[00:00:02] Speaker A: Welcome to the Business Miracles podcast. I'm Heather Dominick, founder of Businessmiracles.com comma and author of the book the highly sensitive leadership Revolution.
[email protected] since 2010, I've been training highly sensitive entrepreneurs and leaders from around the globe to work less while making more impact and income by doing things differently. I'm so glad you joined me. Listen in and get ready. Get ready for a shift in the way you view yourself, your work, your life. A Business Miracle.
[00:00:40] Speaker B: This is a course.
[00:00:41] Speaker C: In Business Miracles podcast. Episode 167, building your business part time part three featuring highly sensitive entrepreneur and leader Monica Keena. In this special three part episode series, you'll be hearing more about my own story of first starting my business part time to now having been self employed full time for 20 years, as well as also hearing from select highly sensitive entrepreneurs who are currently creating business success while working their business on a part time basis, all with impact, more income, and less effort. In today's episode, I am just so excited to be sitting down and connecting with Monica Kena. Monica is owner and founder of get it done Fitness, which she also exquisitely balances with a very demanding full time career as a paralegal gaming administrator for one of the top 100 law firms in the United States.
Join us to hear the business miracles that Monica has created for herself and for others, and how she learned that what she once thought was a curse or weakness actually became her greatest asset once she was able to embrace her highly sensitive strengths and really begin to do things differently.
Monica, welcome to the Business Miracles podcast.
[00:02:21] Speaker B: Thank you. Thank you, Heather. Thank you for having me on today. I can't tell you how excited I am.
[00:02:27] Speaker C: Awesome. I am just as excited. So before we dive into the details of part time and the amazing work that you're doing in your full time career career as well, I think I'd love to start just by talking about that moment or when there was a shift around what you once thought was a curse and a weakness and what has actually become one of your greatest assets when it comes to being highly sensitive. So would you be willing to dive in there?
[00:03:03] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:03:04] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:03:04] Speaker B: Well, it kind of goes back really far to probably the first time I heard you on a podcast, speaking and learning that what I thought was something wrong with me was really that I was just a highly sensitive person. And I was so intrigued by hearing you speak about what a highly sensitive is that I looked into it more and realized like, oh, this is me. This is not a curse. This is who I am. When you're younger and you're immature and you don't understand all the feelings that you have. And then you go into the business world or you grow up, realize that some of these things that you were maybe once ashamed for really are your greatest strength. Like, for instance, being able to read a room or understanding what people are feeling when they're sitting next to you. But as opposed to me absorbing the energy and taking it negatively, what you taught me to do through our course is that I can feel their feelings without becoming them. And I think that was a really big shift for me. So learning I was highly sensitive was absolutely the first part of it.
And then learning how to cope with some of the things that, you know, we say, our coping mechanisms as a highly sensitive and using and being able to, you know, shift that part of me also, and. But really, really learning what my strengths were, which is mostly connecting to people. And I've learned the value of how important that connectedness is and understanding of others is not just, you know, in business, but also personally as well.
[00:04:56] Speaker C: Absolutely. Absolutely. And I'm so glad that we're diving right in here, and especially when it comes to as a highly sensitive, really being able to feel what others are feeling. But like you said, and as we really do teach in the training program, learning how to go from absorbing, taking into your nervous system, what other people are feeling to actually using it to create deeper connections. And the reason why I love it that we're diving in here is especially because between both your business and your work in one of the top 100 law firms in the United States, those are two really challenging areas. Your business is in the area of fitness. And stereotypically, that's all about, like, tough it up, right? Push it through and really be able to disconnect from a feeling state, right. Often to the detriment of the athlete. And then, of course, everything that is stereotypical when it comes to corporate America. And yet you have so beautifully, so exquisitely learned, first and foremost, how to make that shift, and then really use it. Use it in service to your clients and your business, and use it in service to your role at the firm. So I love for you to maybe talk a little bit about maybe an example, right, of how you use that connectedness, strength and ability in your business or the law firm or maybe a little bit of both.
[00:06:53] Speaker B: Yeah, sure. I mean, it may not seem like there's a connection, but there is a connection.
When I'm training, the women I train mostly are women professionals. Most of us have full time careers also why we train at, like, 515 in the morning before everything gets started in the day. But, you know, and then most of us are going on to other parts and aspects of our lives. But the same principles apply to both. Right? Like, the most important thing you need to do at work and the most important thing you need to do with fitness is, number one, you have to show up. You have to be there.
