We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Akeia Keith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Akeia below.
Dr. Akeia, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
I took the risk of “betting on myself.” Often, I cheer for others and support others in their endeavors while discounting my own. However, the new path that I have chosen for myself has prompted me to put myself first. This is a very new adventure, but I am loving every second of it.
Initially, I felt that making myself a priority was a selfish act, but in essence it was the most responsible choice that I have ever made for myself. It was a choice that has reduced the anxiety of failing and not achieving my goals. I am now more confident that I can conquer anything that I set out to do. I now understand that betting on myself was me acknowledging that I too have what it takes to win in life. I too have what it takes to become a bestselling author, graduate with my PhD in Psychology and be the CEO of several businesses.
Please know that betting on myself was not an easy road to choose. Nonetheless, repeatedly choosing me on countless occasions allowed me to experience a sense of freedom that can only appear when I am the choice. I now celebrate every small win. I continue to support others, while I remain my primary focus. It’s a splendid commitment to myself.
Dr. Akeia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Growing up in poverty and witnessing domestic violence and alcoholism with in my household equips me with various insights on how to effectively open the eyes of youth to live a better life despite their current environment and household oppositions. My message is a life changing one and the audience will leave with great insight on being an effective dreamer and executor of his or her dreams by positive actions and a positive mindset. Mostly importantly, my primary niche is helping individuals understand the art of effective communication by way of exploring how to engage in conflict resolution with favorable outcomes.
For years, I had no clue that to effectively resolve conflict, I must start with myself first. Inwardly. Now that I have the concept and strategies of how to successfully communicate passed communication barriers, make use of accurate emotional literacy and how to diffuse disruptive behavior and thought patterns, I am your go to person. I have worked adequately with youth, parents, juvenile courts, and school administrators with implementing concepts and strategies of rewarding conflict resolution tips that lead to the best outcomes. My creative ability and my unmatched building rapport strategies with youth continues to allow schools, programs, and conferences to book me to facilitate the experience of what successful conflict resolution looks like consistently.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One lesson that I have had to unlearn is that “I am a product of my environment.” My backstory is that I grew up in poverty. Poverty for me was not having food to eat, living in our family car in the park, or staying in a hotel room hoping for my own bedroom one day. Poverty for me was facing periods of time where our home did not have running water and or electricity. Poverty for me was not having new clothes of my own until I got a job at the age of 14 years old. After years of living in an impoverished environment, my mindset also embraced that this was the way of life and there definitely could not be any other positive options for me to experience. By the time I made it to high school, I gained insight that better was attainable. Therefore, I had to retrain my brain that I did not have to live a life of my current circumstances. As I became older, I embraced the idea of being ok with desiring more for myself. I embraced the idea that dreaming and creating goals for myself was the best framework to follow. Dreaming out loud was the greatest personal development tool that I could ever be introduced to by one of my mentors and life coach. Dreaming was the most informative practical way that created my sustainable outcomes consistently. Once I embraced this transforming practice, I obtained a mindset makeover. I am so clear that I must personally be aware that the poverty mindset and environment that attempted to be my permanent blueprint was not absolute. Currently, I continue to recalibrate when needed to remind myself that I live in abundance and that lack is not a factor in my life.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
My character, personality, and servant-leadership qualities has assisted me in building an undeniable positive reputation in my market. I am certain that I was created to fulfill purpose in the world as a global speaker, speaker’s coach, and curriculum consultant. I continue to actively participate in personal development and self-care which is my personal fuel for this journey that has chosen me. I have discovered that being my authentic self in every room that I have the opportunity to be in is my super power. I am so grateful for every moment that I have that allows me to create safe spaces for transformation in the lives of students, female athletes, parents, teachers, administrators, and those that work with them. Additionally, my authentic love for the speaking industry has allowed me to coach other speakers with the art of showing up in unforgettable ways for their personalized stages of opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.akeiakeith.com
- Instagram: Akeia_Keith
- Facebook: Akeia Keith
- Linkedin: Akeia Keith
- Youtube: Akeia Keith
Image Credits
1) Keith Saunders 2) Next Level Speaking Academy (Jeremy Anderson)