Welcome to another edition of Kickin' it with Kristen — your midweek motivation every Wednesday!
Don't put off your potential — try coaching and book a complimentary Coaching Session today! #leadership #personaldevelopment #learning
💡Aha! Moment
Our bodies remember what our minds try to forget.
When news broke of the recent earthquake in Thailand, my heart started racing—before my brain even understood why.
It wasn’t just another news story. It was personal.
Years ago, I was in Thailand during a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. Less than 10 miles from the epicenter. That very afternoon, we’d been exploring the area that would soon be devastated. By sheer luck, we’d returned to our hotel for dinner.
We heard it before we felt it.
A low, menacing rumble.
My brain scrambled to make it ordinary: loud music? A train? A plane?
Then everything changed.
We dove under tables. Glass shattered. Windows warped. People screamed and fell. What lasted only minutes stretched into a lifetime inside my nervous system.
And that’s where the real insight came years later.
To this day, when thunder rolls or a building trembles just slightly, my body reacts—before my mind catches up. Sweaty palms. Shallow breath. Muscles on high alert.
It used to frustrate me. I’d tell myself I was overreacting.
But then I realized: this isn’t weakness.
It’s wisdom.
My body was keeping score. Holding onto what I needed to survive—even when my conscious mind had filed it away.
We talk a lot about mindset, resilience, and emotional intelligence in leadership spaces. But how often do we pause to acknowledge that some of our most powerful learning lives in the body, not the mind?
Honoring that instinct, that deep-rooted intelligence, is where real integration begins.
Because true self-awareness isn’t just about what we think—it’s about what we feel, carry, and know, even when we can't explain it.
One Thing to Know
🏨 Event Essentials - 🚨 Calling all hospitality pros + the rockstars who serve them! 🚨
We’re launching something special—and you’re invited to pull up a chair.
Are you a B2B business owner serving the hospitality industry (or just interested in a new way to network) who’s ready to:
✅ Grow your business through real partnerships and referrals?
✅ Be part of a supportive, high-energy community that actually shows up for you?
✅ Learn to network in a way that doesn’t suck?
If you’re nodding along, let me introduce you to The Hospitality Table—a brand-new networking group built just for you.
🗓️ Launch Day: Tuesday, April 15
🕙 Time: 10am CST
✨ Hosted by: Noelle Labrie, Paul McCarthy, Melissa Long, and yours truly
💥 Brought to you by: Success Champion Networking (SCN)
This isn’t your average “pass out business cards and peace out” kind of group. This is about real relationships, real momentum, and real results. Let’s grow together, celebrate wins, and support the heck out of each other.
🔗 Join us at the Table—register here to vist a networking session: https://lnkd.in/gXCsyZQi
🏰 a_far_off_place - I know a lot of you are diehard Walt Disney World fans (same here 🙋♀️), but hear me out: Next trip? Try Disneyland. You won’t regret it.
I’ll share more thoughts as soon as I unpack all my notes from my recent trip to Disneyland (yes, I took notes), but let’s kick things off with the biggest game-changer…
No. Shuttles. Needed. 🚶♀️
Everything is walkable. Like, actually walkable. I timed it to prove the difference for my fellow Walt Disney World folks:
- Park Hop (Disneyland to California Adventure): 1 min 20 sec 🤯
- Grand Californian to California Adventure: 2 min 28 sec (normally under a minute, but they are working on the normal entrance right now)
- Grand Californian Resort to Disneyland gate: 4 min 15 sec
- Pixar Place to California Adventure Park: 4 min 22 sec
- Pixar Place to Disneyland gate: 11 min 30 sec
- Disneyland Hotel to either park: 9 min 20 sec… or just 1 min and hop on the monorail 🚝
And this was all at a chill, leisurely pace—no power walking here. Bonus: most walks are through Downtown Disney, so you can grab coffee, shop, or sneak in a snack along the way 😎
🏫 Learned - During one of my virtual “Diet Coke sessions,” someone brought up my book—and then introduced me to Steve Harvey’s video “Jump.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s all about taking the leap, trusting the parachute will open (even if it takes a few tumbles first). It hit me hard, because writing my book was a jump. Starting my business? Another one. Every bold yes has been a leap of faith. Jumping is scary—but staying stuck is scarier. So if you’re standing on the edge of something big, here’s your reminder: you were never meant to stay on the cliff.
✔️ Accomplished - I’ve been diving into the podcast world—and this week alone, I guested on four shows, with more lined up through the month.
What I’m learning? A good host can pull you into a casual, easy conversation… and before you know it, you’re off-script, sharing stories and insights you didn’t even plan to bring up. Then you hang up and think, wait… what all did I say?! 😅
It’s been such a fun way to stretch myself, connect with new audiences, and talk about the work I love from different angles. Can’t wait to listen back (nervously) and share them with you all soon.
🤔Insight for the Week
You cannot succeed without the risk of failure. You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism. You cannot love without the risk of loss. You have to jump.
— Steve Harvey
❓Ask Kristen
Q: Your book was great. I would be interested in exploring coaching with you. What packages do you have or how can I get started?
A: Thank you so much—that means the world to me!
I’m so glad the book resonated with you, and I’d love to explore coaching together.
Here’s how we can get started:
I offer a few different coaching options depending on what you’re looking for—whether it’s support through a big transition, building confidence as a leader, or just needing someone in your corner to help you get unstuck.
The best first step? Let’s hop on a quick call and see what feels like the right fit. No pressure—just a chance to connect, chat through what you're hoping for, and answer any questions you might have.
Here’s a link to book a free coaching session: Schedule your call today!
Do you have a question about leadership, events, or travel? Reply and ask—we’d love to feature your question in a future edition!
💬 Let’s Connect! Whether you’re planning an event, looking for leadership coaching, or dreaming up your next adventure, let’s chat. Hit reply, or find Kristen on LinkedIn/Facebook and Katy on Facebook/Instagram.
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