About Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani:
Kristina Mand-Lakhiani is an international speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of 2 kids. As a co-founder of Mindvalley, a leading publisher in the personal growth industry, Kristina dedicated the last 20 years of her career to personal transformation learning from teachers like Michael Beckwith, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, and many more.
She started her career in a government office in her native Estonia and, by her mid-20s, achieved a level of success mostly known to male politicians at the end of their careers. It was shortly after that Kristina and her then-husband Vishen founded Mindvalley. From a small meditation business operating out of the couple’s apartment in New York, the company quickly grew into a global educational organization offering top training for peak human performance to hundreds of thousands of students all around the world.
Kristina believes life is too important to be taken seriously and makes sure to bring fun into every one of her roles: as a teacher, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveller. Kristina helps her students to virtually hack happiness by taking them through her unique framework – “Hacking happiness” – a unique framework of balancing your life, taking in every moment, and paying close attention to the small daily choices.
Kristina is also the author of three transformational quests – "7 Days To Happiness", "Live By Your Own Rules.” and "The Art of Being Flawesome". Kristina talks about personal transformation, authenticity, understanding and accepting oneself, and a path to happiness.
In July 2023, with the help of Hay House Publishing, Kristina releases her very first book – "Becoming Flawesome". In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from being on top of a personal growth empire like Mindvalley to stepping aside, conscious uncoupling from her husband, and walking her path towards being more honest with herself.
What inspires you to write?
It wasn't a sudden revelation that struck me out of the blue in the midst of my everyday life. As a matter of fact, I am a co-founder of one of the world's largest educational platforms focused on personal growth and transformation. Nearly every one of my friends has authored a bestselling book in their respective fields. So, in a sense, it was something I always assumed I would do sooner or later. For me, the real challenge was finding my own unique message, as it can be tempting to regurgitate ideas that resonate with and inspire us. Therefore, I believe my book truly began to take shape when I felt that my message was ripe and ready to be shared. That was the genuine motivation behind writing the book – I had something meaningful that I wanted to impart to others.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I love classical fiction. I have a big list of favorites, here are some of them:
Jane Austen – my absolute favorite, my teacher and inspiration – for her wit, humor, and graceful language.
Charlotte Bronte – always unexpected and incredibly courageous. She was a true badass of her time.
Oscar Wilde – my absolute favorite source of witty quotes. I absolutely adore his quirky sarcasm.
Oskar Luts – one of the most prominent Estonian authors, who painted the most beautiful (and thoughtful) pictures of ordinary life.
Tell us about your writing process.
My most effective approach involved rising early in the morning, typically around six or seven o'clock (although during COVID, it shifted closer to seven due to changes in routines). It was during this quiet time that I found solace in writing, taking full advantage of the two uninterrupted hours before everyone else woke up. Seated in my bedroom, I would peer out the window, observing the world as it came alive. This serene setting provided the ideal environment for me to be productive and focused.
Throughout the day, I would occasionally engage in research, utilizing the gaps between various tasks to gather information. However, when it came to the actual act of writing, I needed dedicated blocks of time without any distractions, preferably when the rest of the world was still asleep. This allowed me to fully immerse myself in the creative process and effectively channel my thoughts. As my work progressed and I focused more on refining the structure, I would occasionally venture to a café for a change of scenery. However, the initial stages of creativity and writing primarily took place during those early morning hours, from seven to nine.
What advice would you give other writers?
I can't provide tips that apply to all writers because writing styles and motivations vary greatly across individuals and genres. Different approaches exist for different writers. Some individuals may aim to write a book as part of their business strategy, where writing might not be their strong suit. In such cases, they might consider working with a ghostwriter or collaborating with another writer. The reasons for writing a book can vary widely. Therefore, I can only offer advice to those who write books as a natural form of self-expression or as their craft.
Now, speaking from my own experience, was writing a book challenging? No, the writing process itself wasn't the most difficult aspect. What proved to be more challenging was publishing, marketing, and building a business around the book. In the realm of personal growth, books often complement and support a larger business endeavor. In my case, I wrote a book and then had to create a business model that aligned with it, ensuring the book had a meaningful context. That particular aspect proved to be much more demanding than the act of writing itself.
For aspiring authors, it's crucial to reflect on why they want to write a book. Understanding the purpose behind it is of utmost importance. Based on this understanding, they can chart their own path. It may sound a bit exclusive, but I believe that writing a book should be driven by a genuine desire to share something that is truly significant and that the world needs to hear. However, it's also acceptable to write a book simply because it's required for a specific business model or venture.
In essence, each writer's journey is unique, and the reasons for writing a book vary greatly. By understanding one's purpose and aligning it with the intended outcomes, aspiring authors can embark on a fulfilling and meaningful writing endeavor.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Initialy I was planning to self-publish, because I felt it was true to the nature of my book, but after I have received an offer from Hay House I thought I would like to give my book the best possible chance to deliver my message and it will be possible by the various means of such a reputable publishing house. I had to take my book through several editing processes and I lost some of my original draft but I was willing to make that sacrifice.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I don't really know the answer to this question as I have just started my journey into the world of publishing, I think I still need to learn a lot to make any predictions.
What genres do you write?: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Personal trasformation
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani Home Page Link
Link To Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani Page On Amazon
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
