On the Cover: Tracey Starr

Tracey Samlow Starr is a vibrant serial entrepreneur, business and personal development coach, and multiple #1 Amazon best-selling author. Celebrated for her entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropic dedication, Tracey is committed to positively impacting the world. With decades of experience running and launching multi-million-dollar organizations, she offers comprehensive services, including business advisory, marketing, sales development, special events, public relations, networking, systems implementation, and streamlining operations. She specializes in strategic joint ventures and teaching affiliate partnership marketing, providing heart-centered, customer-focused, world-class service.

Known as the Heart 2 Heart Connector™️, Tracey excels at bringing people and information together to spark innovative collaborations. Her journey centers on forging win/win/win strategic partnerships and fostering a culture of sharing and giving back, collaborating with renowned transformational leaders to help them grow their communities, share their gifts, and inspire humanity to live their dreams. Tracey dedicates most of her energy to working within the personal development world and entrepreneurial training while still influencing the hospitality, health, wellness (biohacking), and turnaround management industries with a new focus on helping entrepreneurs integrate Artificial Intelligence into their businesses.

As co-founder of the Women Entrepreneurs Association, tell us about your background and inspiration behind this new business.

Entrepreneurship has been my lifeblood for over 25 years – I’ve ridden the highs and lows, tasted both great success and significant failure firsthand… and I LOVE it! Starting the Women Entrepreneurs Association with my dear friend and mentor, Judi Moreo, was an organic next phase of my journey. One of my biggest superpowers is being a natural-born networker and heart-centered connector of people and resources.

The idea for the Women Entrepreneurs Association was sparked while connecting with Judi about our entrepreneurial experiences, awards, and challenges as women in business. What we should do suddenly became clear: create a space to amplify women’s voices in entrepreneurship on a significant scale, providing a global platform for support, resources, and collaboration. The entrepreneurial spirit in women is often diminished or overlooked. Still, if we encourage and empower the entrepreneurial spirit in more women and join forces to lift each other higher, we can significantly enhance the optimistic impact female founders have on humanity. The fire in my belly just won’t quit until more women everywhere feel empowered to boldly pursue their dreams, live their visions, and positively impact our world.

Who influenced you?

My key influencers and inspirations include Debra Poneman, founder of YesToSuccess.com, who mentored renowned thought leaders, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Marci Shimoff, Janet Attwood, and countless others… including me. Debra became my dear friend years before asking me to work with her in launching her Your Year of Miracles online program with Marci Shimoff. Debra connected me to world-renowned thought leaders and experts in personal development, which led to my personal and professional transformation. Her conscious connections moved me to Las Vegas and ultimately led me to meet and partner with Judi Moreo and find my perfect partner, Bob Doyle (expert in the global phenomenon “The Secret”). I am eternally grateful to Debra for helping me live my dreams and become the best version of me!

Judi Moreo, founder of Turning Point International, Choices Magazine, and Life Choices Books and my partner and co-founder of the Women Entrepreneurs Association, has been another major inspiration who has motivated me to act and move the needle forward in my business and personal life over the years. Her life story is awe-inspiring, and she truly is a world-class Achievement and Creativity Coach!

What inspired you?

The book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” inspired me to become an entrepreneur in 1997, and the movie “The Secret” was my wake-up call to focus on helping others better their lives. I am also inspired by Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” book and other thought leaders I call “Miracle Messengers™,️” whose wisdom helps humanity live better lives.

Your life looks so glamorous. Do you feel you have a glamorous life?

Reflecting, I can say that I have indeed been offered some glamorous life experiences. I’ve had a fantastic journey filled with extraordinary twists and turns that most only dream of. I’ve been blessed with celebrity friends and conscious connections along the way. I gratefully served as President of PivenTheatre.org and worked with actor legends and musical talents like Richard Marx, Diana Ross, Jon Secada, and The Smashing Pumpkins. With my hospitality businesses, I hosted some of the most lavish parties and large-scale events for thousands, catering to global leaders like Oprah, President Obama, Margaret Thatcher, elite celebrity athletes, Chicago sports teams, Fortune 100 companies, Nobel laureates, and internationally renowned entertainers and influencers.

I have also acted in films and television commercials and been featured in print and other media. I’ve been interviewed countless times, and occasionally, I still do voice-overs, which is pure fun for me now. While certainly “glamorous,” these experiences have been cherished blessings in my life’s journey.

How do I give back?

