We recently connected with Becky Kemp and have shared our conversation below.
Becky, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
I remember being a little girl, around 9 or 10 years old, daydreaming about becoming a speaker, author, and media personality. These dreams filled me with curiosity and excitement, but as I grew older, fear, doubt, and insecurity began to stifle that curiosity. Instead of pursuing those dreams, I took a different path—one that many women can relate to. I married my high school sweetheart shortly after graduation, started a family, and settled into what seemed like a wonderful life. But beneath the surface, I felt unfulfilled and disconnected from my true self.
About ten years ago, I hit a point of deep hopelessness and discouragement. I felt like an outsider in my own life, going through the motions without any real sense of purpose or passion. I realized that I had closed the door on my curiosity, trying to conform to what I thought others wanted me to be. I had forgotten how to simply be myself, Becky.
The turning point came during a moment of deep reflection and prayer. The answer I received was simple yet profound: “Becky, change your words, and you can change your life.” It was the first time I truly became aware of the power of words in shaping my reality.
I started paying attention to the words I used—how I spoke to myself, to others, and even the words that floated around in my mind. I realized that my negative self-talk and limiting beliefs were keeping me stuck, preventing me from pursuing the dreams I had once held so dear. It was then that I had a simple idea: to put positive messages on t-shirts. I knew that if I could change my words, others could too, and I wanted to create something that would help women like me find their voice and reclaim their dreams.
Despite my doubts, I partnered with my sister-in-law, Erin, and in 2015, we launched BEcoming Threads. Our tagline, “Let what you wear tell your story,” resonated with many women, and our business grew as women shared their stories with us. I saw firsthand the transformative power of words as these women embraced the positive messages on our t-shirts and began to change their own narratives.
As our business evolved, so did I. I became more intentional about the words I chose to embody each day and noticed how they shaped my reality. What I focused on, I manifested. I immersed myself in understanding and harnessing the power of words, and through this journey, I began to live the life I had always dreamed of.
In 2019, Erin and I made the difficult decision to step away from BEcoming Threads. We realized that while we had loved building the business, our true passions lay elsewhere. For me, that meant finally acknowledging the dreams I had held as a young girl. I wanted to be a speaker, an author, and a media personality—roles that would allow me to share the transformative power of words with others.
I began writing my first book, joined the National Speakers Association, and became a certified life coach. I rebranded my business as Becoming With Becky, a name that reflects the ongoing journey of growth, curiosity, and self-discovery that I believe we are all on. My mission became clear: to help others harness the power of words to create the life they’ve always desired.
Even in the face of setbacks, like the COVID-19 pandemic, I persevered. I accepted a full-time speaking position with Penna Powers as an Outreach Specialist, where I engage with hundreds of people each week, sharing how to change behaviors for safety. I published my first book, The Word Effect: 7 Simple Words To Create Your Most Beautiful Life, and continued coaching high-achieving women and speaking to leaders about the power of words.
Today, I am living the dreams I held as a young girl, not because my circumstances changed, but because I changed my words. I’ve learned that words have the power to shape our reality, and my passion is to share this truth with others. My business was born out of a personal journey of transformation, and it continues to be fueled by a desire to inspire others to harness the power of words and create the life they’ve always dreamed of.
Becky, 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?
I’mq passionate about spreading goodness and igniting transformation through the power of words. As an intentional leadership speaker, mindset coach, and author of The Word Effect: 7 Simple Words to Create Your Most Beautiful Life, my mission is to empower individuals and teams to reshape their narratives and achieve their true ambitions.
My entrepreneurial journey began with the creation of Becoming Threads, a positive t-shirt and apparel brand designed to inspire and empower women. This business was born out of my own realization that words have a profound impact on our lives. I wanted to create something that could help others harness the power of positive language to transform their lives. The success of Becoming Threads showed me that there was a deep need for this message, and it inspired me to explore further how words could be used to unlock potential and drive success.
Through my podcast, “The Word Effect,” and the Word Effect Framework from my book, I share insights on how the words we choose to focus on can shape our reality. My work centers on helping others navigate challenges, cultivate a life filled with joy and fulfillment, and speak success into existence. I believe in the transformative power of intentional language, and I guide others in using it to unlock their highest potential, overcome obstacles, and create lives of purpose and fulfillment.
What sets me apart is my unique approach to combining mindset coaching with intentional language strategies. First you gain an awareness of word power and then you discover how to choose the words you put on daily. I offer a range of services, including keynote speaking, leadership workshops, and one-on-one coaching, all designed to help my clients harness the power of words to drive creativity, innovation, and personal growth. My keynotes, such as “Unlocking Leadership Potential,” “Speak Your Success,” and “Curiosity and Creation,” are all centered on using language to foster innovation, leadership excellence, and continuous growth.
The Becoming With Becky brand reflects my belief that becoming is an active, ongoing process—it’s about ditching perfectionism and embracing curiosity. I encourage my clients to focus on solutions rather than obstacles, and to remain open to learning and growth as they pursue their goals.
I’m most proud of the impact my work has had on others. Whether it’s through a speaking engagement, a coaching session, or someone reading my book, seeing people transform their lives by changing their words is incredibly rewarding. My message resonates with those who are ready to step forward and rewrite their stories, and it’s my privilege to walk alongside them on this journey.
