Shownotes

We are all leaders in some area of our lives whether it’s in the office or at home. How do we know if we are good leaders or the traits that could help maximize our strengths? Listen to this conversation to remove the limiting beliefs and define leadership for you.

If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co. Or leave a comment below!

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In this episode you will learn about:

• What does it mean to be a good leader?
• How you learn to be kind to yourself
• How to properly understand and utilize your Strength Finders results
• Define your limiting belief
• Learn to master your mindset and your heart set

Episode References/Links:

• Strength Finder 2.0: https://store.gallup.com/c/en-us/cliftonstrengths
• Kevin Kepple IG: https://www.instagram.com/kevinkepple/
• Unlock Your Freedom Podcast: https://pod.link/unlockyourfreedom
• Website: https://kevinkepple.us/

Transcript

Lesley Logan
All right. So I’m like I’m just gonna tell you right now it was, this podcast is a party. And also our guests, Kevin Kepple has so many lines, so many words, so many nuggets, so many gems that I’m that I don’t even know how we’re gonna quote them all because there’s so many good ones that I cannot wait for you to hear in your ears. So if you are listening to this while drafted an email, may I suggest that you hit pause on that email. And you take some time walking with this podcast or grab a notebook because Kevin Kepple is someone who like all of us, started off at one thing, is doing another thing and found, found the best way to be the person that he is. And y’all I’m going to tell you right now, one of those nuggets is about being more not doing more. Oh my gosh, I cannot wait to hear how you be more instead of do more after hearing his words, this podcast, our conversation. I have so much gratitude for Kevin and hope you enjoy this. Let me know how you take the this podcast away, what your test takeaways are. If you answer those questions he gave you at the end they’re so great, they’re so brilliant. In fact, they’re questions you can like literally write down somewhere copy and paste every time you need them. They’re freaking great. So without further ado, here is Kevin Kepple.

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Lesley Logan
Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I’m Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I’ve trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it’s the antidote to fear. Each week, my guests will bring Bold, Executable, Intrinsic and Targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It’s a practice, not a perfect. Let’s get started.

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EPISODE

Lesley Logan
Hey, Be It listeners. Okay, I’m super excited because this man who are you’re about to hear is really awesome. Talk about being it till you see it, they have so many examples and that they truly are walking the talk. And so I have Kevin Kepple here and I’m really excited to share with you his amazingness. So Kevin, who are you? What do you do these days?

Kevin Kepple
What? What’s up, Lesley? As you said, Kevin Kepple, you know, I get to work with lots of different types of leaders, usually executives, or business owners, and really help them create more access to happiness and aliveness. And, you know, if we want more, it’s not about doing more, being more as the goal and just really helping them be more of the natural genius that they have. And stepping into that so they can serve at really high levels and their own unique expression of amazing.

Lesley Logan
Okay, so many things to love about that. And of course, you know, I love the being more like, I mean, you’re at the right podcast for that. But how did you before we get into being more? How did you get into this? Like, was this something that you started out right away? Or how did you start to see that, like, leaders out there needed to stop doing so much and being more than they were doing?

Kevin Kepple
Yeah, I mean, I woke up one day, when I was a kid, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And it was so easy, and (Lesley: Who are your parents?) everything worked out perfectly. No, I wish. No, no that isn’t true. You know, I, like a lot of people have had you know different jobs, I went to college, got out of college, and happily ever after. Right. And I got a job that I was good at, but then have a lot of joy in and expose lots of different types of leaders, you know, they’re teachers, sports, corporate career, other jobs, and there’s good leaders, and there’s bad leaders. And I just remember being really frustrated when in one day, when I had a, the VP of the company was screaming at me and profanities. And I just feel like there’s got to be a better way to lead people. And so I’ve got a lot of contrast of what not to be, which is great, right? Really grateful for that. And, he’s doing the best he could with what he had. I worked in different types of professional sales roles for years. And I worked at enterprise software sales for a number of years and worked in financial services as well. And I was winning the trips and all that good stuff. And I got promoted, because that’s what happens when you do well at a job right, you get put in charge of people like that makes you a good leader, for some reason.