And maybe not every day, you're 100%, but you're there. And the other part of it, too, is also the consistency of just being consistent, just being. Showing up, showing your others, your other teammates, your other girls that you're working out with. Like, I understand, we're busy. I'm here, too.
But you're still willing to do the work that it takes to get the job done, because either way, whether it's through self care or it's in a career, it's because what you're putting into there matters.
So a lot of times when I'm training, even just weight training, I know this sounds, people have heard it before, or. But you don't have in life, you don't have a lot of control. So I try to connect the dots between taking care of ourselves by, like, now you have control of that weight. This might be the only thing you have control over today, but right now you have control over that. And how you get that up and put it down is really up to you.
So whenever I'm training, I always try to help my team. I call them my team. I try to help them connect their everyday life to what they're doing out in the world. And a lot of times it is, as, you know, a professional even just having the weight of the world on your shoulders. Right. When you have to do a stretch at the end. Well, now it's our time to just lift that and take that weight off of our shoulders. So I like to make those connections, but they also apply when we're in our careers, too, because you have to show up as a teammate. You at work, still, you are, you know, you want to be reliable. And there's also times and same thing with fitness in your career. You have to adapt. Things just don't always go as planned. Right? So maybe you're not feeling your workout in the morning, but you showed up anyway.
Maybe something did happen where you had a reroute or you have an injury and you have to adapt. It's better to show up and make an adaption than not show up at all. And the same thing applies to how I deal with things at work. I work for lawyers, and I'm kind of a liaison between the paralegals and the attorneys. And every day is something different. You come in, you think your day is going to be one way, and then something happens and you have to reroute. You have to learn to adapt, and you have to learn not to always get upset about it, either. So I think the fitness kind of and the work strategies for me have gone hand in hand, and they. And they connect. And I think that self care also having that moment to yourself in the morning with a bunch of women who have something in common with you, and then moving on, you know, to your day, where you all understand, maybe I'm tired because I work late the night before, but you still show up, you know, for each other in the morning.
[00:10:38] Speaker C: Amazing. Amazing. This is tremendous. So I'm hearing not only this, like, beautiful synergy connection between the work that you do in your business with fitness and service to your clients, or, as you like to call them, your team. Love that. And then also, when it comes to your career in the law firm, really hearing that synergy. But what I'm also hearing is so much of your application of the teachings and the trainings from the highly sensitive leadership training program, because I'm sure as some are listening to you, they're probably like, oh, my God. Like, how does she do this? Like, this sounds so overwhelming to be able to do both, but yet I've really had a seat of witnessing and watching you really, truly grow into your highly sensitive strengths and own your highly sensitive leadership by actually being in both the business and the law firm. And you and I were recently talking about how applying your highly sensitive leadership to the work in the law firm not only has supported the business, but I've really seen it, again, support you and your growth.
I wonder if you could talk a little bit about that and specifically, again, to those listeners who are like, how does she even do that? I'm sure Monica can't be highly sensitive because she would just be like a pancake on the floor if she's actually doing all these things that she says that she's doing. But you are highly sensitive. We know that. And you are really thriving. We know that.
What aspects, maybe, of your highly sensitive leadership training help you to be in this thrive space between the two?
[00:12:46] Speaker B: There's a few that stick out. The major one that sticks out is you're training basically on the both end and how there is something inside of human beings that we think it's kind of that all or nothing.
[00:13:03] Speaker C: That's right.
[00:13:03] Speaker B: Or that. Or that. Either. Or in life, like, you're either. You know, I'm either working for the law firm or I either have a business on the side or a business. Excuse me.
[00:13:14] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:13:15] Speaker B: And that it can't be that I am both an entrepreneur and also want to have a career in a professional setting, but I've learned that due to my highly sensitive nature, I am actually thriving with the both. And because I get to use those highly sensitive strengths, each one kind of differently in both settings.
[00:13:39] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:13:40] Speaker B: And it, it really has, you know, I feel like the training itself on that with like, oh, I. Oh, I don't have to make a decision. I can actually make one of these work and I can make it work for me. And the best price doesn't have to feel so hard because people appreciate that little bit of effort that you put in. Like that. You think it's a lot, but you want to put in more, but they appreciate that effort that you're putting in, you know? So, like, my fitness group, they want to just work out. They want to work out and they want to be done with it and get it done. They want to go on with their day and they want to move into their setting. And the same thing, like, when it comes, you know, to work, like, it's a little more lengthy. There's a lot. The more that goes, that goes into my day, you know, because it is longer.
