have learned that the key is not what I want – or even what I want for them. The key is to tap into what they want for themselves. Often that takes exploration with them – as many do not know what they want, or they don’t give themselves permission to pursue what they want. This is a gift that I can offer them and when they tap into what/how they want to contribute – that is when the magic happens. Leading them becomes easier, because they are, to use my term: aligned. They love what they do, they are good at it, and most importantly it is tied to something greater than themselves.
This realization has given me a more soul-centered approach to leading, and it has tremendously impacted how I approach challenges and opportunities with team members.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Bottom line for our lives/careers and for our teams is this: we do not control most of what happens in and around our lives.

Let’s face it: the economy will continue to fluctuate. The provision of healthcare for the masses will become increasingly strained, expensive, and inaccessible. Age discrimination will not go away overnight, if ever. There will probably not be any social security left when it comes our time to collect the benefits. Life’s ups and downs will always resemble the ticker tape from an EKG machine: up, up, down; up, up, down. These peaks and valleys are the rhythm to which we keep time, and no one is immune to the constant cadence of life’s challenges.

Yet, as my father taught me throughout my life, we only have control over three basic things. Our ABCs. We can control our attitudes, our behaviors, and, most importantly, our choices. That’s it. Full stop.

How we choose to deal with the curve balls define who we are. At the root of our life’s story, there is one basic truism: we own it. No one else does. The harsh reality is that no one owes us anything. Not our corporate employers, not the government, and not our various relationships in life. Sure, it would be great if we got everything, we think we deserve in life. Yet, again, we do not control any of this. Nothing, nada, zilch. Welcome to the world of “life is not always fair.” How we ultimately respond to these inequities and other occurrences is what creates our reality.

Ultimately, we write our own stories. Each one of us has his own sack of rocks; what distinguishes us is how we carry the load. Giving up, caving into the comfort of inertia, or believing the hand we’ve been dealt is the only game we can play seals our fate. We have the gift of free will, which is one of the most important privileges of our lives. We have the ability to choose the direction we want to go, despite where we find ourselves in life. We have the option to resign ourselves to a fate we believe has been predetermined; or we can take the reins and choose to pursue and create the life we want.

Victor Frankl wrote Man’s Search for Meaning, which remains one of my favorite books, and at a very young age, transformed the way I look at the world. He wrote about his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp and explored the psychological effects that being completely dehumanized had on his fellow prisoners: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” The power to choose never leaves us, regardless of the circumstances. Our free will is what distinguishes human beings from every other living thing on the planet.

That is the philosophy by which I have always led my teams. None of us are perfect – yet, when we all embrace that perspective, we can help each other keep the positive attitude.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kristinkaufman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinskaufman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/partnerwithkristin
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinskaufman
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/kristinkaufman
• Youtube: http://www.kristinkaufman.com/Kristinyoutube

Image Credits
Marla McDonald