Life & Work with CJ Scarlet of Clayton

Today we’d like to introduce you to CJ Scarlet

Hi CJ, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story as a kid safety crusader and author began in 1990 at the age of 29 when I took my power back after enduring years of childhood sexual abuse and teen sexual assaults. My emotional pain and PTSD had become greater than my ability to contain them, so I finally sought help at the local rape crisis center. Within six months, I was asked to join their board of directors, and my career as an advocate for people who had been victimized began.

While completing my bachelor’s and master’s degree (in human violence), I was hired as the Executive Director of a child advocacy center for abused children, and then as Director of Victims Issues for the NC Attorney General’s Office, helping thousands of crime victims find the resources and support they needed.

But I grew tired of dealing with crime AFTER it happened; I wanted to do something to keep it from happening at all. So, in 1999, I became an entrepreneur, working on technologies and writing books to help women and children protect themselves from predators.

I’m now working on two unique online courses—one for parents and one for kids—about how to empower children to avoid bullies and other predators and defend themselves from assaults. These courses will help untold numbers of children and families break the generational cycle of violence and live happier, safer, savvier, and more confident lives.

As a kid safety crusader (and the Badass Grandma!) and bestselling, award-winning author of five books, I’ve appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including MSNBC, PBS, and NPR’s The State of Things. A former roller-skating carhop, U.S. Marine photojournalist, and forest firefighter, I”ve been named one of the “Happy 100” people on the planet!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I know first-hand how violence can destroy lives. A survivor of child abuse and rape as a college freshman, I spent years dealing with the emotional aftermath of my experience. Then, as I wrote earlier, I took my power back and became an advocate for others who’d been victimized,.

But in that same year (1990), the dark secrets I harbored and the stress they caused led me to develop two life-threatening autoimmune conditions which, in 2002, left me fighting for my life. In 2004, I was told my condition was considered terminal. I became deeply depressed and anxious about my impending heart failure. Then I was offered the chance to meet privately with a Tibetan Buddhist lama who commanded me to “stop feeling sorry for myself and start thinking of the happiness of other people.”

Daunted but determined, I began performing small acts of kindness—letting the mom with the crying baby go ahead of me in line, giving my cane to a woman who was struggling to walk and volunteering at the Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina. These simple, spontaneous acts made me feel a bit happier, so I did more, performing at least one kind act every day.

And the more I did the better I felt, until I reached a point where my heart was so full it no longer mattered whether I was sick or well, or even living or dying—I was filled with gratitude for each moment. You see, I had forgotten that EVERYONE is fighting a hard battle and that I wasn’t alone in my suffering. By practicing compassion and generosity toward others, I healed my wounded heart…

Miraculously, my body followed, and within 18 months of following the lama’s advice, my condition went into remission! Today, 20 years later, I feel better and happier than I ever dreamed possible, and I’m thriving both personally and professionally.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
MY “WHY”
Many think that child victimization–whether it’s bullying, abuse, or trafficking–is an intractable problem.

It is NOT.

There’s a LOT that can be done to protect our kids, and I REFUSE to accept the status quo.

I’m convinced that if every parent followed the ideas, methods, and tools I share, we could break the generational cycle of violence and keep millions more kids safe.

MILLIONS.

Just imagine the movement that would create!

People always say someone should DO something to end child abuse. Well, I’M someone and I’m doing something about it!

And who can stand up more powerfully for children than someone who’s been there? I’m a survivor myself. I’ve lived with trauma and PTSD most of my life, and I can’t bear the idea of any child having to carry that.

I say, ENOUGH!

I started my business as a way to get my life-saving message, tools, and techniques around body safety out to parents and kids across the globe. I’m thrilled to announce my partnerships with Bark.us, the world’s leading parental monitoring app company, and Kidpower International, the largest child safety education and advocacy organization. By leveraging these partnerships, I anticipate significant growth and impact for my business, with my small company scaling into the 7 figures within the next year. More importantly, the online courses I’m creating will help untold numbers of families, creating a ripple effect that will echo through the generations.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve been blessed to benefit from the support and wisdom of a number of wonderful mentors, most of whom I connected with through entrepreneurship programs for veterans (I am a disabled Marine Corps vet). In fact, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of programs for start-ups that include mentoring relationships. It’s simply a matter of doing the research to find them.

When it comes to networking, I have a system that works amazingly well. I take a buddy, another entrepreneur or friend, with me to networking events. We separate once we get to the venue and then proceed to talk each other up. I’ll wax on about how incredible my colleague is and look for business opportunities for them, then I drag the people I’m talking to over to my friend to introduce them.

The cool part about this is that we’re able to talk about and brag on each other in ways we’d never do for ourselves. Every time I do this, the room is abuzz, wondering who these two powerful people are who are getting all the attention, lol. Works like a charm and it makes events way more fun and productive!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thebadassgrandma.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebadassgrandma
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebadassgrandma
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cjscarlet
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/cjscarlet