[00:14:31] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:14:31] Speaker B: But I can have both. One is the outlet, you know, but I'm also able to be creative at the law firm, too, using my highly sensitive strengths. So I think that that was a big one is learning that you don't have to just be either or. You just kind of have to navigate what works for you. And that's the big thing, too. It's what works for you. It's not what society tells you is going to work or what they want you to do. It's what you. What works for you. And that's that intuitive strengthen. Right. The intuition of listening to what your heart is telling you, what your gut is telling you, and not necessarily going with what your head may be telling you or with society or your husband or your best friend.
[00:15:16] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:15:16] Speaker B: It has to do with what you. What works for you. So that was huge.
And, you know, we do have that training, too, on how to manage difficult conversations because I really wouldn't be in this position if I didn't have those conversations of, hey, I think I have more to offer, or, hey, I would like to do x, y, and z. And then when you're given that role, to be able to just run with it in your strengths as well, as opposed to kind of hiding who you are. And once you don't hide in one aspect of your life, which a lot of highly sensitive do. That's right, then you're able to just be who you are in all aspects and you kind of. And that's when you thrive. Yes.
[00:16:04] Speaker C: Oh, my gosh. Biochills. So beautifully said. And really, at the heart of what I hear you speaking to is the teachings that I share around your highly sensitive, essential self and knowing who that really is and what each highly sensitive needs in order to be able to thrive, and it's going to look different for each of us and you and your experience is truly a testament to that because I actually watched your stress level go so far down when you actually chose to do both, both the business and the law career.
And I see and hear the key being that you didn't just choose a full time job that wasn't a match for you.
It also didn't fall into your lap as like this automatically aligned position.
You were willing to have difficult conversations along the way, difficult conversations with your spouse, difficult conversations with people at the law firm to craft that full time position, as you said, to really align with who you are.
So you've literally created, like, this beautiful both. And as you said, and again, I've watched your stress level go down. I've watched you, ironically, have more time for your family, right. And really create this amazing harmony experience. Now, of course, we all have our lips and blips every day. Like, Monica's not waking up and being fed by fairies or anything like that. We're not pretending that it isn't a, you know, real life yet. I am really emphasizing you really put in the real work, utilize the training program to get clear on what you needed for yourself and be willing to create that. And it's amazing. It's inspiring. There's so many people who are benefiting your, you know, clients, your team, as, you know, part of the work that you do and, you know, get it done. Fitness. But also, this law firm is so lucky to have you and the ways that you bring your, you know, unique perspective. As a highly sensitive leader, I've just watched it over and over and over again. So just really bowing to you and your willingness to, again, show up in the world as your highly sensitive, essential self, I'm sure others are going to want to just know more about you and how you are doing all of this in the world. So where can listeners, you know, find out more about you, whether it's get it done fitness or just anything else that you'd like to share?
[00:19:16] Speaker B: Well, mostly on. Well, I would say you can find me on Facebook by my name, Monica. You know, Monica Keena. Also Instagram. My handle is a vkina and you can email me. Also if you're interested in the fitness program at get it done fitness as in New Jersey, but
[email protected] so that's getitsunfitnessmail.com.
[00:19:45] Speaker C: Amazing. Amazing.
[00:19:48] Speaker B: Thank you for having me, Heather.
[00:19:49] Speaker C: Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. You're such an inspiration. And thank you so much for being willing to share your story and to just really bust those myths about what it means to create success. As a highly sensitive entrepreneur. Entrepreneur and leader, we really do get to create it how we want to create it. Yes, we'll make sure that all that contact information is in the show notes thank you so much. For those of you who are listening and that you are on this journey of the Business Miracles podcast, we are so grateful and other than until next time.
[00:20:40] Speaker D: Thank you for being a part of this business Miracles podcast episode and for beginning to dip your toe into the journey of highly sensitive leadership training. If you are ready to truly use your sensitivities as strengths in all parts of your work and life, I invite you to connect for a one on one chat will experience being deeply listened to, and together we'll get a sense of whether the highly sensitive leadership training programs are the best next step for you and your highly sensitive journey. At this time, just go to www.claritycall.com to schedule a conversation. We so look forward to connecting with you. Talk to you soon.
