To formally introduce myself, my name is Kendal Lindstrom. I am the creator and CEO of Doux, where my only goal was to get people into their full potential within their careers.

I’m from a small town, south of Seattle, where I stumbled while finding my voice growing up. I studied at the University of Arizona, majoring in Retailing and Consumer Sciences, enticed by the world of fashion. Humbly, I found that the fashion industry is much more than curated outfits and martinis on Thursday nights in the city. I leaned out of my dissatisfaction for as long as I could, just hoping one day I would love it again. It was uncomfortable to admit I was wrong, and it was agonizing to continuously question “what am I going to do with my life?” 100 times a day.

I remember standing in the middle of the sales floor as a retail sales manager, and seeing everyone else live my dream. It dawned on me; I can actually “doux” anything. I got off work that night in the middle of October, it was pouring rain as I called my dad with some of the most insane ideas, and the phone went silent on the other end.

“Ken, you’ve always figured it out. I don’t know how, but you will do it again. You will figure it out.” It was unconventional, and no one we knew had done what I was about to do. I knew right then, I was making the right decision.

With every ounce of fear, I packed my car and drove straight back to Arizona with no plan, and only enough money for 3 months of rent, so long I only ate ramen noodles for every meal.

I repeatedly told myself that I would just figure it out. Then I did. I continuously “figured it out” until I looked up from a year of digging my boots into the dirt, and realized I was literally douxing it all. All the years of praying it could be, and watching it all be. I was able to move mountains within myself and find what I was truly good at.

• I directed surgeons inside of operating rooms while I reached my dream of being in Medical Sales.

• I talked on a panel in front of government county executives across the country about our Financial Software.

• I became an Executive Assistant to the CEO of a Fortune 100 company.

• I worked alongside an up-and-coming CEO as a Project Manager, making million-dollar decisions.

Often times, it was all at the same time. I did whatever it was going to take to pay the bills, make the trip, continue to drink martinis with the girls every Thursday night, all while making sure my dreams woke up with me at 5am. My potential was endless. But I wanted to make sure my people had the same opportunities that I did; simply a resume that was good enough to get me in front of the right people, and the ability to interview superior than the others and capitalize in every seat I sat in. DOUX was born at the heart of knowing the potential people carry.

To start over is scary, but to live a life far below my potential was even scarier. So I chose the lesser of the two, and continuously started over until I knew I was on to something. I got it wrong, I lost out, and I was forced to make decisions that I was never prepared for. But it all brought me to the front door of my favourite days, and the defeat became my best assignments.

Don’t get stuck on the first step with the hypotheticals of it not working. It has to work if you say it does.

And if no one has told you, I am proud of you for changing your mind.

Whether you feel like you know nothing at all, or every last detail, I have created a platform to edit, revise and grow until you doux get it right. Your resume could be a blank piece of paper, or pages long; your interests could be slim or you could know exactly where you want to go. There’s no right way to show up, you just have to start.

I can’t wait to see you win.

Xx,

Ken