Lesley Logan
It’s true. That’s exactly how it goes. They just go, “Oh, this person sells a lot. So let’s put them in charge of people.”

Kevin Kepple
Yeah. They must know how to tell people what to do, which is not leadership, right. And I’ve, you know, I figured out that I really enjoyed helping people, you know, like, be more without making it feel like less, like, that’s always the goal. And you don’t have to win my way to win. Matter of fact, you know, you’re not going to win my way because we’re never going to be creative making copies of other people. And I’d love to go further faster like whatever I’m doing, I want to maximize it. And so I was working with a coach. And I remember he asked me what I liked about my job. And this dude was awesome. He was in the Secret Service for almost 30 years. And he kind of looked right through, you know. (Lesley: Yeah.) And he’s like, “What do you like about your job?” And I’m like, “Well, I love this. And I love that. And da da da.” He’s like, “Hang on, hang on.” He’s like, “Stop.” He’s like, “Dude, I don’t think you’d like your job. You keep saying I love.” He’s like, “You’re not even looking at me. Your body language is all wrong, your tone is all off.” He’s like, “Just one thing you like.” And I had a lot of trouble getting there. And it’s really like helping people, you know, the people that were on my team, I caught up in them just find the best, most authentic expression of themselves. And I’m like, okay, but that’s such a small part of what I get to do, you know, like, and, like I really knew I was in the wrong place. I was on some trip, and there was like a teaching part we had to go to, and they were talking about tax codes. And I was, like, 30 seconds, I was ready to get out of there. I’m like, I think I’m really gonna slam my hand in the car door, then sit here and listen to this, because at least I have something to do think about …

Lesley Logan
Feel like I won a trip. And I’ve had to listen to tax codes, great.

Kevin Kepple
But I knew I was in trouble because I looked around and people were really excited. Like, everybody’s like, engaged and into this and I was like, “Okay, there’s definitely been some sort of a mixup.” I’m not supposed to be here. And a coach is like, “Dude, what do you want to do?” I was like, “I want to help people.” He’s like, “Everybody wants to help people.” And some form, he’s like, “How do you want to help people?” And I had no idea and now he’s like, dude, long story short, he’s like, “I think you’d be a great coach.” And then the limiting beliefs kick in and all the fear, right? I’m like, well, I don’t really struggle because like, now if you throw a rock, you hit five coaches, right? Like they’re everywhere. And you know, this was years and years ago, and …

Lesley Logan
Now if you throw a pebble, you’ll hit seven coaches. (Lesley and Kevin laughs)

Kevin Kepple
Yeah. Follow into. But, you know I really simple I just made it the intention, like, “Hey, you know, like, I want to find something that supports this dream.” And there’s a little bit more to it, but fairly simple. And I looked on LinkedIn, which I didn’t do frequently, and I saw an opportunity with this international multibillion dollar company that’s based in Dallas where I live, and for a national sales and leadership coach, and I’m like, “Hey, that looks cool.” And so I took that job. And the only requirement was I had to move to Chicago. And I was really smart about it, though. I was like, oh, wait till after winter, and I moved in May. I didn’t know Chicago does extra winter. So it (Lesley: Yeah.) was still snowing at May. It was really great. I worked for them for about three years. I got to really coach and train people all day, every day and work with powerful people. And I really learned how to do it, I do it at a high level and stepped over started my own thing years ago. And it’s all good, now.

Lesley Logan
Yeah, I mean, I’m sure there’s all it’s got its own journey because working for yourself, it’s its own thing to learn. But what I what I find, which I like love, like, “I want to work myself.” And like it is actually as hard as working for someone else is just a different kind. But I what I love about this is like you, you challenge yourself to like put yourself in a position to be for someone to see you and to see like, what, like maybe what you weren’t seeing because I think a lot of us talk ourselves into the jobs we’re in, or like I’m just I’m really good at this and like keep getting promoted. I I literally had to quit a job. So they would stop promoting me because I like if they promote me one more time. I’m gonna say yes. I can’t stop. I can’t stop. So I think like, you know, I think it’s I wish I had as a secret service person going you don’t actually do you know, you don’t like this job? Did anyone ever tell you? So when you sort of go into leadership coaching, what is it that you see? Because like, there’s a lot of people in leadership roles who actually want to be in these roles. And there’s a struggle because they want to they think doing more is the thing. So what do you think makes a good leader? And what is it different for each person? Or what what is this, what is something like a sign that someone should take like, “Oh, I’m a good leader.”