On a personal note, I’m married to my high school sweetheart, and together we have five incredible kids and two wonderful grandchildren. I’m also an active volunteer in my church and community, where I try to embody the spirit of service and dedication in all I do. In my free time, I love quiet early mornings, walking my dog Marley, boating at Lake Powell with my family, or cheering on my boys at their baseball games.
If there’s one thing I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know, it’s this: Words have the power to shape your reality. By becoming aware of the words you choose and focusing on those that empower you, you can create the life you’ve always dreamed of. My work is dedicated to helping you discover and harness that power. Let’s embark on this journey of transformation together.
www.becomingwithbecky.com
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Life rarely goes as planned, and my journey as a business owner and creative is a testament to that. From the moment I started having children and didn’t get the girl I had always dreamed of, I realized that life was full of unexpected twists and turns. It hasn’t been a smooth road. Every time I thought I had things figured out, life would step in and present me with new obstacles, hardships, and learning experiences.
For many years, I struggled with these setbacks. I would compare my life to others, convinced that they had it easy while I faced all the challenges. But as I grew, I came to understand a fundamental truth: everyone has struggles and disappointments, and they don’t mean we’ve done something wrong. In fact, these struggles are what shape us, and if we focus on the good, they can actually make us better.
One of the most challenging moments in my journey came after I had just finished writing the first draft of my book. It was a memoir, a piece of my soul on paper, and I was proud of it. I turned it in to the editor, confident in my work. But when I met with the company that was going to help me self-publish, they asked me a question that changed everything: “What do you want from this book?”
I told them my dream: to stand on a stage, share my message, and have the opportunity to sell my book at the back of big stages. I’ll never forget what they said next. They told me that if I wanted to achieve that dream, I needed to take the ideas from the book and go back—remove half of my stories, restructure it, and make it a self-help book. It felt like they were telling me that my “baby” was too ugly and that I needed to start again. The pain was immense. I cried, and I almost quit.
But then I realized something important: I had never written a self-help book before, and here I was, surrounded by people who could help me do it right. Instead of focusing on the problem, I began to use the 7 simple words that my book is based on: Acknowledge, Ask, Accept, Abundance, Action, Appreciate, Aspire. These words became my guide as I reworked the manuscript.
It took me over a year to revise the book, and the process was painful. Yet, in 2022, I finally had a beautifully edited manuscript. And as life would have it, the path led me to meet a publisher, Leadership Books, at the National Speakers Association Conference. As I continued to show up for my dreams, the path became clear.
Through this experience, I’ve learned that different doesn’t mean wrong—it just means different. Life isn’t always smooth and free of struggle, but it’s these challenges that help us become the people we are meant to be. My journey has taught me that resilience is about embracing the detours, trusting the process, and continuing to show up for your dreams, no matter how bumpy the road may be.
Have you ever had to pivot?
One of the most significant pivots in my journey came when my sister-in-law and I faced a critical decision about the future of our business, Becoming Threads. We had poured our hearts into building a positive t-shirt and apparel brand designed to inspire and empower women. As the business grew, we found ourselves at a crossroads: Should we scale the business and take it to the next level, or should we take a different path?
To explore our options, we did our homework. We researched, asked questions, and even traveled to Las Vegas to investigate the possibility of becoming vendors for wholesaling. On the surface, it seemed like the logical next step. However, deep down, we both knew that this wasn’t the right path for us. There was a sense of unease, a feeling that this direction didn’t align with our true passions or the life we wanted to create.
We had to make a decision, and it wasn’t an easy one. After much thought and reflection, we chose to pivot. My sister-in-law decided to return to her first love—teaching. As for me, I realized it was time to step into a new chapter of my life: becoming a professional speaker and life coach. I wanted to take everything I had learned about the power of words and share it with a broader audience, helping others to harness the transformative power of language in their own lives.
This pivot wasn’t just a business decision; it was a profound personal shift. It meant leaving behind a business we had built together with love and dedication. But it also meant embracing a new path that felt deeply aligned with who we were becoming. The experience reinforced a powerful lesson: life is about persistence and the ability to pivot when necessary.
For me, quitting has never been an option. This experience taught me that when faced with challenges or setbacks, it’s not about giving up—it’s about gathering information, adapting, and finding a new way forward. Even when things don’t go as planned, there’s always another path to explore.
This pivot taught me that curiosity is the key to creating the life you truly desire. When things take an unexpected turn, it’s essential to pause, accept the situation, and remember that different doesn’t mean wrong—it just means there’s another opportunity waiting to be discovered.
I’ve also learned to be my own biggest cheerleader, to show up for my dreams even when others may doubt or misunderstand. Your dreams are uniquely yours, and it’s up to you to pursue them with unwavering determination and belief. So, whatever you do, don’t quit. Keep pivoting, keep exploring, and keep believing in the beauty of your journey.
The decision to pivot wasn’t easy, but it was the right one. It led my sister-in-law back to a career she loves, and it allowed me to step fully into my role as a speaker and coach, sharing the message of the power of words with others. This experience has shaped my approach to both business and life, reminding me that resilience, adaptability, and the courage to pivot are essential qualities on the path to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.becomingwithbecky.com
- Instagram: @beckyjanekemp
- Facebook: Becky Lundgreen Kemp
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becomingwithbecky
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@becomingwithbecky5016
- Other: http://leadershipbooks.com/products/the-word-effect?variant=47069568172346
Image Credits
N/A