Building Your Personal Brand Without Burning Out

Courage coach, Keonna Knight pays us a visit to discuss the challenges Black women face in personal branding and avoiding burnout. Keonna shares her journey from a burnt-out teacher to a CEO, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and self-care.

We discuss setting compassionate boundaries, reframing negative self-talk, and the systemic pressures contributing to burnout. Keonna offers practical advice on maintaining balance and encourages listeners to prioritize their well-being.

GUEST BIO:

Short: Keonna Knight, M.Ed, is a courage coach dedicated to helping changemakers (especially phenomenal Black women) become BOLD and balanced leaders. As the CEO of Heal with Keonna, she provides personalized coaching, customized wellness workshops and speaking engagements focused on providing changemakers with the tools to walk boldly in their calling without burning out. Keonna’s personal journey from a burnt-out classroom teacher to a BOLD and balanced CEO, as well as her training in mental health counseling and mindfulness, equips her with unique insights and tools to guide others in building BOLD and balanced lives. Since 2019, Keonna has helped over 1500 Black women and change makers and over 25 organizations forge a path of purpose without compromising self-care.

LINKS:

• Visit Keonna’s website: https://www.healwithkeonna.com/
• Follow Keonna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keonnaknight/
• Follow Keonna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healwithkeonna
• Follow Keonna on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healwithkeonna
• Subscribe to Keonna’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@healwithkeonna
• Learn more about Empowered Presence: www.myempoweredpresence.com
• Book a call with Melanie: www.resume-evolution.com/letschat

TIMESTAMPS:

Introduction to Personal Branding (00:00:10) Melanie introduces the podcast's focus on personal branding for executive women of color.

Guest Introduction (00:02:55) Keonna Knight shares her excitement to be on the podcast, despite technical difficulties.

Keonna's Transition from Teaching (00:03:22) Keonna discusses her journey from being a teacher to becoming a CEO and courage coach.

Burnout Experience (00:04:30) Keonna reflects on her burnout as a teacher and the lack of resources for self-care.

Creating Resources for Wellbeing (00:05:25) Keonna explains how she created wellness resources after realizing the need for self-care tools.

Shifting to Coaching (00:06:23) Keonna shares her transition from teaching to coaching, focusing on helping others avoid burnout.

The Importance of Authenticity (00:07:29) Melanie emphasizes the significance of authenticity in personal branding and avoiding burnout.

Personal Branding and Self-Identity (00:08:10) Keonna discusses her unique perspective on personal branding, focusing on true self-identity over roles.

Storytelling in Branding (00:10:17) Melanie and Keonna highlight the importance of storytelling to connect with audiences authentically.

Organizing Your Story (00:12:07) Keonna shares tips on how to concisely organize and share personal stories to inspire others.

Humanity in Business (00:13:51) Keonna talks about maintaining humanity in business and the importance of surrendering control.

Daily Check-ins and Self-Care (00:14:17) Keonna explains her daily practice of self-reflection and checking in with her feelings.

Balancing Life's Demands (00:17:09) Melanie shares her struggle to balance personal and professional demands in her life.

Balancing Roles (00:17:42) Melanie discusses the struggle of balancing various responsibilities and the impact on her well-being.

The Importance of Rest (00:18:08) Keonna shares her experience of burnout and the significance of taking breaks for rejuvenation.

Play Exercise for Awareness (00:19:16) Keonna introduces a play exercise to help clients recognize their responsibilities and what drains or energizes them.

Identifying Core Values (00:20:44) The speakers identify core values, emphasizing freedom, authenticity, and empowerment in personal branding.

Aligning Life with Values (00:21:10) Keonna discusses aligning daily life with core values to foster a sense of freedom and fulfillment.

Setting Boundaries (00:22:09) Keonna emphasizes the importance of creating systems and boundaries to maintain balance and well-being.

Communicating Capacity (00:25:31) Keonna advises on how to communicate one’s limits when feeling overwhelmed while honoring commitments.

Grace in Communication (00:28:10) Keonna discusses the need for grace in communication, especially during personal emergencies, while maintaining accountability.

Common Challenges for Black Women (00:30:24) Melanie and Keonna explore the unique challenges faced by Black women regarding overwhelm and burnout.

Internalized Oppression (00:31:40) Keonna highlights the impact of internalized oppression and negative self-talk on Black women’s mental health.

Worthy of Wellness (00:32:27) Keonna discusses the struggle with self-worth and the perception of deserving wellness and self-care.

Systemic Challenges (00:34:01) Keonna addresses systemic issues like racism and sexism that contribute to the challenges faced by Black women.

Self-Talk and Its Impact (00:35:09) Melanie opens up about negative self-talk and its deep psychological effects, seeking strategies for positive change.

Reframing Personal Narratives (00:36:14) Keonna discusses the importance of rewriting negative self-stories to empower personal identity and healing.

Celebrating New Stories (00:38:13) Focus on reinforcing positive narratives through daily celebrations and aligning actions with new beliefs.

Setting Boundaries with Love (00:41:30) Keonna shares strategies for setting boundaries clearly and compassionately, emphasizing human connection.

The Importance of Practice (00:45:08) Keonna encourages practicing boundary-setting to build confidence and ease over time, highlighting the learning process.

Encouragement for Self-Care (00:46:31) Keonna reassures listeners that self-care and personal fulfillment are achievable despite overwhelming responsibilities.

Connecting with Keonna (00:49:25) Keonna invites listeners to connect with her for support and resources through virtual coffee chats.

Closing Thoughts on Empowered Presence (00:51:16) Melanie emphasizes the podcast's theme of authenticity and self-marketing, encouraging listeners to embrace their true selves.