Podcast Summary: BigDeal with Codie Sanchez

Episode #108: Ciara: How To Manifest Anything (And Win At Life)

Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Codie Sanchez
Guest: Ciara (Grammy Award-winning superstar, entrepreneur, philanthropist)

Overview

This rich and candid conversation between Codie Sanchez and Ciara explores the real mechanics of “manifesting” your dreams, building resilience in the face of public criticism, using faith as a superpower, sustaining a fulfilling relationship, running successful businesses, and embracing both ambition and grace. Ciara shares not just motivational advice but also actionable tactics and deeply personal stories about her upbringing, professional journey, parenting, business, and self-care—all delivered in her honest, positive, and slightly playful tone.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Roots of Ambition & Overcoming Obstacles

• No Safety Net Growing Up: As an “army kiddo” and only child, Ciara had to rely on her own drive, vision, and the love of her family, despite limited financial resources.
• Manifestation Starts with Vision:
  • Ciara describes always believing in her potential, writing out her goals at age 13, and following that “compass” relentlessly.
  • Quote: “You can't get to where you want to get to in life without a compass.” (11:48)
• Dealing with Adversity and Criticism:
  • Online hate and industry setbacks are universal for high-achievers. Instead of letting it devastate her, Ciara uses it as proof she’s “doing something right.”—and sometimes keeps screenshots as motivation.
  • Quote: “Those moments, they make you more bulletproof.” (00:42) / (29:39)
  • "I’ll be darned if I let a human tell me what I can and can’t be.” (29:41)

2. Embracing Faith—Spiritual and Psychological

• Faith as Anchor:
  • Ciara frequently returns to faith in moments of challenge, quoting scripture as foundation for her perseverance and optimism.
  • “My faith is the truest thing. It’s the one thing that gives me peace…it allows me to believe again.” (23:45 / 24:45)
  • She integrates daily prayer, particularly before performances—sometimes dragging her team backstage for a pre-show prayer (02:49)

3. The Practice of Manifestation

• Step-by-step Approach:
  • Vision: Must be crystal clear and exciting enough to sustain passion even through fatigue and long hours.
  • Write Down Your Goals: Early whiteboard/goal-sheet practice, revisited often.
  • Speak Life: Use affirming language, both with herself and her kids (“You got this. Let’s go!”).
  • Take Action: She intentionally puts herself in situations for discovery (talent shows, singing at school).
  • Belief: “Once I believe it and I start saying it, there's something that just happens psychologically for me and I just start to will myself in that direction.” (07:07 / 16:24 / 17:34)
  • Pray Over It: Incorporating spiritual practice into manifestation.
  • “Write it and make it plain.” – Reference to Habakkuk 2:2 (22:40)

4. Handling Nerves & Failure

• Performance Jitters:
  • Ciara still feels nervous before big performances and reframes those nerves as signs of thriving and of opportunity (“pressure is a privilege”).
  • Tactic: She uses prayer, deep breathing, and self-talk—“You got this.” (02:49 – 04:45)
  • Quote: “Nerves are what lets you know you’re thriving...something good’s gonna happen when you have that feeling.” (04:04)
• Bouncing Back After Disappointment:
  • Views mistakes as “embrace-able” learning opportunities.
  • Uses “amnesia”—consciously letting go so as not to carry shame or disappointment forward.
  • “You have to reset, clear slate. Nothing happened. Now what are we doing today?” (05:23 – 07:06)

5. Identity & The Power of "Delulu" (Delusional Confidence)

• Women & Minorities in Business and Art:
  • Young Ciara never saw her identity as a limitation; she recommends “delusional” confidence for women, especially women of color.
  • Stresses not to preface or apologize for your instincts or ideas—be direct and own your space.
  • “Emotions left at the door. In business, there’s no gray, it’s black and white.” (07:28 – 09:43)

6. Parenting & Affirmations

• Modeling Mindset:
  • Quick to correct negative self-talk in her kids.
  • “We don’t quit. Just because something didn’t work out…doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Failing is when you quit.” (10:19 – 11:23)
  • Speaks life into her children and encourages embracing challenges as opportunities.