Kevin Kepple
Is anybody following you? Right. Like, because leadership’s not a position like you can be the President of a company and not be a leader, you know, leaders like an action really. And, you know, leadership is different than management, management is telling people what to do. A powerful leader is going to inspire and empower people and inspire me, you stimulate me to action, you power me, you give me knowledge and tools of how to do it, you know, but winning with my gifts, not winning your way. And I think that just no, are you telling people or are you asking? It’s probably the simplest way to know if you’re exhibiting leadership or just simply management because you’re telling me what to do this not leadership has told me what to do.

Lesley Logan
That’s so fas… that’s the best description I’ve ever heard. I’m like thinking of every single, like, my brain just went to every single boss I’d ever. (Lesley laughs) And like, um, and it’s so cool, because that means you don’t have to get a promotion at work to be a leader in your in your role.

Kevin Kepple
Yeah, and dude, anybody can be a leader, like, you know, like, god bless moms, like we wouldn’t be here without moms, like one of the hardest leadership roles in the world. And you know, you’re like, I went to a four year olds birthday party this weekend. I was like, man, it’s like, they’re all drunk and on drugs, like they were all over the place. And that Spiderman there and little kid walks up to Spiderman. And he goes, “My favorite superheroes is Batman.” I was like, “Your, that’s leadership right there, buddy. Speaking up for what you want.” You know, but I just think it’s, it’s a behavior. It’s not a position. And, you know, like somebody’s watching you, period. And there’s like, certain leadership traits for sure, you know, that you can pay attention to an increase, but really, it’s just about, you know, how are you showing up?

Lesley Logan
And so when you were stepping into this new role, was that an easy thing for you to figure out? Was that something natural for you? Or did you actually like have to, I don’t know, like, get lessons on on and leading versus managing.

Kevin Kepple
I think I’d spent so much time thinking about it, and just always really gravitated towards leadership positions, whether it was played baseball and hockey for a long time. And, you know, it’s not always I don’t need to be the one in charge. But, you know, quite often, you know, leaders are going to emerge just because of the behaviors they’re exhibiting, etc, etc. I love to read, and I love to just study people who are successful and see what they’re doing and how I can use that to help people you know, through my own style, and had some really great, so there was, of course, a learning curve, and they’re always learning, right, like, I don’t know, is the most powerful phrase I ever learned how to say it took me three decades, but I finally got there and learned how to mean it. But just watching other people, you know, like, what do they do well? Like, what are they doing that I shouldn’t be doing? You know, that contrast is so powerful too. And just being really, I think just being really kind as opposed to right was one of the best things I learned how to do like kind of myself as opposed to right about what I was doing wrong or kind of other people and just learning to not need to be a certain way to be okay. I think that allowed me to evolve pretty quickly.

Lesley Logan
Yeah, that kindness to ourselves, um, That’s not something, I feel like, I feel like maybe going back to those little kids at a birthday party, maybe there’s a natural kindness that they have. But somehow, at some point, we stopped getting, stopped being so kind to ourselves and we start putting others maybe I don’t know, I’ve been out of the corporate world so long but putting other people and being nice to them versus being kind to them, but nice to them at least versus ourselves first and I wonder, I mean, you really can’t be a leader if you’re not being kind yourself because you’re gonna make mistakes. So how did how do you learn to be kind to you?

Kevin Kepple
I think it’s, you know, the great skill, right? Choosing love over fear. It’s like, you know, if I’m be in love, that’s I’m gonna attract more love into my life, or that’s like unconditional love. Not romantic, necessarily. But unconditional love. It’s like not because like, everything we’ve ever done was motivated by fear, love, if you look at every decision you’ve ever taken, I guarantee you, you can boil it down to one of those two and fear can wear hats, right? Guilt, anger, apathy, shame, pride, all those are fear based, right? Forceful behavior. And love is love and unconditional love means like, I love me, no matter what happens. I love you, no matter what you do. Like, I don’t have to like you to love you. Right. And that’s, that’s why we get married. So we can practice that with our in laws, right? I don’t know how to … (Lesley laughs) Yeah. That’s a joke. (Lesley: One of my in laws listens to this podcast.) We’re not talking about you.

