{Be Featured} Lara Casey

We are absolutely thrilled to be featuring Lara Casey on the blog today! As the editor of Southern Weddings magazine and the founder of the Making Things Happen movement, Lara is a hard working and passionate woman of God. She’s also a wife to her husband Ari and a loving mama to her precious daughter Grace. Lara’s story is an inspiring one full of spirit and initiative, confidence and grace, and, most importantly, it reveals the power of believing in oneself. Lara’s on the blog with us today sharing a little bit about that story. Take it away, Lara!

Tell us a little about yourself! Who is Lara Casey?

Ten years ago, right after college graduation, I made the decision to leave the path everyone thought I would take. Not knowing what I was going to do to pay off my college debt or pay my bills, I left theater and became a personal trainer in New York. I wanted to help people transform themselves from the inside out. Fast forward to two years later when my family’s home was ravaged by Hurricane Ivan, my brother lost the ability to walk in a snowboarding accident, and I, fresh off of a failed relationship, had left New York and moved in with my very disappointed and depressed parents. Then, one Sunday afternoon, a tall, dark, handsome Navy gent walked up to me in the gym and introduced himself. Ari was the first person to make me feel loved, not despite my flaws, but with them. He helped heal my family’s heart. Shortly after we started dating, my brother began to walk. A true miracle. My mom — a French chef — got back in the kitchen, and my dad started to smile again. I started to believe in true love. Little did I know that I would fall in love with Ari, and we would be married just five months later (in Vegas, but that’s another story!). I started a little event planning company and fell in love with the world of weddings. On our one-year wedding anniversary, Ari was deployed to Iraq. I was so afraid for him and needed something to keep my mind occupied. So, one night I found myself dreaming of pretty things — anything to keep my mind off bomb threats. I started mocking up a wedding magazine cover on my little 13-inch PC.

I didn’t know the first thing about organizing, writing, or designing a magazine. I loved playing around with Microsoft Publisher (the design equivalent of spray cheese to a five-star chef), but I had no idea what signatures, bleed, or CMYK (the four-color process used for magazine printing) meant.

Here’s what I did know: I wasn’t the only one who needed a dose of hope. The stress of the war, and the recession that followed, challenged millions of marriages. Our generation needed a new beginning, and if I could inspire meaningful beginnings to married life, I was all in — experience or not. This was bigger than me, bigger than my past.

What is a typical work day like for you?
Every day is completely different for me, which I love! The majority of my work is a desk job. I spend a lot of time answering emails. About .01% of my job entails glamorous things like photo shoots and wearing beautiful dresses for team shoots. Most people think owning a magazine is glamorous all the time and, while I am sincerely grateful for every aspect of what I do, the majority of my days are far from glamorous! My activities include being on the phone, doing consulting for small business owners, making editorial decisions with our creative team, creating new shop products and doing magazine layout with our Art Director, managing challenges that arise, doing all the financial planning and book keeping, speaking at conferences about authentic branding and the core of a solid business, motivating our amazing team, and — among many other things — replying to a whole lot of email. We work from the second floor of my home, so a typical work day also includes going downstairs to have lunch with my daughter Grace.

How did you initially get the idea for Making Things Happen?

I started the Making Things Happen conference seven years ago after being inundated with requests for business consulting and coaching advice. At first, it was a way to meet a great need I saw in the creative industry to help others make things happen. Over the years, as my own heart and life have been changed, it has grown into far more. Now, the goal is to encourage people to make what matters happen. That may not mean “big” dreams in the traditional sense, but rather chasing after what lasts longer than us. We’ve now done the workshop more than 45 times and seen thousands of fears met, leaps of faith taken and new paths paved. The book, Make It Happen: Surrender Your Fear, Take the Leap, Live On Purpose, was born out of the many stories women have shared with me through the conference, my work and speaking events. I wanted a way to hand women a collection of lessons I’ve learned from the many brave women I’ve encountered. Thomas Nelson publishers approached me about writing the book after they came across my yearly goal-setting series that I run on my blog. The goal for the book and conference is the same: help women live on purpose, using all the gifts they’ve been given to the fullest — in work, motherhood, marriage and in their communities.

What keeps you inspired?

Reflecting on the clear evidence of God in my life – that motives me to no end! My life was so different years ago and God continues to change me. I used to chase “success” in the traditional sense — more money, followers, business, etc. I thought those things would bring me contentment and happiness. I was wrong. Money and business aren’t inherently bad things, but when they become the measuring stick for your worth, it’s time to put on the train brakes. Chasing elusive “perfection” ran me into the ground. So, what inspires me daily is looking back at how much my life has changed over the last years as I slowly let go of the chase for perfection and started living for God. Now I know that the impossible is possible when we focus on what matters. That inspires me to no end! It makes me want to work hard to help many live on purpose, too. 

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever faced, and how have you grown from it?

The hardest thing for me was and continues to be my pride. Pride and selfishness try to hold me back from doing what God wants me to do. I fight it daily and pray, “Lord, humble me. Help me do what you want me to do. Help me make much of You.” I fail at this all the time, but I know that this journey is work it, no matter how many times I fall!

What is your best kept secret for balancing your time between being a wife, a mother, a publisher, an editor, a business owner…?

In short, I stay focused on what matters, and I rest. I used to work 24/7 until my marriage and life started to fall through the cracks. I had to learn to fight for my time by killing distractions (for instance, I don’t use social media or email after hours or on weekends, so I can focus on my family instead of my phone); setting solid boundaries; working my tail off during business hours; and always taking breaks to go hug Grace (my daughter), stretch, pray, read Scripture or just take a deep breath. I don’t work on weekends anymore, and it has made me so much more productive during the week. Also, I have a truly remarkable team that helps me keep everything together!

Who has been the most influential woman in your life and why?

There have been so many, but one who comes to mind is Nancy Ray. Years ago when, in the mess of my old life, I found a note on my hotel pillow from Nancy. She had written out a prayer and an encouraging scripture for me. Thinking back to who I was then, I’m not sure I personally would have believed that anything could help me turn from my selfish ways. I was so lost. I would have assumed, “She’s too far gone to be rescued.” Nancy didn’t believe that. She believed in God’s abilities, not her own. God continued to use her to mold my faith in profound ways. I am so grateful!

If you could give first-year-in-business Lara one piece of advice, what would you say?

Follow God, not people. Chasing more followers and bigger business and more more more will run you right into the ground, but He never fails.

What have you found to be your best source of creative inspiration?

God’s word, hands down! It’s the best business book, life book, and source of creative inspiration. Reading about the ultimate Creator fires me up.

How have you seen the Lord working in your life so far in 2015?

I could write a book for this answer : ) It may only be the first few weeks of the year, but, WOW! God has moved in our lives in mighty ways! From growing a little human in my belly to our adoption process this year to seeing His fruit all around me in friendships, my work, marriage, and in Grace’s happy heart — my cup overflows with gratitude! He is good.

Places you can connect with Lara:

Website: http://www.laracasey.com

Blog: http://www.laracasey.com/blog

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/laracasey

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/laracasey

 

P.S. We have some SUPER exciting news! Lara has kindly offered to donate one copy of her Make It Happen book to one of our blog readers! AH! This book is amazing and we are so thrilled to be giving a copy away in honor of her Be Featured post!  Stay tuned on the blog next week for more details! :)