Secret Brown shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Secret, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am so proud of the healthy and intentional relationships that I am building. I am very intentional about the people in my life. I don’t wait for my friends or family to call me or connect. I make time for things that matter. My circle of support matters so I make time for it. I truly believe that you teach people how to treat you, so I get intentional and thoughtful messages weekly from friends, family, customers and co-workers because I pour that into others. I believe that which you do not appreciate, will depreciate.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Secret Brown, owner and executive facilitator of EPIC Training Solutions, EPIC stands for encouraging people and inspiring change. We provide executive level ,Fortune 500 employee training and executive coaching to small businesses and non-profit organizations. EPIC was born out of the vision to offer small businesses and non-profit organizations access to high-level employee training at affordable prices, while lowering the barrier to executive coaching and employee training and support. Based on over decades of working in various business sectors we learned that employees are the most important and expensive investment that a business can make but yet does not invest in them but expect great return. We want to support employers grow employees.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
The earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I facilitated my first executive leadership training. From the moment I read the email asking me to facilitate the training, an old ex whom I thought I had long ago broke up with and forgotten, slid into the DMs of my mind. Wouldn’t you know it, Mr. Imposter Syndrome was reaching out. I really struggled with why this feeling was over taking me. I was well versed, well prepared, and a very powerful speaker, as I have been told. I knew it was not the material, I created the training and facilitated it more times than I could count, so what was it? As the day approached I realized that Mr. Imposter always made me feel like I needed to stay in my lane and that I had nothing to offer to PhD candidates, C-Suite executives and business owners. Mr. Imposter told me that my training was best suited for new and entry level leaders and that there was nothing that I could teach them and this was way out of my league. Well, after 2 days of leadership training, I was asked to come back to do a follow up and take on some participants as coaching clients. This made me feel powerful because I didn’t’ allow me to get in my own way and excel beyond what I thought I was capable of and it was the event that birthed EPIC.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I truly believe that every struggle that I have overcame was to make me the speaker, teacher and coach I am today. I learned to USE it, (Utilize Struggle to Empower). I learned that my life lessons were not just a culmination of dumb mistakes, misfortune and black clouds, but they could be used to empower others. When my friends would ask me for advice, instead of giving a straight answer I would couch it in one of my life experiences. They would always laugh and tell me I should share my story in a book or in my classes. Which is what I started doing. When you can separate the emotions and pain from the experience you are left with wisdom. Wisdom is the gift of survival.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
There is only one me. It is too exhausting to have a public face and a private face. I don’t wear a lot of makeup because I want people to recognize me. I mean this figuratively and literally. If I don’t show you the real me then you will never know how to treat me. I believe trauma keeps people from showing their real selves as a protection mechanism. I feel safe in who I am and I an always open to review and change.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Scrolling social media and eating doughnuts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Epictrainme.com
- Instagram: liveepic1
- Linkedin: secret brown
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