Lesley Logan
We’re not talking about you. (Kevin: You’re cool.) Other people’s in laws, though, those ones. (Kevin: Yeah, on TV.) That is, well, thank you for sharing that, because what a great example of like, of a kind of love that we are practicing in our lives. Like, I think some people may I know some of my listener that can be so hard on themselves, they may not realize that they’re actually practicing unconditional love in different ways. And, and there’s a difference between liking someone and having love for them. And so giving ourselves credit for where we are in practice, and, and, you know, an honoring that because when you can see that you are in practice, and you can practice again, and you can show up another day. So when you work with leaders, like what is your what is your first thing? Do you observe them in practice? Do you like be a fly on the wall in their office? Or like, what’s your process?

Kevin Kepple
Here’s what’s wrong with you. (Lesley and Kevin laughs) And we’re gonna need more than an hour, you know. No …

Lesley Logan
Just my assessment.

Kevin Kepple
That’s fun. That would be fun and really hard at the same time. But, the first was a start. So have a certified by Gallup with the Strength Finders tool, or …

Lesley Logan
Oh, we’re gonna talk about that, that’s my freakin favorite tool ever. Keep going. Keep going.

Kevin Kepple
Yeah. It’s so phenomenal like that right there. I mean, it’s a cheat sheet into your elite levels. And it’s not a complete portrait of your character. It’s like, “Hey, here’s what you do really well. But even maybe more important, here’s what it looks like when you give all your power away.” And like, what a cool gift, it’s a cheat sheet into your, you know, extremely high levels of satisfaction and performance, whatever. And, like, we all know that everybody’s different, right? But we always look, I’m gonna look at the world through her eyes, and you’d look at the world through her eyes as yourself, that’s not gonna do you a lot of good. But if I can look at the world through your, like natural patterns of behavior and high energy, and you know, exceptional performance, like, that’s really cool. And, you know, I think probably the greatest gift for Strength Finders was, if I had permission to be me, like I told you, I was working in finance, and I hated Excel. I hated it tax codes. Like, “I think there’s something wrong with me.” Like, “No, dude, you’re just not built to like, that kind of thing.” And that’s totally cool. So I start with that, because, I mean, just one conversation with somebody, you can shift people so fast. You know, like, if I tell you, Lesley this, if I tell you, Lesley that, you may hear it, but if you see it differently from within, right, cite from within insight, like that’s how you create lasting change. And, like, it’s such a cool thing, because at this juncture, I’ve worked with 1000s of people with the Strength Finders assessment. And it’s always like, so onpoint, people are like, sometimes when people get their results, like, “Well, this just isn’t right.” Like, it’s usually because they don’t understand it. And once I explain it, like, “Okay, that is me.” And you know, we think we want or we don’t have but then when you start looking at the things that aren’t natural for people like, like, “Do you want to do that?” Like, you know, like, woo – winning others over is a strength, right? A lot of people who don’t have it, like I wish I had woo. I was like, I have like an incessant need to talk to everyone shake every hand in the room, “Do you want to go talk to everybody in the room?” Like, “Oh.” But people with woo like, “Yes,” you know, and like, that’s cool, man. There’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re built that way.

Lesley Logan
I’m laughing because I’m 100% introvert and woo is in my top five. And it’s exhausting because it’s like, I can’t leave. I need to go lay down.

Kevin Kepple
There’s somebody over there on the other side of the warehouse, I haven’t talked to you. Yeah. You guys are so good because you protect the rest of us though. (Lesley: Yeah) Because y’all can actually get energy from that. And like, it’s really fascinating to watch the people with woo work, and I was I use that specifically because I know I knew that you had to have it. As soon as we got on I was like, that’s woo because you made me feel really good.

