We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katie ONeill a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Katie, thank you so much for agreeing to open up about a sensitive and personal topic like being fired or laid-off. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in layoffs recently and so your insight and experience with overcoming being let go is relevant to so many in the community.
This past year was the first time I was ever let go from a job I’ve had, and I’ve had many jobs. The company I was working for and I was with since 2020, painted this picture of a new health coaching position for me after being in a management role for a couple years. I even did a whole presentation on myself and why it is so vital to have in a practice these days. I was let go about a week after that, as they said they decided to dissolve the position. The company was toxic though, for my mental health and even others there. My therapist was even helping me through being there everyday.
I was more upset at the way that I was let go more than the fact I was let go. It was very unprofessional.
It was in this situation that it hit me, this was the worlds way of telling me that I needed to trust myself and what I have been capable of and what I worked hard for all along, which was in the fitness and health coaching. So now I have fully taken on health coaching and personal training online and my stress and mental health have improved.
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?
I am a Certified Health Coach and Personal Trainer for my own brand KTL FIT. I recently just launched my fitness app where you can purchase online training programs and also subscribe and be a part of new workouts and have access to all things health and fitness. My fitness app is designed to help you create healthy, sustainable habits. I include easy-to-follow home and gym workouts that are designed to get maximum results in minimal time. You could find more information at ktlfit.com
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?
Persistence, hard work and resilience. Advice I have is- do not let anyone’s negativity get in the way of what you want or are seeking to accomplish. I think that being able to move through difficult times and growing from those difficult times is what has allowed me to get to what I am doing today, and I think that if you keep a mindset of- without difficulty there is no growth- then you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
I would have to say that confidence in myself has been the biggest improvement. I did not really believe in myself, I would worry about being judged and would question every little thing I did. I am very hard on myself. Reminding myself that unless I step out of my comfort zone, then I am just going to remain in the box that I have been trying to get out of for a long time.
Contact Info:
- Website: ktlfit.com
- Instagram: @katielynnoneill