I’ve served on several boards of directors, including the Rotary Club of Evanston, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and the Senior Resources Foundation, now Midlife Ventures. I’ve supported organizations like the Gene Siskel Film Center, the Art Institute of Chicago, and many other non-profits. Assisting fellow women entrepreneurs has always inspired me. I helped launch a chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and co-founded the women’s group in the Turnaround Management Association. Now, in co-founding the Women Entrepreneurs Association, I have an incredible opportunity to give back by leading a global community of strong women entrepreneurs – an endeavor fully aligned with my purpose of making a positive difference worldwide.

What has been the biggest surprise you’ve encountered?

My biggest surprise was my divorce and #singlemomsyndrome in 2014; my husband of two decades unexpectedly left our marriage. I was devastated to find myself alone as the sole provider for our two young children with no financial or support system in place. It was an extremely traumatic experience that rocked me to my core. However, what initially felt like one of the darkest periods of my life ultimately became an invaluable period of personal growth and transformation and one of my greatest life lessons. I’ve learned so much about who I am, who I want to be, and how I want to show up. The traumas have given me new perspectives, made me more robust and humbler, and given me massive opportunities to practice forgiveness and unconditional love.

What is your proudest moment?

I prefer “gratitude” over “pride” – different energy and perspective. I don’t have only one crowning proud moment to share. Being a mom to my two amazing kids has given me countless moments to be “proud.” Watching them grow into the beautiful souls they are today is my most incredible pride and honor! As an entrepreneur and mentor, I’ve also been the catalyst for many miracles in other people’s lives. Those moments of sparking innovative collaborations, forging heart-centered partnerships, and holding space for others’ transformations give me a profound sense of fulfillment and gratitude.
None of this would be possible for me now without the grounding, loving presence of my “perfect partner,” Bob Doyle. He’s more than my beloved – he’s a renowned thought leader whose work with brain rewiring, neuroplasticity, and the Law of Attraction helps me shed limiting beliefs daily to become the brightest version of myself. Bob’s current work in creative AI and Virtual Reality inspires me to see this world through a different lens, allowing me to explore new realities, expand my energy and brilliantly shine my light. Our connection transcends traditional relationship boxes. Gratitude is an endless flow when you are constantly awed by this journey!

What have been the biggest challenges you have faced?

Some of my biggest challenges have been overcoming people-pleasing tendencies and negative self-talk. For so long, I was wired to automatically look for problems to fix to please others rather than being present or valuing my own needs first. Often, we are programmed for self-doubt, fear, and self-sabotage. Breaking free from those limiting beliefs takes daily rituals like meditation, visualization, affirmations, list writing, and feeling into the life I wish to create. I’m slowly reprogramming my inner narrative to one of unconditional self-love and limitless possibility.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

One of the most transformative pieces of advice I’ve received is Mel Robbins’ 5 Second Rule. It’s a powerful life hack that helps me bypass the endless cycle of overthinking, self-doubt, and procrastination that often holds us back from acting. The rule is simplicity: when you feel yourself hesitating before doing something, count backward 5-4-3-2-1 and physically move toward your goal. Those 5 seconds are enough to silence the mind’s excuses and kickstart you into action before your subconscious has a chance to stop you. Since integrating this practice, I’ve found myself more focused, decisive, and productive in progressing towards my dreams and goals. Mel’s 5-Second Rule is a game-changer that helps reinforce the habit of showing up as the version of myself I want to be.

What are your best business connections?

My best business connections are the expert entrepreneurs, global leaders, speakers, authors, and coaches who hire me to strategically connect them for partnerships, joint ventures, and valuable resources and guidance. Networking is one of my greatest joys and strengths – I love making genuine heart-to-heart connections with people. Through my regular involvement with local and global business groups and masterminds, like Flight Club and Speakeasy, I am constantly expanding my network of conscious changemakers dedicated to making a positive impact. My role is to foster collaborative relationships that allow these innovators to amplify their reach and messaging. This includes the growing community we are creating with the Women Entrepreneurs Association.

Do you make conscious connections?

YES! I intentionally make conscious connections, surrounding myself with heart-centered, positive people with integrity, so it’s easy for me to create win/win/win experiences for all concerned. Whether personal or professional, I do my best to be a valuable resource for my community by networking and making quality introductions. My purpose is to help conscious messengers (Miracle Messengers™️) have their voices heard and share their messages with the world so that we can make a positive global impact together. I wish to inspire everyone to live authentically, practice unconditional love (self and others), and manifest their dreams by reaching out, working together, and sharing. Otherwise known as making… Conscious Connections.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of CHOICES Magazine