Meet Charissa Sims of You, Inspired in Lafayette

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charissa Sims.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Charissa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It’s hard to know where to start! I grew up in Alaska near the forest and an island, so I just loved nature and always felt connected to my higher self. Growing up, traveling was a big part of my life because my Dad lived in Japan and my mom lived in Alaska. I have been to many countries and experienced cultures as a teenager such as China, Japan, Thailand, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay, England, all over Europe, Mexico, Guatemala, and many others. I went to graduate school in LA for Occupational Therapy and got interested in Ergonomics and technology. I started an internship in Ergonomics at UCLA and just fell in love with health in the workplace.

I started consulting with a firm that was working with some of the biggest companies in the world and began learning how to run an ergonomics program and integrating technology. I have been a professor, tech entrepreneur and consultant I have worked with large social media companies, Google, Amazon, Symantec, Raytheon, CBS, NBC, FOX, UCLA, USC, Nestle, AIG and hundreds of other hospitals, Aerospace, manufacturing companies and Transportation organizations over the years. I developed a Corporate Ergonomic Software Program that was used by Google and Qualcomm and then subsequently developed a phone app called “Workpose” for people looking for ergonomics help and eventually sold it to my business partner at the time.

On the side, I started learning about meditation and went to a ten-day meditation retreat which really opened me up to my Spiritual side. I started meditated daily and also went to a local church in the area called Agape, which means “unconditional love”. I joined the choir and really felt connected with my soul as I sang. The choir was so powerful for me and I was honored to sing with professionals such as Stevie Wonder, Will I Am (from Black Eyed Peas), Earth, Wind and Fire, and songwriter for Michael Jackson Seidah Garrett. I also worked with various healers and continued to meditate to heal my own life (which I didn’t really realize needed to be healed).

I dated, then got married and had two kids that are now 4 and 7. I began writing when I was pregnant and have published three children’s books. Before I got pregnant, my husband (a filmmaker) went to Bhutan and went into a fertility temple and he rolled a nine (which is the luckiest number). They told him that he was going to have a Prince! Then, he got the name of our child, “Kinley Huangcheuck”, which is the last name of the royal family. The inspiration came again when I was getting a massage while pregnant. The practitioner massaging me said, “Oh, this is a very special baby. He will be born the year of the water dragon. The dragons are the only Chinese Astrological sign that is not of this earth. They are messengers from Heaven”.

The first book was titled, Kinley the Water Dragon and I gave a portion of the proceeds to organizations that help third world countries provide clean safe water for others. Giving back has always been a big part of my life and it is an honor to give to people and organizations that need help. I knew that the magical story of my son’s name, how he was conceived and this message from her was all I needed to light a fire under me to write this book. I self-published my book and ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise money to pay the illustrator and graphic designer.

The next book I wrote was a children’s book called Sierra The Super Strong Sheep, inspired by my daughter Sierra. Then, I wrote my third children’s book, Sierra and The Unicorn Farm. My mom illustrated this book and it was self-published as well. My fourth book was for adults was released in June this year, titled: Change Your Energy, Change Your Life: ten Ways to Change Your Energy Now. It is a self-help book that has my own healing journey, different meditations, journaling and technics to help with anything going on in your life. I also started doing remote healings for clients over the phone and a podcast called, “You, Inspired”. The Podcast was started because a Podcast microphone literally landed in my lap! My husband was given a microphone when he did a job for a Podcast Microphone company named Rhode Mics. My Podcast includes interviews and meditations to help improve your life in relationships, health, entrepreneurship and parenting. I still do corporate consulting and really enjoy writing, healing and interviewing others for my Podcast, You, Inspired.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a freelancer, there were struggles with cash flow. Consulting can come and go and the software wasn’t selling like we thought it would. With my app, I began to have other interests (such as beginning to heal others) so I sold the app to my business partner. There were also struggles were completing my first book and it took three years to complete. The illustrator I found quit halfway through and we had to start over with a new illustrator and designer. Then, the new illustrator had never done graphic design and the size was incorrect for the book. We had the illustrator draw a border that would fill in the page. Finally, it was finished and ready for distribution!

With my most recent book, Change Your Energy, Change Your Life, it took me ten years from my idea of helping others with various healing and meditation techniques to revealing my own personal healing journey (that is still occurring.)

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I have an ergonomic consulting company that specializes in keeping people healthy and safe at work. I’m most proud of working with the top tech companies in the world. What sets us apart is that we take a holistic approach to a healthy workplace.

I am an author and I’m most proud of being a #1 Best Selling Author on Amazon. I have a Podcast, called “You, Inspired” which helps people live their best life. I occasionally include a healing meditation at the end of the Podcast that is in alignment with the topic of the Podcast. As a healer, I am proud that I get to help people heal their lives. I also get to be a stay at home mom and inspire my kids to be entrepreneurs and authors. They have both already written books and are natural artists.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Playing in the forest by myself. I had unicorns, fairies and lived in a beautiful fantasy world and would play for hours. I also have good memories of going out on the water (we lived on an island).

Contact Info:

• Website: www.charissasims.com
• Email: charissasims333@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/You-Inspired-Podcast-113208260109059/?view_public_for=113208260109059

Image Credit:
Colin Sims

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