We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kendria Taylor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kendria, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Thank you for sharing this powerful and vulnerable reflection. What you’ve captured is the real, raw truth of entrepreneurship—the highs, the lows, the doubts, and the deep internal resilience it takes to keep going when everything says quit.

Here’s a polished and compelling version of your story that preserves your voice while enhancing clarity and emotional resonance. This can be used as a blog post, LinkedIn article, or even the narrative foundation of a keynote or podcast:

When the Money Slows Down but the Passion Won’t Quit
I am deeply fulfilled running my own business. I get to do what I love every day—and even when I’m tackling tasks I don’t particularly enjoy (hello, accounting!), my passion keeps me going. There’s a fire in my belly that simply doesn’t burn the same when I imagine working for someone else.

But let me tell you the truth: passion alone doesn’t pay the bills.

In 2024, my business grew 30%—our best year yet. That growth wasn’t just in numbers, it was in impact, in relationships, in confidence. But as the year closed, I noticed a shift. Clients began tightening their budgets. Political uncertainty added another layer of fear and hesitation to the decision-making landscape. Suddenly, training wasn’t a priority. Engagements I had counted on for Q4 were cancelled or postponed into 2025.

I braced myself, telling myself that Q4 is often slow. But then came January. And then more cancellations. Clients citing budget cuts, layoffs, shifting priorities—and in one case, a key client left their role, and the organization decided to take training back in-house. My pipeline dried up almost overnight.

Six months with little to no income. Burnout wasn’t creeping in—it was standing on my chest. I looked at my business planning tool and it said I’d run out of money by June 1, 2025.

It shook me.

For the first time in a long time, I seriously considered getting a job. Maybe having a steady paycheck wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe I could use my skills in a corporate setting and leave the CEO problems behind. No more sleepless nights worrying about cash flow, no more juggling contractors and invoices without knowing when the next deposit would land.

But then I’d think about what it really meant to work for someone else again—even in leadership. And I just couldn’t see myself going back. Still, it was hard to celebrate a year of record growth when I missed my revenue goal and had nothing left in the tank. I pushed harder. Worked nights. Weekends. “There’s no rest if there’s no money,” I told myself. But working harder wasn’t the answer anymore.

I didn’t need more hustle. I needed strategy. So, I started working on the business and here is what I did.

I hired a RED Development Group to help me with strategy for my small business

I restructured our pricing—not by raising rates, but by offering packages instead of one-off trainings.

I got certified in training evaluation to show measurable ROI to clients.

I authored a white paper backed by client feedback and training evaluation data.

I rebranded—new website, new catalog, new energy.

I reviewed my finances with fresh eyes—cut back where I could, and invested intentionally in client-attraction strategies.

I started nurturing relationships, sending out helpful weekly tips to my clients and community.

And through it all, I kept giving—offering free trainings and speaking engagements because this is still my calling.

And then…it worked.

I sold my first training package to a major Fortune 100 company.

The lesson? Things changed when I stepped out of the weeds and started working on my business, not just in it.

So, to the entrepreneur who’s questioning everything right now: you’re not alone. This path is not for the faint of heart. But if you can resist the urge to only work harder and instead pause, reflect, and strategize, you just might find your breakthrough is closer than you think.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Kendria Taylor, and I come from a long line of small business owners and entrepreneurs, so leadership and innovation are in my DNA. I’m the CEO, President, and Principal Consultant of TG8 Solutions Insight, a Learning and Development Solutions company that’s passionate about empowering individuals at every level of an organization through the power of Communication, Collaboration, and Conflict Navigation.

My background is rooted in the study of Family Systems—I’m a proud graduate of the University of North Texas, and I’m also a credentialed mediator. Growing up in a large family, I was always fascinated by how people interacted, especially when dysfunction appeared. Over time, I began to see teams in the workplace the same way I saw families—groups of individuals bound together, each with their own dynamics, communication styles, and needs.

I took those insights and applied them to every team I ever led. I became known for my ability to spot dysfunction quickly and help teams transform into high-performing units. Eventually, that gift—and a funny moment with a former boss—led me to training. She always scheduled me to train after lunch at our annual conferences. When I asked why, she said, “Because you wake people back up.” It clicked: I had a knack for engaging people even during the toughest time of day. That energy and natural ability became the foundation for TG8.

