Molly and Stacy at home on their OMstead.
To know Molly McKinley is to love her. While she may have started as an art dealer, Molly’s story has taken her on a winding path always landing her exactly where she belongs in any given moment. As a dedicated yoga student and yoga instructor, Molly is highly tuned into the power of a focused effort and intention. What inspired her vision was the disconnect she saw so many businesses have between their marketing and their messaging. She wanted to help them be more intentional in how they crafted their message and their connection with consumers. So, combining her yogi passion with her expansive expertise in marketing and public relations - Molly and her wife, Stacy (who is just about the coolest person on the planet) created Intentionalities as a way for businesses to more intentionally love on their people well.
Read more about Molly’s story here. Something tells us that you’ll be taken by her instantly just like we were.
1. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to be a famous fashion designer when I was a kid. I used to spend time drawing and designing my clothing store, called Molly G’s. Homeless people sewed the clothes and our warehouse was a place for healing and rehabilitation. I still think this is a good idea and may employ some of these old childhood ideas in my current business model.
2. What’s something cool you’re working on right now?
I’m really excited about the collaborations I’m working on with some amazing people. I’m helping Debra Trappen launch her second book with our MoxieonFire.com collaboration as well as the Lioness Pride project. I’m also helping Shelley Zavitz launch her second book with a project called Your First 365 Days in Real Estate, Rookie of the Year 2021. And, I’m helping RateMyAgent create a powerful campaign called, The Undisruptable Agent. I really love using my creativity to help other people bring their vision to life. This work is greatly fulfilling for me and is done under my intentional marketing company, RedTail Creative and my experiential tea company called Intentionaliteas.
3. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read/seen this week?
I am currently obsessed with Douglas Rushkoff. He wrote, Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus, Team Human, and Life Inc. He is our generation’s visionary of how corporatism is killing our society and how we need to reclaim the humanity in business. I try to read a book a week and am currently digging into The Holographic Sub Quantum Mind. It’s heady.
4. How do you relax?
I like to take a super hot salt bath, play soft music, light candles and read. If you can’t find me, I’m probably in the tub. I also try to maintain a disciplined meditation practice to help keep me balanced and grounded, especially while I’m juggling so many projects.
5. What’s the best piece of advice you ever got?
The best advice I ever got was, “don’t confuse comfort for happiness.” This life and every moment is precious, so don't fetter it away by being complacent. Seize the day, go big, follow your dreams, listen to your intuition, do the thing you’ve always wanted to do. Constraints are opportunities for creative problem solving. Stop making excuses.
6. What made you decide to do the work you’re doing now?
I decided to launch my business because I had this general sense of dissatisfaction, that there had to be more. We spend so many of our best hours working, so I had to create meaningful work that is aligned with my gifts and highest purpose. I just don’t want to settle on projects I’m not fully committed to. I want to pour my heart and soul into everything I do and needed to create a framework for doing so.
7. What gets you fired up/energized?
I love to see the Light turn on for others. Most people spend their whole lives in a state of slumber, reacting to life instead of creating life. The awakening process is beautiful and profound to watch. Spending time with like-minded people who are stepping into their passion and purpose fills me up like nothing else.
8. What risks are worth taking?
The risks that are worth taking are the ones we will regret if we don’t try. When we step into our power, we understand that living out of alignment with our personal truth is no longer an option. Taking risks for this highest purpose is not only worth taking, but an essential part of living an intentional life. However, that doesn’t mean you have to jump off a cliff like I have done. I believe you should plan and mitigate pain and suffering as much as possible to ensure you’ve packed what you need to survive the jump. But, I’ve also learned that the fear of failure is actually worse than the falling and failing. The phoenix emerges from ash. So honoring the cycle of life, death and rebirth is needed when taking a leap of faith. We learn from all experiences.
9. What would be your spirit animal?
My power animals are a white tiger who reminds me to be courageous and to trust my intuition, and the red-tailed hawk who helps me observe from a higher perspective, then move with swift, decisive action. I trained with a Shaman years ago and have adopted this sacred practice to help guide me on this journey. This is an active part of my spiritual practice that I have come to trust and honor.
10. If life is a game, like some people say, what are the rules?
You have to know which ones to break. My favorite quote from Pablo Picasso, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” I strive to live an artist’s life.