Meet Keyda Austin

We were lucky to catch up with Keyda Austin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Keyda, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

My family, friends and educators poured into me from an early age. I was taught that competence builds confidence, not undeserved praise. My uniqueness and the things that I am good at were nurtured and celebrated. Independent thinking was modeled, allowing me to have a mind of my own. I was taught to know my worth before the world could define it for me.

I hail from a military family which, meant changes and moves every few years or less. Complacency wasn’t an option for me. Those experiences taught me confidence in making a diverse set of new friends, independence, as well as exposing me to jealousy at an early age. Military bases are normally adjoined to a town and in said towns, there are individuals born and raised there with little insight to the outside world and how to adjust their ego to accommodate changes that come into their world.

There could be a team star vetted until I touch down and now, I am the MVP or in the running to claim spots academically that others thought were solidified. My motto is always to be amongst the best on a national scale at what I am doing as a result of the unique subculture and lifestyle I was exposed to. I lead with grace rather than ego.

I am an advocate of doing the work unseen. We live in a society where if you’re not visibly oversharing or posting to social media, you’re not living life or productive. I am not ruled by validation or the fear of missing out to build the life I want. Confident and focused individuals know when to touch grass, create boundaries and dedicate time behind the scenes to achieve short and long-term goals.

I also keep my word to myself. For example, something as simple as making my bed or staying in to work on goals builds self-worth and discipline. That unseen work yields seen confidence. I have concrete evidence of my accomplishments. My self-assurance is also derived from tangible proof of current and past successes.

Law 34 of “The 48 Laws of Power”, advises to “Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One”. That resonates dearly with me. I can be in a room where no one looks like me or the odds may be stacked against me in how a situation is panning out. Despite of, I will make sure to carry my head high and walk into a room like I own it while having an air of approachability. Others naturally mirror one’s behavior back to them, so I make sure it’s an embodiment of belief in myself and excellence.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My creative platform commenced during the pandemic when it felt like the world came to a halt. Sometimes the most obvious things slip our attention when they come easy to us. I am the perfect style guru; I have a gift that yields itself to various facets- wardrobe stylist, events, workshops, consulting to designer. That influence was noticed as early as adolescence.

I am complimented by strangers almost daily in life as it relates to my style choices. I take that as confirmation along with recurring affirmations witnessed that I am within purpose and on the right path while God continues to grow me up in my gift as the world catches on. I know that nothing sacred is rushed.

What’s special about my platform, is that I am elevating what the world of fashion truly needs-individuality. I’m art in real time. My sense of style and creativity are definitive. I share original styling and am ahead of the ever-changing trend curves. My creative outlets are within the actual world around me. That allows me to offer set apart and unique inspiration to those wanting to step outside the box. Too many people dress the same. It’s exhausting to see.

I always tell others to examine the source of their style inspiration. If there is no polish, range or upward elevation within the subject’ aesthetic, that tells a story within itself. Social media is great for visibility, yet my platform has a lifestyle approach to it that does well offline. Looks are shown within the environment or aesthetic they belong in, so one can show up in life looking the part. Fashion wasn’t solely built for the internet. I do my community no justice standing in the corner of a room or closet majority of the time going nowhere. I am geared towards an audience not always fueled by algorithmic entertainment. It has flattened the way we dress.

My styling perspective is not location agnostic-rather a global aesthetic. I take into account the overall look and play on aspects within pieces at varying price range for a fluid and thoughtful compilation.

There are men and women who just want to know where to shop via links I share, to those wanting more comprehensive services. I am in the process of launching a full suite of services that offers quick style advice to a more detailed approach. It’s worth it, to invest in one’s physical appearance which also goes beyond the clothes, hence image and etiquette. It warms my heart to know that I am providing a blueprint for evolving men and women.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three most impactful elements in my journey are resilience, self-awareness and continuous learning.

Resiliency should be every individual’s superpower. Nobody will go through life unscathed. Resiliency for me is going through a negative circumstance, learning from it and not housing a victim mindset. I focus on the things I can change and choose to be grateful for the positive aspects until I come out on the other side. I have faith in knowing that nothing is wasted.

Self-awareness is a great trait to have. As a self-aware person, I think about how my words or actions may impact others. I know not to outshine the master in certain environments. The majority of the population is not self-aware because they don’t know themselves or aware of how others are experiencing them. Self-awareness is about not impulsively reacting or choosing to avoid confrontation when it is needed. It’s vital to have a mindset of one’s own.

Personal development is a never-ending journey for me. I have not stopped evolving. Continuous learning is critical to that process. We should always be advancing within professional exposure and mindset, in order to not fall behind innovation and to align with what we desire in life.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

GRIT by Angela Duckworth has played an important role in my development. The book employs practical experiences and life examples of successful individuals. It is not a self-help quick fix. Grit is the ability to keep going despite setbacks and to work hard at something for a long period of time. Just because someone loves something, doesn’t mean they should pursue what they are not inherently good at. Talent alone, also doesn’t determine success. Talent gets one started. What keeps one going is a combination of passion and perseverance. Duckworth shows how one can develop their passion in order keep pursuit going long enough to achieve success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lindarie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keydaaustin
• Other: https://linktr.ee/keydaaustin

Image Credits

Breonna T. Collier
Liam K. Pierson