Though I officially launched TG8 in 2018, I’ve been doing this work for much longer—often without the formal title. Training, coaching, improving operations, and helping teams communicate better were just things I naturally did wherever I worked.

At TG8 Solutions Insight, we deliver experiential, action-based training that’s designed to meet people where they are and get results that stick. Our clients are typically seeking out-of-the-box, cost-effective training solutions that deliver lasting impact—and that’s exactly what we provide. Whether it’s in-person or virtual, our programs are immersive, adaptable, and deeply engaging. We appeal to all learning styles, get people moving and laughing, and most importantly, we help them retain and apply what they’ve learned immediately.

We solve common and costly problems like:

Ineffective training that doesn’t lead to behavior change

Poor communication and unresolved conflict within teams

Low employee engagement and psychological harm at work

Leaders who need support navigating tough cultural dynamics

Training investments that lack measurable ROI

What sets us apart is our empathetic and energetic approach, our ability to customize content quickly, and the diverse expertise on our team—including therapists, social workers, learning tech specialists, data analysts, certified coaches, and credentialed mediators. We don’t just train. We measure impact and deliver detailed evaluation reports, so our clients clearly see the return on their investment.

One of the things I’m most proud of is our ability to win over tough audiences—those who walk into a training convinced they don’t need it, and leave thanking us, referring us, and asking when we’ll be back. That’s the greatest compliment we can receive and a true sign that our methods work.

At the end of the day, TG8 isn’t just about checking the box on training. We’re here to help organizations grow, heal, and thrive—to create cultures where people feel safe, supported, and empowered to lead. And we do it all with a deep belief that the answers to your challenges already exist within your team—we just help bring them to the surface.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe our reputation was built on one core principle: we consistently deliver high-quality work that meets and exceeds our clients’ expectations. We take pride in going above and beyond by listening deeply to our clients’ needs, researching trends in the field, and providing affordable, long-lasting solutions that create sustainable change—not just quick fixes.

One of the things that truly sets us apart is our commitment to human sustainability and our mission to eradicate psychological harm in the workplace. That’s not just a slogan for us—it’s a core value that shows up in every interaction. We also have a strong culture of giving back, and over the years we’ve donated more than $150,000 in training and consulting services to organizations that otherwise couldn’t afford this kind of support.

And here’s the key: whether we’re being paid or donating services, we deliver the same high standard of excellence. That level of consistency has built trust and credibility with our clients, and that trust has fueled word-of-mouth referrals and long-term relationships.

Ultimately, our reputation has been built by being generous, reliable, and deeply invested in helping organizations grow in ways that are meaningful and sustainable.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My biggest piece of advice for managing teams and maintaining morale is to start with communication. Everyone communicates differently, and as a leader, it’s essential to understand how each person on your team receives and processes information. When you can communicate in a way that’s meaningful to the individual, it can completely shift morale in a positive direction.

It’s just as important to understand your own communication style as a leader—because how you deliver information directly impacts how it’s received and how people respond. Meaningful communication opens the door to trust, feedback, engagement, and active listening. That’s why we’re so committed to it at TG8 Solutions—we even offer a complimentary communication assessment on our website to help people start that journey (https://www.tg8solutions.com/).

When teams understand how they communicate with one another, it encourages reflection, builds empathy, and strengthens leadership at every level.

The second key to high morale is consistent development. Investing in training shows your team that you value them. It helps them grow, adapt, and feel more connected to the organization’s mission. In fact, a Gallup study found that 45% of employees are more likely to stay with their company if it invests in more training. Development isn’t just about skills—it’s about confidence, belonging, and retention.

Ultimately, both communication and training are critical. They lead to stronger morale, increased productivity, and long-term organizational growth. And when choosing a training provider, make sure you’re selecting one that aligns with your values and will deliver lasting impact—not just check a box. The right partner will make all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tg8solutions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tg8solutionsinsight?igsh=N25qcWhwYnZkanEx
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/CatchingKendria
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendria-t-7ab4a110/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYiUTAKnhVAkQNpsnZ9s5Pg

Image Credits

Suad Photographer