Goal setting has been really important for me in my life. Not all of you know my story, but it’s a really important piece of the puzzle here. My husband and I both had really challenging childhoods, his even more so than mine. So when we met as little bitty babies, we were both highly motivated to create a better life for ourselves than we had growing up. We knew that we wouldn’t have help, so we would have to work really hard to make it happen.

From the time I was 16, I was working full-time and paying all my own bills—rent, car, cell phone, everything. I graduated from high school with honors and went on to college. I worked full-time all through college and graduated with honors. I started cosmetology school four months later, worked full-time all through cosmetology school, and graduated with 114% attendance. Since then, we’ve flipped three houses and started five businesses on top of his full-time job and raising four children.

I realize this sounds like a story of a boomer walking to school in the snow uphill both ways. But really, this is a story of stamina. Stamina isn’t something you just have; it’s something that’s built. If you ever look at me and you don’t understand how I do all that I do, it’s because I’ve been doing it for a long time. It’s also a story of confidence. Confidence is built by trying things, failing, trying more things, making mistakes, learning. We all know people who are confident and not competent. They’re great at projecting confidence but haven’t done the legwork to build true confidence. These people are typically deeply insecure; we just don’t see that part of them because they’re constantly faking it.

It’s like deciding you want to run a marathon but not training beforehand. You have to work your way up.

When I decided to create a bridal beauty company and open my own salon, my goal was to be the mentor to the people I worked with that I didn’t have and to pay the opportunities I did have forward to others. My deepest desire is to inspire others to know that it doesn’t matter where you began, you can create the life of your dreams. At the end of this life, I want my kids and grandkids to look at me and say, “She was kind, she had a positive impact on the lives of those around her, and she lived her life joyfully.”

It’s a journey, and it’s not always easy, but setting goals and having the stamina to keep pushing forward is key. We can all build the lives we want, no matter where we start. Keep going, keep trying, and never forget the power of your own potential.

Warmly,
Kendra