The growing focus on aligning personal values with professional goals has reshaped modern entrepreneurship. This shift emphasizes purpose, authenticity, and adaptability while balancing personal aspirations with business objectives. Erica Carrico, the CEO of Soul Business Collective and a recognized business coach, exemplifies this approach. Her journey reflects how personal transformation can intersect with entrepreneurial growth to foster a meaningful and impactful career.

A 2023 survey revealed that burnout affects 59% of Americans, with younger generations—Gen Z (71%) and millennials (65%)—bearing the brunt of this growing crisis. Burnout, caused by prolonged stress and resulting in mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, has become a widespread concern, particularly among those navigating demanding professional and personal lives. While factors like overwhelming workloads and poor work-life balance are recognized as contributors, one often-overlooked cause is misalignment burnout. Burnout occurs when individuals engage in environments or activities that conflict with their core values and beliefs, creating profound dissonance and dissatisfaction. Over time, this disconnect erodes inner harmony, contributing to the larger burnout epidemic.

Carrico’s journey highlights an approach to addressing this challenge. She focuses on helping women entrepreneurs build purpose-driven businesses that align with their life goals. Her coaching programs are designed to support individuals transitioning from traditional careers to entrepreneurial paths that reflect their values and authentic selves. This method encourages alignment between work and personal motivations, potentially mitigating the sense of disconnect that can contribute to burnout.

Erica Carrico’s Background and Experience

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and later relocating to Iowa, Carrico’s upbringing was influenced by parents who valued exploration and independence, instilling a global perspective and entrepreneurial mindset. This background encouraged her to pursue bold dreams and develop an appreciation for cultural diversity. With over a decade in international business leadership, including a transformative decade in Australia, Carrico’s professional journey highlights the importance of aligning one’s career with a larger sense of purpose and fulfillment.

In 2018, she returned to Colorado, where she continues to mentor women globally, helping them overcome the pressure to meet societal expectations and instead create businesses that are deeply aligned with their personal values. This approach allows her clients to cultivate resilience against burnout, nurturing businesses that thrive and sustain the well-being of those behind them.

Beyond her professional life, Carrico finds inspiration in outdoor activities such as skiing and mountain climbing. These passions reflect her commitment to balance and personal well-being—principles central to her coaching philosophy. By incorporating these values into her work, she helps women entrepreneurs create more meaningful and manageable businesses, demonstrating that success does not have to come at the expense of personal fulfillment.

A Pivotal Moment: Redefining Life and Work

Carrico’s shift to purpose-driven entrepreneurship was inspired by a personal health challenge: a cancer diagnosis. This pivotal experience prompted her to reflect on her priorities and career path, realizing that her previous pursuits aligned more with external expectations than her sense of fulfillment.

Motivated by this reflection, Carrico relocated to Colorado and started her coaching practice, focusing on building businesses rooted in personal values and meaningful impact. Her approach reflects an increasing emphasis in entrepreneurship on aligning professional endeavors with individual identity and purpose.

A Global Perspective on Business

Carrico’s extensive travels have deeply influenced her entrepreneurial strategies. With experience living abroad and visiting numerous countries, she emphasizes flexibility and adaptability as key business model components. Her location-independent structure allows her to work with clients worldwide and connect with diverse perspectives and opportunities.

Operating without geographic constraints may enhance creative problem-solving and foster innovation. Exposure to different cultures has informed her strategies, providing unique insights that benefit her clients. This global mindset aligns with broader trends in digital entrepreneurship, where remote work and location independence have become increasingly prevalent.

Purpose-Driven Business Practices

Purpose-driven entrepreneurship focuses on aligning business goals with personal passions and values. For Carrico, this means integrating her interests in self-discovery, life coaching, and meaningful impact into her professional endeavors. Central to this approach is the principle of authenticity, which helps entrepreneurs build connections with clients and stakeholders.

Building a business that aligns with personal values starts with defining a clear mission to guide strategies and operations. Sustainability is equally important, as financial stability supports long-term success. Authenticity can strengthen connections with clients and collaborators, paving the way for meaningful contributions. Aligning a business with personal values can contribute to a more profound sense of fulfillment and positive outcomes for everyone involved.

Navigating the Balance Between Purpose and Profit

Achieving financial sustainability while maintaining alignment with personal values is a challenge faced by many purpose-driven entrepreneurs. Carrico approaches this balance by combining practical strategies and focusing on meaningful impact.

Articulating a business’s value proposition is key to building trust and attracting clients. Aiming that pricing models reflect both affordability for clients and fair compensation for entrepreneurs creates a foundation for financial stability. Furthermore, developing strong professional networks may enhance the reach and mission of the business while allowing for collaboration with like-minded individuals.

Carrico’s experience demonstrates that purpose and profit are not mutually exclusive. With the right strategies, entrepreneurs can achieve financial stability while staying true to their values, proving that businesses can succeed ethically and economically.

Guidance for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Self-discovery is a critical first step for individuals aspiring to create purpose-driven businesses. Understanding personal values, strengths, and passions establishes a foundation for an authentic and aligned entrepreneurial journey. Flexibility is equally important, as designing adaptable business structures allows for creative exploration and the incorporation of new opportunities. Building supportive networks with individuals who share similar values fosters collaboration and encourages the entrepreneurial process.

Remaining open to continuous learning is essential to help long-term success. As experiences evolve and goals shift, entrepreneurs who adapt to these changes can maintain relevance and fulfillment in their ventures. While creating a purpose-driven business requires careful planning, it offers the opportunity for greater personal satisfaction and a lasting positive impact.

Broader Implications of Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship

Exploring personal values, strengths, and passions can help individuals lay the groundwork for creating purpose-driven businesses. Flexibility also plays a key role, as adaptable business structures allow room for creativity and the integration of new opportunities. Building connections with like-minded individuals can foster collaboration and provide support throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

By redefining the benchmarks of success, purpose-driven entrepreneurship provides a model for integrating professional achievements with personal fulfillment. Through authenticity, adaptability, and meaningful impact, entrepreneurs may build businesses that resonate with their values and contribute to their communities’ well-being. This evolving perspective challenges traditional norms, encouraging entrepreneurs to balance purpose with profitability as they navigate their careers.

Published by Anne C.