Carson Group’s founder spent decades building what is now a firm with $38 billion in assets under management, but he only recently found his calling, he said.
That calling led Omani Carson, who recently changed his name from Ron, to start what appears to be membership-based company that promises personal transformation, offering retreats and trips around the world. That venture, Omya, recently launched a website with testimonials and message from Carson.
“In 1983 I started the company Carson Group, that I stepped down from about three months ago, in order to launch what I believe is my life’s calling,” he said in a video on the company’s site. “About a decade ago, when I switched that operating system to love and abundance, not only did my financial results skyrocket, but did my joy for life… And I wanted to create a company that actually did that for everyone. And the ultimate goal of Omya is to change the world from the inside out, from the bottom up, to create conscious leaders, to allow you to have more joy and happiness in your life.”
The business is “a category killer,” he said. “Nothing has been created like this. So come and be a part of making history.”
It’s unclear how Omya helps deliver such personal growth, but it challenges the conventional idea of success, according to the messaging on its site.
“Without realizing it, many of us have drifted into a hypnotic trance, unconsciously trying to arrive at death safely. But imagine if you could start at the end and work backward – what would you do differently?” the site states. “We’re offering you the opportunity to gain this perspective now, surrounded by a community of people committed to living an activated life.”
The company shows numerous locations around the world for its experiences, including Carson’s former hunting lodge in Nebraska – now called Freedom Healing Ranch – and a houseboat on Lake Powell. It also alludes to retreats in Panama, Mexico, and the Amazon, among others.
The organization is also responsible for the annual gathering, OR, that takes place at Freedom Healing Ranch.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Carson has not spoken to InvestmentNews about his change in direction since stepping down as Carson Group’s CEO earlier this year. Carson Group has stated that the founder’s thoughts and opinions do not necessarily reflect the company, and its site continues to refer to him as Ron.
Omya’s privacy policy refers correspondence to the same address as Carson Group’s Omaha headquarters, which is also where Carson’s nonprofit Dreamweaver Foundation is based.
The new organization’s site asks visitors: “Have you achieved ‘success’ but still feel there must be more to life? Do you seek beauty, change, and excitement? Are you willing to take responsibility for creating your future? Do you yearn for a better life without having to sacrifice what you already have?”
The application for joining the group asks similar questions but also one about whether the applicant would be willing to refer others to Omya.
Its programs include components focused on physical health and nutrition but also include “bespoke psychological and spiritual coaching” and an option to “explore your inner landscape” by “partake[ing] in ancient medicine journeys and ceremonies that will guide you to the answers within yourself.”
Still, Omya’s site claims its programs go beyond what other personal development retreats or courses offer.
“This isn’t just coaching, socializing, retreats, or escapism. This is all of that and so much more,” it states. “This is a call to life.”
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