Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anna Kennedy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Anna , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
As contrary as it may seem, I have developed confidence and self esteem from failure. From falling flat on my face. From the losses.
As an entrepreneur, the road to success is not always linear. I may have some highs and then lows, however my biggest gains have always come directly from my lowest of lows. Because when you “fail” or you “lose”, it shows you where your areas of weakness or areas for opportunity are. Failure highlights where you need to grow and get better. So, when a mistake is made, my response is not to quit, to become paralyzed , to give up (which admittedly in my past I may have done so) – the response is instead to lean in and figure out what went wrong and learn how not to let that happen again.
The idea that “failure” isn’t necessarily a bad thing has been a huge change in my mindset that has been invaluable to my success. It is a thing that is albeit, uncomfortable- but a necessary tool for growth and development. Confidence comes from the fact that I have definitely not been perfect in entrepreneurship and leadership, but that I take each opportunity to better myself and the business. Seeing that I have control over the way that I view negative events and/or hardship has boosted my confidence in a way that was unexpected, however welcomed.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I own Elevate Counseling + Coaching, which is a private group practice for mental health therapy. We have 2 office locations. Up until recently, we have only provided individual therapy, however we are starting couples and group therapy this Fall! We serve all ages and we have a therapist that focuses on each stage of life. We have a playroom at our Marietta Square office where children receive therapy and our therapist will utilize art and play interventions. We are all generalists as far as the types of mental health issues we work with: anxiety, depression, life transitions, stress, relationship issues, teen and adolescent issues, etc. However I have a specific passion for working with disordered eating, fertility issues, and maternal mental health. I also love working with people who have wellness goals. I recently started woking with a phenomenal nutrition company as their mental health consultant, which has been a goal of mine for a long time! Lots of growth happening this year!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I honestly believe my background in psychology is one of my biggest strengths. I practice a lot of cognitive behavioral techniques with my clients, however I also put a lot of those concepts into practice when it comes to understanding my own thought patterns and changing of mindset.
I also believe that resiliency and relatability are two other qualities or skills that has been most impactful in my journey.
Advice for people early in their journey:
-Listen to people. Find a way to understand their point of view. Helps for relatability.
-Learn to become aware of your thoughts. Listen to the voice and understand that it is not always correct. Negative thoughts can be changed to positive.
-Always keep going. It will get difficult. Just take one step at a time.
-Take care of yourself. If you are not taking care of yourself, there is no way that you will be your best self to serve others.
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?
Everyone in business, go read “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight right now. It is the story of Nike. It is a story of resiliency, creativity, problem solving, and determination. The whole book is one big valuable nugget of wisdom.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elevatecounselingco.com
- Instagram: annankennedy
Image Credits
Ashley McClain Robert Peterson