7. Partnerships and Relationships

• Her Marriage (with Russell Wilson):
  • Spiritual foundation—keeping “Jesus at the center”—is key.
  • Open, even hard, communication is non-negotiable.
  • “Communication rules a nation.” (32:20 – 33:55)
  • Both value whiteboard sessions for synchronizing busy lives.
  • On knowing Russell was “the one”: “When you know, you know…It’s a feeling you can’t fully describe, but you know the difference.” (33:57 – 35:56)
• Advice on Love:
  • Love yourself first; define what you want in a partner; visualize/manifest it specifically.
  • “Love is a cherry on top. You want to be right with yourself first.” (37:29)

8. Building Successful Businesses

• Entrepreneurial Highlights:
  • Co-founder/co-owner of 10 to One Rum (most awarded/fastest-growing rum brand, emphasizing quality and reimagining rum outside colonial/cliché boundaries).
  • Co-founder of 3Brand (children’s apparel, $100M+ in 2024 revenue).
  • Founder of OAM Skin (“On A Mission” skincare) with a focus on making clinical skincare simple.
  • “Quality is everything. You can talk a good game all day, but it comes down to how well does the item perform.” (49:57)
  • “We love being able to impact and inspire kids…with the ‘Why Not You’ mentality.” (47:01)
• Approach to Partnerships:
  • Looks for alignment in vision, value-add, and proven track records.
  • Trust is built over time, but “I can tell you on day one if I can’t trust you. I got a good gut.” (55:06)
  • Seeks out good humans, not just good resumes.
• Favorite Business Practices:
  • Frequent whiteboard sessions for clarity and goal alignment.
  • Passion and authenticity as core operating principles.

9. Personal Practices and Advice for Success

• Patience Over Perfection:
  • “Run your race at your own pace. What life has shown me…is the power of patience.” (58:18)
  • Don’t “glorify man or things.” The “coolest” people, up close, also face unseen struggles.
• Grace for Yourself:
  • Especially as a mom, Ciara advises self-compassion: “Give yourself grace…that’s one of the best things I could’ve given myself.” (66:23)

10. Creativity and Following Curiosity

• How She Creates:
  • Follows her passions (currently immersed in the Afro-diaspora sound).
  • “Music is a feeling, it’s not technical. I let life take me wherever it takes me.” (60:37 / 62:35)
• Learning Languages:
  • Loves to connect with audiences by speaking their language.
  • Quotes and mimics accents from around the world with playful joy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Manifestation:

  • “Write it and make it plain.” (22:40)
  • “Once I believe it and then I start saying it, there’s something that just happens psychologically for me and I just start to will myself in that direction.” (07:07; 16:24; 17:34)

• On Resilience:

  • “You gotta have amnesia...reset, clear slate. Nothing happened. Now what are we doing today?” (06:24)
  • “A chip on your shoulder—even keep names—but don’t let them weigh you down, just fuel you.” (30:24)

• On Women’s Confidence:

  • “When you’re young, it’s just like a little puppy. You don’t know, you just do what you feel…and I’m so glad that I had that delulu.” (07:28; 08:43)

• On Faith:

  • “Faith is what helps us remain strong during hard times. The testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (24:45; 25:09)

• On Patience:

  • “It’s taken me 21 years to now start having certain things…happen for me how I’ve always wanted them to. So it just shows me the power of patience…just trust the process.” (58:18)

• On Beauty & Scars:

  • “All the scars you get from the obstacles you face in life are your beauty marks.” (73:25)

Important Timestamps

• 00:07: “You can't get to where you want to get to in life without a compass…” (Goal-setting & Manifestation)
• 02:49: Ciara’s pre-performance routine (Prayer, nerves, self-talk)
• 04:04: Embracing nerves as a sign of thriving
• 07:28: “You gotta be delulu.” (On confidence and being a woman of color)
• 10:19: Parenting and positive language at home
• 16:24 – 17:34: Ciara’s “goal sheet” at 13 and real-life manifestation process
• 23:45: Integrating faith and optimism in career & life
• 29:39: On public criticism and becoming “bulletproof”
• 32:58: The importance of spiritual foundation and communication in marriage
• 37:29: Advice on creating love and manifesting the right partner
• 47:01: Scaling businesses (Three Brand, 10 to One Rum) with passion, purpose, and impact
• 49:57: Business superpower: “Quality is everything…”
• 55:06: Choosing the right partners and trusting instincts
• 58:18: Wisdom for her younger self: patience and focusing on your unique journey
• 60:37: Creativity and following curiosity in music
• 67:22: What she’s most excited about for the upcoming year (brands and impact)
• 73:25: “All the scars…are your beauty marks.” (Signature quote & company ethos)

Overall Tone and Takeaways

From the first minutes, Ciara sets a tone of warmth, candor, and practicality—open about insecurities and failures, quick to credit faith and support systems, and affable in all her advice. She’s both relatable and aspirational, teaching honest manifestation, not by wishing, but by combining vision, action, affirmation, and patience—always seasoned with gratitude and grit.

For listeners who want to manifest big dreams, heal from setbacks, and build a life of meaning and impact, this episode offers a masterclass in mindset, discipline, and joy.

For more:

• Check out Ciara’s brands: 10 to One Rum, Three Brand, OAM Skin
• Connect with Codie Sanchez on BigDeal Podcast