Carmen Michelle Thompson’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and the unwavering love of a mother. Founding Three C’s Enterprise LLC in 2009, she set out to build a legacy not just for herself but for her two daughters, Carmelita and Crystalyn, who inspire her daily. Carmen’s life as a cancer survivor and single, disabled parent has been anything but easy, but she has faced each challenge with a fighting spirit. Through her entrepreneurial pursuits and personal triumphs, Carmen’s story encourages others to embrace their own strength and never stop reaching for their dreams.
1. What inspired you to start Three C’s Enterprise LLC, and how do your daughters play a role in your business?
I started my company in September 2009 with the intent on leaving a legacy for my daughters since none was left for me. I also wanted a family and my girls mean everything to me. We are the Three C’s – Carmen, Carmelita, and Crystalyn. I dedicated my business to my 2 daughters because I have no extended family and I felt my daughters deserved something..I had to create something for my own to give them.
My background, growing up in Anchorage, Alaska I saw how my grandmother was a powerhouse. She was a entertainer/entrepreneur. She owned several businesses in my childhood. I recall visiting her arts and ceramics shop in Anchorage Alaska. As I got older, we did a few projects, modeling and music including singing Karaoke together. I was an entrepreneur, model, actress, and singer in my early 20’s. My daughters have seen my rise and fall as a single mother. I started my LLC because I needed to be an example for my girls, as a woman and mom, and to prove that being disabled is not the End.
2. Can you share more about your journey as a cancer survivor and how it has shaped your outlook on life and business?
I was never given an opportunity to recover 100% from that situation or any of the medical issues that came along in these 22 yrs. The uterine and cervical cancer was first mistaken and misdiagnosed. I was literally bleeding almost 23 or more a month. I couldn’t work, I was reliant on $578.00 a month from my ex -husband’s child support. As the months went by I had to become crafty in making extra money, temp work and subcontract became a norm. This way of working has been my savior. In Alaska I was a Kelly girl and developed skills at each job and task. I implemented same traits in surviving this poverty level of life. I always knew I didn’t get FULL satisfaction from working under another boss. After recovering from my partial hysterectomy in March 2005, I started back doing small jobs and kept my business mindset. I dedicated time and money, I vesting in myself as a individual and as a woman.
3. How has living as a single, disabled parent influenced your approach to entrepreneurship and life in general?
It has been quite difficult, I couldn’t find a job for years. I had to apply for work as a disabled individual and a lot of employment opportunities were not fit for me. My limitations were extreme. The doctor’s note was specific – No sitting, walking, standing, and bending for long periods of time and nothing that was repitious. The limitations were a high level issue. The other problem was the actions of others towards me in the work place. The fear that I would cause a liability for the company was sometimes the reason for not being hired. I know it was against the laws, EOE, but without financial stability, I had to let it go. Ever since I was young I knew I really just wanted to work for myself. I had to think outside of the “normal” employment and sought work by contract as I held a “perpetual” llc. I kept trying to build it. I used it in my music management and as an artist myself. My entrepreneurship saved me from going down the road of self destruction and despair. It kept a fire lit in me that pushed past the boundaries of my physical and mental disability. I can truly say that having such a desire to create and inspire others literally saved my life not only as a mother but also as a survivor of abuse, neglect, and horrific past traumas.
4. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your 22 years as a single parent, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was keeping a foundation, a home for my two daughters. Being labeled disabled, permanently disabled, rocked my whole World! I was on medications that wiped me out. I literally couldn’t function from the meds. We lived in Low income housing from 2001 to 2008 when the Coffelt property in Phoenix AZ raised the rent to over $685.00/month. I was alone..
These are the darkest moments for us. I had to send my girls to Alaska to stay with my mother while I found a stable job and place. It took me a few months but I used the Temp agencies to find work. I hurt myself physically in my efforts to make money. I knew that using my years of office and business skills would get at least $10.00/hr. I found work and then started school to help build my resume. From October 2008 to April 2009, I worked a temp job for ASU Nursing College and was able to secure a small apartment.
Meanwhile my girls were suffering from the separation and my mother was not a nice person. My girls were treated unfairly and suffered emotional abuse. I got my daughters back at the end of April 2009 and I promise you, we cannot be closer.
The challenge for stability has been riddled with my health decline. My cervical spine and lumbar spine, right hip, right knee, and left arm have all quit working properly due to damages sustained in multiple cases. Each time my body has been overwhelmed and stressed, I have issues and so to limit these outcomes, I remembered my life as an entertainer, a comedian, a singer, and successful model and it fuels me to think and research ways to live in an economy that doesn’t cater to my disability. I learned how to manage my time as a mother and boss. In 2013, I quit seeing my pain management physician and I quit taking prescription drugs and it changed my life again. I wasn’t sickly, I was able to lose weight and also my mental health improved. In 2014, my back went out and i got a 3 part series of back injects while working at American Family Insurance making $16.75 an hour. This was the most stressful job, but it paid for our new townhouse. Well, the back injections failed, I lost my ability to walk, maintain my bodily functions, and pay my rent. My townhome was gone and we became homeless..
I had to go back to selling myself as a boss, self-made legend and started DBA Lushess1 Music Management. I set schedules, made bookings, met artists, and partnered with entities with Sony distribution. I travelled from Arizona in 2015 to Las Vegas NV to pursue my business, it was an experience of great magnitude. We suffered.
We have been homeless off an on since September 2014. We have no family to call on for help of any kind so we used shelters, and cheap rentals (hotels, and weekly motels) but due to my tenacity and having the responsibility of 2 teen girls, I have always been determined to never let them be on the actual street.
