Welcome to another edition of Kickin' it with Kristen — your midweek motivation every Wednesday!

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💡Aha! Moment

You walk into a room and immediately feel it—the tension, the heaviness, the way the conversation shifts. You don’t even need words to know an energy vampire has arrived.

In my world, an energy vampire is that person (or sometimes even an event) that just sucks the life out of the room. Suddenly every plan, every conversation becomes about keeping them happy, avoiding their triggers, and not upsetting the apple cart. Meanwhile, they’re insulting, complaining, or hijacking the moment for everyone else.

Here’s the thing: sometimes we don’t just tolerate energy vampires—we enable them. Out of obligation. Because they’re our boss, or our family, or someone we feel guilty about pushing back on. These are what I call “Power Vampires.” They’re harder to stand up to, because doing so might mean upsetting people you care about, or risking a relationship you’d rather not lose.

It takes courage, guts, and real resolve to say, “Enough.” But when you do, you reclaim your peace.

Maybe you’ve seen it too—the coworker who finds a problem for every solution. The one family member everyone tiptoes around “for the sake of peace.” Or the friend who can’t let a single conversation pass without making it about them.

I had a recent reminder of how draining that can be. Honestly, I’ve worked hard to clear most energy vampires out of my life these past few years. But a couple slipped back in, and wow—did I feel it. It drained me for an entire weekend.

My Aha Moment: Energy vampires only have power if you let them.

Here’s what helped me:

• Block out the noise (yes, even on social).
• Set boundaries for future interactions.
• Refill your own tank—I took extra time for myself this weekend to reset.

Protecting your energy isn’t selfish. It’s survival.

👉 What about you—who comes to mind when you hear the phrase “energy vampire,” and how do you deal with them?

One Thing to Know

🏨 Event Essentials - One of my clients, Utopia Experience, just launched a fantastic new tool I know many of you will love—a Conference Budget Calculator. With just a few quick inputs, you can get an instant estimate for your next conference or event.

Utopia Experience is a full-scale event management company specializing in A/V, production, videography, and entertainment. They believe every organization has an important story to tell—and they help make sure it’s heard. From producing multinational conferences for Fortune 100s to creating powerful fundraisers for nonprofits, their work is all about connecting audiences in unforgettable ways.

If you’ve ever stared at a blank spreadsheet wondering “Where do I even start with this budget?” this calculator might just be your new best friend. Go ahead, give it a try and see how it can simplify your planning process.

🏰 a_far_off_place by Katy Lampe - Southwest is implementing changes for flights starting in January 2026! Here are the highlights of the changes so you will be ready when looking at tickets!

• Assigned Seating: Southwest will transition to assigned seating, with passengers able to select seats at the time of booking or have them assigned at check-in depending on their fare type.
• New Fare Bundles: Southwest is introducing new fare bundles (Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra) that include seat selection options, with Basic fares not including complimentary seat selection.
• Updated Boarding Process: The current A/B/C boarding groups will be replaced with Groups 1 through 8.
• Baggage Policy: Southwest is introducing baggage fees for most passengers.

For more information on the upcoming changes, check out this info on Southwest Airlines website!

🏫 Learned - The Art of Deepfake in French Advertising

I came across a French ad from two years ago that completely flipped expectations. At first, it looked like a highlight reel of French soccer stars Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé—fast, exciting, and exactly what you’d expect from a big sports commercial.

But halfway through came the twist: it wasn’t them at all. It was actually footage of female players—Sakina Karchaoui and Delphine Cascarino—with the men’s faces superimposed on top. The campaign, created by agency Marcel for Orange, was brilliant. It made you stop and realize just how talented these female athletes are, even though they don’t always get the same recognition.

What I loved most is that it wasn’t just clever—it sparked conversation. It pushed people to rethink biases and reminded us that talent, grit, and skill aren’t defined by gender. Sometimes it takes a bold creative risk to wake us up to what’s right in front of us.

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✔️ Accomplished - I’m so excited to share that my book, The Cost of Staying, received the Evergreen Living Now Silver Medal in Personal Growth.

The Evergreen Medals celebrate world-changing books published since 2000—books that continue to spark positive change long after launch. To have my story recognized this way feels incredibly meaningful, because when I wrote it, my hope was simple: that someone out there would read it and find the courage to listen to their own whispers, to choose themselves, and to step into something new.

This recognition is a reminder that our stories matter—not just in the moment, but for the lasting impact they can have on others.

🤔 Insight for the Week

❓A Question Worth Asking

Every week, I’ll leave you with one question—something I’m asking myself or my clients. Take it into your next team meeting, journaling session, or just a quiet moment.

🟡 This week’s question: If you could hand out “Do Not Disturb” signs to the energy vampires in your life, who would get the first one?

Would it be a co-worker who hijacks every meeting? A boss whose negativity drains the whole team? A family member everyone tiptoes around to keep the peace? Or maybe a friend who somehow always makes the conversation about them? Whoever comes to mind, this is your reminder that you don’t have to let their energy run the show. Boundaries aren’t about shutting people out—they’re about protecting what matters most: your peace, your focus, and your joy.

💬 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 and Katy on Facebook/Instagram.

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