An Interview With Dr. Carla Marie Manly
Surround yourself with inspiration — engage with mentors and community leaders that challenge you to elevate your thinking.
Growth is an essential part of life, both personally and professionally. Every day presents an opportunity to learn, evolve, and become better versions of ourselves. But how do we seize these opportunities? How do successful writers, leaders, and influencers ensure they are constantly growing and improving? What daily habits, practices, or mindsets contribute to their continual growth? In this interview series, we are talking to authors, leaders, influencers, and anyone who is an authority about “What We Can Do To Grow Every Day”. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alicia Boateng.
Alicia Boateng has always loved creative pursuits, but it wasn’t until she left her career as a wedding planner that she started to think about turning her own designs into a full time gig. It was her morning cup of coffee that turned out to be the inspiration she needed and her line of handcrafted mugs started to come to life. Today she runs her business Alicia Boateng Designs alongside her husband, churning out festive mugs that come in a range of different styles; from her Afro-Glam collection, to her seasonal cups to her collection highlighting different cultures from around the world. The Coral Springs, Florida-based mompreneur counts celebrities like Tiffany Haddish and Octavia Spencer as fans of her designs and is determined to, “Get my cups into the hands of as many women as I can.”
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I was raised in a Cuban household cradled by the strength of my single mother and grandmother, both immigrants from Cuba, along with my younger brother. My grandmother was a dedicated factory worker that worked hard to bring her entire family from Cuba while raising a daughter on her own. The walls of my home echoed with the rich tapestry of Cuban nostalgia, each crack and crevice whispered stories of a homeland steeping in memory and longing. I was emersed in the enchanting tales of a distant homeland, woven from the dreams and memories of my ancestors who would never set foot there again.
Can you tell us a bit about what you do professionally, and what brought you to this specific career path?
My deep-rooted passion for empowering others and ensuring they feel truly seen has guided me to this career path, where I can inspire growth, foster connections and create transformative experiences for those around me.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion about Personal Growth. To make sure that we are all on the same page, let’s begin with a simple definition. What does “Personal Growth” mean to you?
Personal Growth, to me, is the relentless pursuit of self-discovery and transformation, a journey where each challenge becomes a steppingstone, and every experience, a brushstroke on the canvas of my evolving identity. It’s about embracing vulnerability, cultivating resilience, and unlocking the potential within me.
Why do you believe that it’s important to commit to growing every day?
Committing to daily growth is essential because it transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. Each day is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and expand my horizons, fostering resilience and igniting passion. This dedication cultivates a life rich with purpose, allowing me to navigate challenges with grace and embrace the beauty of change.
What are the key upsides for those who mindfully engage in a journey of personal evolution?
- Enhanced Self-Awareness — Gaining insight into one’s thoughts and emotions fosters authentic living and informed decision making.
- Increased Resilience — Cultivating the ability to adapt and bounce back from setbacks transforms challenges into very valuable lessons.
- Deeper Connections — Improved empathy and communication skills lead to stronger, more meaningful relationships with others.
When we stop evolving in intentional ways, what do you think are the biggest downsides?
When we stop growing, we become stagnant leaving a feeling of unfulfillment. We have a sense of decreased resilience which makes it harder to navigate through life’s challenges and as a result our relationships suffer due to lack of communication and interactions.
What specific practices, if any, do you have in place to ensure that you don’t become stagnant in life?
I have 5 specific practices that help me grow and are non-negotiable.
- Daily reflection — I journal every morning and I meditate. This helps me evaluate my thoughts, emotions and experience self-awareness and clarity.
- Learning — I engage in courses, read self-help books, and listen to podcasts that stimulate my mind.
- Setting intentional goals — I revisit personal and professional goals that encourage me with direction and purpose.
- Seeking Feedback — I seek feedback from my trusted husband on ideas or projects I may be working on.
- Mindful living — I practice mindful techniques that cultivate presence, which allows for deeper engagements in my everyday experiences.
Is there any particular area of your life where you are most committed to growth (e.g., spiritually, professionally, socially, internally, relationally)?
I am committed to growing deeper in my faith. I stand in awe, having witnessed the divine miracles that have unfolded around me, each moment a testament to the extraordinary, reminding me of the boundless possibilities this beautiful life has to offer. I am also committed to my professional growth, embracing challenges as opportunities, seeking knowledge, and continuously evolving to reach new heights in my career.
If you could offer five tips to readers on how to stimulate and perpetuate self-growth, what would they be? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.
1 . Setting Clear Intentions — Define specific and achievable goals that align with your values to create a roadmap for your growth journey.
2 . Embracing Discomfort — Step outside your comfort zone regularly; growth often flourishes in unfamiliar territory.
3 . Cultivate a growth mindset — Shift our perspective to view challenges as opportunities for learning rather than obstacles.
4 . Surround yourself with inspiration — engage with mentors and community leaders that challenge you to elevate your thinking.
5 . Practice consistency — Stay aligned with your evolving self and show up authentically.
What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck and unsure of how to start their personal growth journey?
I would help them identify their strengths and focus on their unique skills and passion. This will ignite their spark for potential growth.
Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have significantly contributed to your personal growth?
I love this question! Those that know me, know that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE books, and I love listening to podcasts.
Some of my favorite books are:
The Coffee Bean by Damon West and Jon Gordon
Claim your Confidence by Lydia Fenet
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
Worthy by Jamie Kern Lima
Some of my favorite podcasts are:
Claim your Confidence by Lydia Fenet
The Mel Robbins Podcast
The Foundr Podcast
Chris Do
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If I could start a movement, it would be centered around “Everyday Mindfulness” encouraging individuals to integrate mindfulness practices into their daily routines. This could involve simple actions like mindful eating, light exercises, gratitude journaling and mental wellness.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I mostly hang out on Instagram — www.instagram.com/aliciaboatengdesigns and on LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciakboateng/
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About The Interviewer: Dr. Carla Marie Manly — clinical psychologist, author, and advocate — is based in Sonoma County, California. In addition to her clinical practice focusing on relationships and personal transformation, Dr. Manly is deeply invested in her roles as podcaster and speaker. With a refreshingly direct and honest approach — plus a dose of humor — Dr. Manly enjoys supporting others in the ever-evolving journey of life. Her novel self-development paradigm builds resilience, emotional intelligence, and self-esteem. Highlighting the importance of loving connection, her work also focuses on helping others create deeply connected and satisfying intimate and social relationships. Working from a transformative model that honors the body-mind-spirit connection, Dr. Manly offers holistic relationship and wellness seminars around the world. An award-winning author, Dr. Manly’s books, The Joy of Imperfect Love, Date Smart, Joy from Fear, and Aging Joyfully highlight her empowering approach and profound expertise. Host of the captivating podcast, Imperfect Love, Dr. Manly offers uplifting guidance on navigating the messy road of life. Her expertise is also regularly cited in media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Forbes, Oprah, Newsweek, NBC, HuffPost, Reader’s Digest, Psychology Today, Parade, GQ, Women’s Health, Architectural Digest, Men’s Health, and more.
Growing Every Day: Alicia Boateng On What We Can Do To Grow Every Day was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.