5. What does the term “handi-capable” mean to you, and how do you embody that in your daily life?
I love being an example of the Handi-capable community, I walk with a cane and knee brace every day. I show up to the Zoo with gratitude and excitement. I dont look my age and so I surprise people whenever I tell them I am 54 and then I get into some of my history and where I have been in my life. As a survivor of so many horrible and wonderful things, I can’t help but share with the people who come into my life. I hope to empower others everyday.
6. How do you balance your health, work, and personal life, especially while managing a business?
Personal self care is most important to me. I like to meditate with intent. I also have changed my eating habits a lot. I tried being vegan but it wasn’t in alignment for my body so I became a pescitarian where my protein is fish, eggs, and shrimp.i do eat some chicken but no beef or pork. I love my vegetables too.
I get outside as well. I walk more than I am supposed too but I don’t have any choice right now because I don’t have a car. I have been holding my family down. I still have music in my life but my business is on hold due to my pending total knee replacement surgery and the outcome. It’s very important to me to stay active before this journey. I currently work part-time at the Zoo and I love nature walks and taking candid pics of everything. I have so many things to be grateful for at almost 54. I am living a spiritual lifestyle and have been celibate for many many years. This peaceful time has allowed me to heal a lot of wounds and find my balance.
7. What are some key lessons you’ve learned through your experience as a disabled entrepreneur?
As a woman boss, its been hard to not be characterized as a B*tch because I had to stand my own ground. I dont let people set a standard for me. I learned, to not to let people define ‘you’. There’s a stigma about the word ‘disability’ and I feel there needs to be more education in the realms of physical yet unseen handicaps. My disability is not physical all the time so people don’t always know or even believe that I have a disability. I live life and so the biggest misrepresentation for me is that I can’t be ‘Disabled’ AND want to appear ‘Normal’ in my daily attire. Men are very reckless and treat me like I am younger than I am which is a huge deal breaker. I have been told that I dress like someone 35, but what does someone like ME supposed to look like? I just feel comfortable in my skin.
8. How do you maintain your mental health and well-being amidst the challenges you face?
As I mentioned before, I meditate daily. I listen to therapeutic sounds with water and vibrational beats. I also do breathing exercises, drink plenty of water, and I do get some sort of physical activity in my day. I do not lie around all day. On my days off I run errands for my daughter and I. I do get rest as much as possible. I need a whole apartment makeover but I am using the space accordingly. I like to stretch and do some yoga as the birds outside are chirping. I water my plants and I treat people as I want them to treat me in return. I gift kindness everyday and that makes me have deep joy.
9. What advice would you give to other women who are facing similar challenges in their lives?
First of all, you are a winner just for trying!! Being a multifaceted person who also has personal limitations can be very difficult but you have a support system! Reach out and find your tribe. There’s nothing you can not do and only you can put a ceiling to your goals. People will come and go but at the end of the day, you are the most important part of any relationship or connection. In times of ridicule and lows, you must remain calm and not get to overwhelmed in the situation. Trying numerous avenues or resources may be necessary to make important decisions, choose wisely.
10. How do you instill the values of resilience and determination in your daughters?
My daughters are following my lead. My oldest will be 27 on 8/18 and she has been a business owner since 2021. She is into holistic health. My youngest daughter will be 25 11/23 and she just graduated from Full Sail University and wants to use the LLC for her business pursuits into digital art and graphic design. We have so many years together that it’s only natural that they are following my lead. They don’t have children and want to have their lives together before they think about that life.
11. What legacy do you hope to leave for your daughters through your business and personal story?
I think I have given my daughters something that I never got from my mom, open communication and unconditional love. This is most important to me and I have instilled this in my daughters. My daughters know how my life was before and after my disability. They tell me how much I have helped them become the young ladies they are today. They see me, all of me.
The business name is Three C’s Enterprise LLC because our names all begin with the letter C. The idea was immediate for me when I filed for my LLC because my daughters are my only family and they know that this was built for them.
12. How has your experience as a cancer survivor influenced your perspective on business and life?
I think it has made me stronger, as a person. I don’t make excuses. I tried to set a standard that although there may be something that goes wrong, we don’t allow that to stop the process. We find a clear resolve and move forward. I went through many years of operations, recovery, physical therapy and then repeat. I have no desire to waste my time. Due to this cycle I became a bit militant in my mannerisms. I pushed myself hard but i had to learn my limits too. Being a survivor means I have a purpose for being here. I have learned that my ability to multitask has given me a lot more success than I ever expected. I have been able to see years of experiences, good and bad, and I am still sane..I live everyday like it’s my 1st. I want to be able to say that I lived until I couldn’t anymore.
13. What message would you like to share with other women who may feel limited by their circumstances?
You may feel limited, but I believe in you and now that’s 2 people rooting for you! I know we can find a way through this. I have been down and out, broken and abused but I am here today to say, it didn’t kill my spirit and that whatever happens, I can control my reactions and choose peace instead. You are going to get through this because you got this far.. again YOU got this far. Remember you are powerful.
14. How do you stay motivated and inspired to keep moving forward despite the obstacles you’ve encountered?
I stay motivated seeing other women aspiring to do their best, in whatever it may entail. There’s so many creative women making a huge splash online and in small businesses, the lists are endless now. My daughters inspire me everyday. They are always finding new concepts to try. We can invent anything we can think up with AI. I am really interested in horse therapy and would love to go scuba diving just because I saw other survivors living these experiences.
15. What advice would you offer to women who are looking to start their own businesses but face significant challenges?
I recommend you do you due diligence and research the business(es) you are looking to enter. Check state laws, fees, nonprofit and organization details. If you can, apply for grants, there’s a lot of grant funding for women and those who may have requirements you can meet. Its a few groups out online so use your best judgement and I always say “when in doubt, I gotta pull out, I go with my woman’s intuition”
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