We recently connected with Shannon McNiece and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Hi! Thanks for having me. I’m really happy to be here.

Well. I think that in a world that often emphasizes the importance of stability and security, sometimes we find ourselves faced with a choice that goes against the grain.

A risk I took that changed my life for the better was quitting my job as a therapist without any concrete next steps lined up. To some, this may have seemed like a big mistake. No plan? No income!? But to me, it was the best decision I could have made at that time.

I was exceedingly drained. Burnout crept into my life like a relentless shadow, casting doubt and exhaustion over every aspect. My experience with burnout was severe. It wasn’t that I was tired of my job, or even counseling in general. It was much more intense than that – my brain felt broken.

It was a struggle to get through every single day. I couldn’t function. Severe brain fog clouded my thoughts, making it difficult to focus or remember things. I was so completely fried I couldn’t even communicate clearly. At one point, it was so bad that I literally couldn’t speak. My mind was shutting down.

That’s when I knew I needed to put myself first. Doubts and uncertainties flooded my mind. It was overwhelming. But deep [REMOVE SPACING] down, I knew that this decision was necessary. Taking action required a lot of courage and faith.

To make ends meet, I drove for Uber Eats. It was not glamorous, but it gave me the space and time I needed. This change marked a hard reset in my life – mind, body, and spirit. It wasn’t just about taking a break; it was about true renewal.

It wasn’t easy, but it all turned out okay in the end. I reconnected with the things that fueled me. I tapped back into my resilience. The blank space allowed new ideas to spring forth – something that never would have happened if I had kept trudging along. And once I was ready, it allowed me to come back to my work re-energized. It allowed me to get reacquainted with my values, passions, and purpose.

If there’s one thing to take away from my experience, it’s that it’s never too late to prioritize yourself. Taking a risk can be scary but also incredibly liberating. And it’s a necessary part of pushing forward. Trust yourself and your intuition.

Shannon , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

What I do – I help clients access a sustainable and FULLY ACTUALIZED state of aligned clarity, JOY, and integrated well-being.

What does that mean? I help people step into the fullness of who they are meant to be. I help people optimize their brains so they can truly shine like never before. I help people to stretch further and reach further.

How I got started –
My high-level coaching programs essentially grew out of my therapy career. I have always been interested in the brain, holistic health, human potential, spirituality, and positive psychology. So, my neuro-coaching work is like a delicious ice cream sundae of all those different flavors.

The services –
My signature program is called The Blueprint. It’s a VIP Intensive retreat – designed around the client, for immediate impact and results.

I also offer private neuro-coaching for longer-term partnerships, to truly anchor in results.

Everything I do with my private clients is bespoke and white glove service.

The problems I solve –
One of the very cool things about my neuro-coaching programs is that they don’t focus on problems per se. It’s an entirely different approach to change.

The distinction is that my private client work is focused on up-leveling.

Ultimately, the transformations are about well-being and happiness.

The work is about becoming and being the best version of yourself that you can be – to live the life you’re meant to live, to make the biggest impact you were meant for, to leave the legacy you were meant for. It’s about living to your fullest, most aligned, most lit up, on fire max potential. All the way.

What sets me apart –
Coaching programs, even very good programs, often don’t leverage science including outcome studies, and longitudinal studies. It’s just not part of their foundation. They don’t understand what works and why. They just aim in the dark. Yikes.

Additionally, those programs often repackage and repurpose what someone else on the internet is already doing or has been doing for ages. No innovation – stale, one size fits all. Ick.

And because my clients are optimistic, hopeful, go-getters by nature, they pour money down the well, seduced by manipulative funnels or slick sales pages. Those programs don’t hit home – and ultimately don’t work long-term – because they’re not designed around the client from Start. To. Finish.

I have synthesized all of the research. I’ve boiled it all down, so you don’t have to. I’ve taken all the really good and juicy bits and combined them into a whole new way of approaching personal growth. A way that works. A way that gets results, a way that sticks, and a way that feels supremely expansive, and uplifting.

I am pioneering the first luxury holistic neuro-health transformation brand. Nobody else is approaching change the way I am. Brain-life optimization is a new model for the 21st century. It’s a very exciting time for me and my clients.

What am I most proud of?
Well, I’m always super proud of my kids.
And I am proud of the next-level transformations my clients achieve. My clients are wonderful people; I feel very blessed and thankful.

The main things potential clients/followers/fans should know –
I create lasting outcomes for those seeking their highest Love, Truth, and Light.

Everything I do is crafted with care, attention, and love. All aspects are highly tailored, enabling people to feel profoundly heard, understood, and honored – often like never before in their lives. And we have a lot of fun along the way.

I see neuro-health as the next great frontier and the preeminent catalyst for deep personal expansion. Neuroplastic change is a beautiful, inevitable opportunity.

I believe integrated brains equal integrated well-being and happy human beings.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Vision. Vision is the (somewhat rare) ability to see into the future and envision an idea or solution that isn’t yet real or realized. It’s pulling an idea through into the physical tangible realm.

This can be especially daunting when other people don’t yet understand what you’re trying to create. It takes a certain kind of clarity to see the possibilities and opportunities that others can’t see, and then work tirelessly to bring them to life.

Vision helps to focus our energy and efforts in the right direction, and pushes us to iterate, innovate, evolve, and grow.

It seems clear that without vision companies and individuals stagnate. So, I think vision is crucial to success in any field or endeavor.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Honestly, I think life is a series of continual pivots. We think we’re headed one way, and then life throws a curve ball. I have frequently found myself on a brand-new path that I could not have anticipated before. Yet somehow, it always seems like the natural progression from where I started.

I’ve walked away from jobs and opportunities because I knew a pivot was needed. We have to be flexible enough to say, “You know what, this isn’t working,” even if we cannot see a clear path forward – and maybe especially during those times when we can’t see the way.

As the options unfold before you, listen and trust your inner guidance system. You might call it your gut, your intuitive wisdom, higher self, Higher Power. Or you might call it God. I call it God. Tune in, drop in, listen, and align with who you’re meant to be. Line up with your destiny. That voice and that clarity is there for a reason, it’s there by design; it won’t steer you wrong.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shannonmcniece.com
• Linkedin: www.llinkedin.com/in/shannon-mcniece
• Other: [email protected] medium.com/@shannonmcniece

Image Credits
Kira Whitney Photography