We recently connected with Morgan Keene and have shared our conversation below.
Morgan, 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?
Since I was a little girl, self-confidence has been a real struggle. I think many women can relate—growing up, society tells us how to act, what to say, and how to fit in. We aren’t always told that being different is okay—in fact, it’s better to be different! I was an extremely impressionable child, and well into my teenage years, I didn’t truly know who I was or what I wanted. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I started to figure it out.
For most of my life, I did what I was told would be “best” for me—even to the point of stepping into holy matrimony with the wrong person for the wrong reasons. Looking back, I’m actually grateful for that experience. It was one of the most challenging things I’ve gone through, but it taught me an invaluable lesson about myself. That period of my life helped me gain self-confidence and a deeper understanding of who I am (and who I’m still becoming). Because let’s face it—learning about yourself is one of the hardest things to do in life.
There are a few key things that helped me build self-confidence, and the first is having a solid support system. I’m incredibly blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who lift me up, even in my not-so-shining moments. I’ve leaned on them for encouragement and reassurance, which has made all the difference. So, if you’re struggling with confidence, my first piece of advice is to look at your environment. Who are you allowing to speak into your life? What are you listening to? Is it that tiny voice inside your head telling you you’re not good enough? If so, I have news for you—ready for it? God doesn’t make junk. You are amazing just the way you are, and you have so much to offer this world. The hardest part is believing in yourself, but trust me—it gets better. And just in case no one has told you this today: I believe in you.
My second piece of advice is to work on overcoming fear. And what is fear? Fear is an emotion that serves a purpose in dangerous situations, but most of the time, it’s just False Evidence Appearing Real. False evidence that people are judging you. False evidence that you’ll embarrass yourself. False evidence that you’re not capable. But that just it, It’s all fake! The tricky thing is that fear often disguises itself as excitement—your brain doesn’t always know the difference. But once you push through and do the scary thing, you realize it wasn’t as hard or terrifying as you thought.
Let me give you an example: Back in the day, before online ordering made it effortless, you had to actually call and place your order over the phone. I was so afraid of this that I went five years without ordering a pizza—simply because I was terrified of making a silly phone call. I convinced myself I’d say something dumb or that the person on the other end would judge me. Then one day, my boyfriend at the time was making a phone call, handed me the phone, and guess who was on the other end? That’s right—a 16-year-old punk kid asking what toppings I wanted.
That day, I learned two things: It’s really not that hard to list off pizza toppings, and the fear I had built up in my head was a complete lie. Now? I order pizza all the time. And honestly, it’s a lifesaver on nights like tonight when I don’t feel like cooking. The lesson? Yes, fear has a place in our lives, but most of the time, our brains are just too good at overthinking. And that’s when we get stuck—when we let false evidence take over.
The final and biggest lesson I’ve learned is that confidence isn’t just about how you feel—it’s about how much you trust yourself. And self-trust is built by keeping your word.
Think about it—when a friend constantly bails on you, makes excuses, or never follows through, do you trust them? Probably not. Now ask yourself: how often do you do that to yourself?
We don’t lose confidence because we fail—we lose confidence because we don’t follow through. We tell ourselves, “I’ll start tomorrow,” but tomorrow never comes. And each time that happens, we chip away at our own self-trust.
The fix? Start small. You don’t have to make a massive transformation overnight—just aim to be 1% better than yesterday. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Even if it’s tiny (like making sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink at the end of the night.) Even if it’s inconvenient. Keep that promise. Because every time you do, you’re proving to yourself that you’re capable. That you can rely on yourself. And that, my friend, is where real confidence comes from.
So, remember:
God doesn’t make junk. You were made with purpose.
Fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real.
Self-trust is built one small promise at a time.
And if all else fails, just order the pizza.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I was at the lowest point in my life. I had just been unjustly fired, taken advantage of, and sexually assaulted. With nothing left but despair, I wanted to give up. The only thing keeping me going was my sweet four-legged companion, Aspen Leaf—my lifeline during my darkest moments. Thankfully, my family had other plans. They pulled me out of that awful situation and moved me across the country, where I was able to get help and begin my recovery. I told myself: Never again will I allow myself to be in a situation like that.
As I healed, I knew I needed to build something meaningful—something that gave me purpose again. Something where I felt I was contributing to a better future. That’s when I decided to start my own business. After many months of learning, planning, and waiting for the right time financially, I launched my digital marketing agency: Keene Marketing Solutions.
I built Keene Marketing Solutions to help purpose-driven businesses grow in ways that align with their values. Too often, marketing feels manipulative, aggressive, or hollow. I wanted to create something different—something ethical, strategic, and deeply impactful. We know success is too often measured in revenue, conversion rates, and growth percentages. And while these numbers are important, I believe true impact extends beyond metrics. It’s about the lives touched, the communities uplifted, and the ripples of change we create. That’s why at Keene Marketing Solutions, we don’t just run ads or optimize listings—we craft sustainable, ethical marketing strategies that drive real growth without compromising integrity. We help businesses amplify their mission, connect with the right audience, and create lasting change.
Our journey isn’t about chasing digits—it’s about amplifying purpose.
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 best advice I can offer is to surround yourself with people who inspire you. Connection is the real driving force in life—humans are wired to seek it. When you’re around people who believe in you, support your growth, and teach you valuable lessons, you’re setting yourself up for success. But if you’re not in a position to do that just yet, don’t worry. You can still fill your mind with growth-driven content. Download self-development audiobooks, listen to empowering podcasts, and play uplifting music. It’s essential to protect what you allow into your mind—it shapes who you become.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is purpose-driven and focused on making a positive, lasting impact. They are growth-oriented, seeking not just financial success but personal and professional development as well. They value sustainability, ethical practices, and authenticity, always striving to align their business with their core values. They are collaborative, open to innovative solutions, and believe in marketing with integrity to build trust and foster meaningful connections with their audience. They want a true partnership, with a shared commitment to creating positive change and achieving long-term, sustainable growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: KeeneMarketingSolutions.com
- Instagram: @keene.marketing.24
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/keene.solutions.24/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/morgankeene24
