Meet Kayla Manzella

We were lucky to catch up with Kayla Manzella recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

As I approach nearly a decade of entrepreneurship, it’s fun to reflect back on the changes I’ve made through lessons often rooted in failure or disappointment.

In a world that glamorizes “busy culture”, I hope to speak to the hearts of inspired entrepreneurs and shed light on how to be fueled by challenge rather than exhausted by it.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

2017 was the year I thought I had been waiting for my whole career. I had opened a successful hair salon, was traveling to salons as an educator, having my work recognized and shared by big brands and getting started in platform artistry.

I was checking off every career goal I had ever set for myself, yet I was sick and miserable.

What we often don’t realize about burnout is that it can easily be masked by the thrill of success. When you’re under thirty without clear boundaries, it’s easy to overlook the signs. Witnessing the inner workings of the industry revealed that what I thought I wanted didn’t align with reality. Living this truth every day took its toll on me from the inside out and I ended up selling my partnership and removing myself from the industry altogether.

It was during that break that I realized I am worthy of having everything I want in a career – I just had to build my empire my way. Make no mistake – I still struggle. Business ownership hasn’t gotten any easier, in fact it’s currently the hardest it’s ever been for me. The difference is being prepared and well equipped. I threw out everything I thought I knew, everything I was brainwashed to believe was “industry standard” and learned how to take pieces of my experience to use as a map vs a rulebook.

This freedom allows me to sit in peace even when everything around me is in flames. That is the secret to entrepreneurship.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Hear me out.

I know It’s trendy to speak in positives and call in universal ease, but just as the sky is blue and we need air to breathe – entrepreneurship is challenging. There’s no way around it. If you’re doing it right it will bring you to your highest highs and then show you the floor as it drags you back down to your knees.

So get knee pads.

My secret is simple: never be surprised. Unexpected bill? Not surprised. Crisis, conflict, or competition? Not surprised. Business hiccups, scheduling chaos, or team disruptions? Still not surprised.

Picture this: you see a beautiful meadow in the distance. It’s far, but you know that when you get there you will have certainty and peace. As you walk toward it, you are repeatedly pelted by flying objects, each represented by one of the situations I described above. You’re hurt, but you keep getting up thinking the storm is over – only to be hit again. The only thing you can do is press on wondering when/if you’ll catch a break, your spirit broken and your body tired.

Turning around to face the other direction sends you flying with the flow of all these objects. They don’t disappear, but you’re moving with them so they aren’t taking you down. You’re smooth sailing, you’re relaxed, you’re on autopilot.

The catch? You can’t see your destination. It’s unknown.

It could be everything you’ve ever wanted and it could be the complete opposite of what you’ve imagined. All you know for sure is that whatever it looks like, it’s guaranteed to have been worth the risk.

If this doesn’t make sense now, I encourage you to keep it in your back pocket. It will one day, I promise!

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Take a break.

Close a few hours early. Take a weekend off. Go backpacking for a month. Hire a babysitter for the evening. Whatever capacity your life allows – take a break.

Overworking yourself is not a medal of honor, but a fast track to burnout.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.sanctuaryoceanside.com
• Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/kayhelene
• Other: https://Www.km.edu

Image Credits

Natalie Loizzo
Sea D’Amico