Edited By: Walker Glascock
Photography: Steven Danner
Client Liaison: Alyssa Faulconer
“Whatever allows you to present the world with the best version of yourself, that’s your gift. You’re obligated to become the best version of yourself possible, because that’s how you benefit the world.”
Carrie Burggraf is the first to receive bespoke ladies tailoring from Gentry’s Limited and it’s hard to imagine anyone more perfectly suited.
Even a short conversation with her is a masterclass in success, determination and self-actualization, with a veritable feast of inspirational quotes to go along with it.
“It’s very important not to be tied to an outcome, because when you’re tied to the outcome you find yourself attached to when it has to happen and how it has to look. Often success looks very different than you thought it was going to.”
Throughout our brief discourse the concepts of authenticity and overcoming challenges remained consistent themes.
“I don’t know that everyone was taught how to be comfortable with being challenged and potentially failing. But I can literally hear my mother saying, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’”
Walking into an anatomy class as a freshman in college — and loving both the science and the challenge of it — led to a career in medicine. Initially working as a physician’s assistant, she loved the work of discerning, through process of elimination, the nature of an ailment, and determining the proper diagnosis.
Her work in assisted living and nursing homes led to her current role as a home-care liaison, where her role is to meet with families to learn about their situation; to identify where their challenges lie and create a care plan tailored to their needs. “It’s about identifying where issues lie for others and figuring-out how to overcome those roadblocks.”
For her, work is important because she believes strongly in what she does. Her work in home-care means allowing people to live out their lives where they want, how they want and with as much independence as possible; carrying-on with the most dignity.
“I could do a job that makes two million dollars a year and if I didn’t constantly have new, fresh challenges, I would hate that. Money and accomplishments are just examples of success, they aren’t the benchmarks.”
“I think it has to do with doing your best and constantly expanding that. Some people find themselves good at what they do but they don’t continue growing.”
This theme carried-into her enthusiasm for triathlons; something in which she wasn’t initially interested. However, after attending a spin class and finding herself enjoying it — and knowing she could swim and run — she suddenly found herself drawn to them.
Now she has completed forty triathlons and competed in the National Championships twice for her age group.
“If I agree to something it’s because I’m interested in it and I want to take on a new challenge.”
For her, however, it’s not about beating other people. She is genuinely drawn towards growth and finds she gets easily bored without it.
“It’s all about leveling-up. If you continue and grow and level-up you’ll always have obstacles. Conquering old obstacles leads to new obstacles. There’s always room for growth.”
Thus, once the triathlon season is over she’ll transition into playing more racquetball and taking pilates classes.
Outside of work and her athletic pursuits she is also an enthusiastic cook — especially for other people — and reader, naming two books that have resonated with her lately as; “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, and “You are a Badass” by Jennifer Sincero.
She also loves fashion, leading to her connection to Gentry’s Limited.
“How you present yourself is incredibly important to the message you send to others and you can help or hurt yourself with the way you present yourself.”
Having met Dakota at a Missouri Athletic Club business development group, they found an immediate connection.
“Dakota and I are made the same way, always looking for new challenges and new ways to keep things fresh. We don’t believe in boundaries or limits.”
She jokes that one day she’ll be working for Dakota at Gentry’s selling clothes.
“Part of the secret is figuring out what your brand is. Once you understand who you are, how you look, what makes you look the best, that like anything else is another feature of yourself. If you feel confident, then that’s your best presentation.”
Being a sensory-driven person, whether it be clothing or interior design, she appreciates a well put-together ensemble.
And returning to the theme of authenticity, not everyone will look and dress and present themselves the same way.
“What I love most is to see someone doing whatever it is that makes them them. As long as you feel good with it, it doesn’t matter how it looks. As long as it makes you feel the way you want to feel. The best life is the one that feels the most authentic.”
For more information or to contact Carrie at Home Care Assistance:
PHONE: 314-858-0200