We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kennya Sanchez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kennya below.

Hi Kennya, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe that a person must have a deep desire to achieve their vision. Success is not guaranteed to be easy. It is most likely going to be challenging. I love the saying, “if it were easy, everyone would be doing it.” Others’ opinions or comments often sway people, but being able to quiet down and find the clarity and confidence of their vision will get them back on track. I recently realized that as we are working on our purpose, we ask for advice and guidance, and the people giving such advice and guidance take it as if the person is asking for permission to fulfill their vision. The truth is that no one else can see or understand someone else’s vision. It isn’t supposed to make sense to everyone else, only the vision holder. I am confident that each vision was given uniquely to each individual to achieve.

Great, I 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?

I love to help others shine, and I love to share my experiences with anyone who would like to learn from them. I first opened my dance studio Vivé By Design Dance & Well-being Studio, in 2013 to create a very inclusive atmosphere helping people find confidence and health through movement. At the same time, I was challenging myself to grow my confidence and improve my health while creating a community.

I taught Salsa, Bachata, Cardio Dance, Yoga, and choreography for special events at my dance studio. I offered many empowerment events. I also partnered with various instructors in the community who provided unique classes at the studio.

I am so excited that approximately eight years later, I have evolved. Now I am no longer at one physical location. I am doing events in different places in the metroplex. I partner with various businesses in the community, and many events are free events where people can come network and social dance. We have six 5k walks a year benefiting organizations in the community and offer empowerment and educational seminars in the community.

I am now a Real Estate agent, primarily focusing as a Commercial Leasing Specialist, sharing much of my entrepreneurship journey with new businesses.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

 

Absolutely! I worked for a company in the wireless sector at a retail location for seven years I began to feel that I didn’t have a creative outlet. I decided to venture into a new job where I sold radio ads to local businesses. I only worked for them for four months before losing my job. In 2009 I lost my youngest brother to a seizure, shortly after I was finally diagnosed with lupus, giving me answers to many symptoms.

I felt lost for a few months. I was still mourning my brother and learning to understand my condition, praying to find an answer to my purpose. I felt as if I knew I was there to learn something.

One day I came across a Tony Robbins program, “Unleash Your Power,” immediately I knew this was for me! I began to listen to this program intensely I commenced developing an unstoppable mindset! I knew that if my brother had an opportunity to live, he would live his life to the fullest as he did for his 18 years of life. I began my journey, searching for my purpose, and hoped to share it with others.

Although beginning a business unemployed and with limited funds seemed ridiculous to everyone else, I couldn’t see anything to stop me. I was confident and determined to make it happen! I began to see where all the skills I’d ever attained were coming into play, including those at the radio station.

Today, I find myself proud to look back and see that I achieved all of the goals I had for starting the studio! I have gained confidence and many skills I can share with others and utilize in other projects.

 

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

 

In 2018-2019 I began to feel as if I needed to shift. I began to want to participate in other activities for myself. I also began to envision myself doing the same thing I did at the studio out in the community. I felt as if I had reached a plateau in my personal goal and needed to refuel.

It was such a hard decision because I felt committed to the people I served at the studio. I also was very attached to the building.

In October of 2019, I began to do more mobile classes.

In March of 2020, COVID shut everything down. I was so grateful for the vision of going mobile and not being impacted in having to maintain a building. During COVID, I was doing so much self-searching I experienced an incredible lupus flare; it is possible that it was due to the shift of constant motion and then having an abrupt stop. Once I began to heal, I began to pivot my mind. My husband is a Real Estate Agent, and we’d always talk about both of us doing Real Estate in the future. What better time than now! I enrolled in Real Estate School and became licensed! I also had the opportunity to rejoin Toastmasters, something I had wanted to do for so long.

When COVID eased up a bit, I began to offer lessons once a month to get back into dancing myself. Last week I had my monthly dance social. As I was driving to it, I remember feeling overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude to realize that I once asked for this new opportunity within my heart, and now I was living it once again. Now I can see how both careers can work for each other and how wonderful life always leads me.