Lesley Logan
Well, thank you and also I think like, also our strengths if we like leaning into them a little bit. Like I knew there was a time when like, I was not winning someone over. I was like, “I’m gonna stick around in this relationship till I win you over.” And it’s like, “Oh, actually, maybe it’s just not that into me.” Yeah, that’s a, that’s a story for another day, everyone. But here’s what’s here, you’re gonna get a kick out of this. This is this is how much Strength Finders like matters to my husband and I. So we were on a first date that he didn’t know he was on. And he just told me, he was going through a divorce. And I was like, “Okay, that’s this person’s not really going to be dateable.” But then we started talking about, like, the businesses we ran and all this stuff. And he had a band. And he worked for a startup. And I had written a book. And he mentioned he’s like, “Oh, have you heard of Strength Finders, 2.0.” And I was like, “What are your top five?” And he pulled out his top five, I pulled up my top five, we’ve three that overlap different, different orders, and the top five, but three out of the five. And then he was like, “Do want to get out of here?” And so that was like, that was our way of getting together. (Lesley and Kevin laughs) But it is those in your you’re correct in how it really makes you understand yourself. And like who you are so much better because I could not understand why there were certain things that would just like, I would go all end with light me up. And other things that I’m like this like, but like one of my top five is significance. So it’s like, it has to matter. (Kevin: Yeah) It has to be important. And then I also have activator or positivity, woo and connector. And so it’s like, those are I don’t know which order they’re in. But like, I feel like significant significance was in the top three and activator and connector on the top one up there. But like, I just I was like, oh, this is why like, I literally meet someone and I have to connect them over here. And I do like, I really love doing that. And my husband has told the story on the pod before. So if you’ve heard it before, I want your hearing again, but Kevin hasn’t. He was trying to figure out how he like, why in the band he was the one making sure they all got paid and making sure all these things and he couldn’t really figure out like, what, what like, made him up. And when he did that. He’s like, “Oh, this is why I’m the person who does this at work. And this is why I do this.” And it really helped him understand that he had transferable skills, not just in a band, but also in a business. And so now he’s the CEO of our companies. But like how cool that a test like that could actually go oh, this is why you’re so like, this is what you can do in another company. You don’t have to just go while I’m in a band, you know.

Kevin Kepple
Yeah, but that’s such a great point you know, like, we’re all different. We know that. But do we actually own that? And like, I have an older brother, he’s two years older than me, but like, I always joke that like, “Dude you’re born like 70 years old.” He’s like, “Always been like very wise and responsible. And just like, cartoons are stupid, that would never happen.” Like, I’m like, “Dude, we’re like four years old man …” (Lesley laughs) And he’s so serious. And I used to compare myself to him, right? The comparison game, we’d like to look at other people so we can feel inferior or superior, right? The worst game anybody ever plays? And I’m like, well, I can’t do the things he can do because it’s number one strengths, deliberative, it means he’s slow. He’s methodical. Assess every risk before I even start. And to you and I who have activator really high. We’re like, dude, I got bored and quit listening. I just want to jump off the cliff, build the wings on the way down, right, whatever that looks like. (Lesley: Yes.) Don’t give me instructions. Like that slows me down. I have to come back and ask for him later. But just don’t give it to me up front. Just let me get started because ready, fire, aim is such an effective strategy for us. (Lesley: Yeah.) Just we’re different …

Lesley Logan
Yeah. Oh, I hope my whole entire team listen to this because they I’m like, “I have this idea.” And then they’re like doing the whole project management. And I’m like, “I’m already, I’m already 17 steps ahead.” I’ve already asked them. They said yes, these people are going to do this. And they’re like, “Wait, you have moved to the process.” And I’m like, “No, because I want to know quickly if this plane is gonna fly or not.” Like, I don’t want to build it (Kevin: Exactly.) and then it doesn’t work.

Kevin Kepple
… with activator, what we get is that WTF look a lot because we start so far ahead of starting point is like, if somebody asks you to explain the alphabet, you’re like, yeah, it ends with y and z. Like, wait, what? And it confuses people. And it’s not like smart or dumb. It’s just like, we’re ready to get to the end. And we can begin with the end of mine really easily. And it’s so powerful and so good to have people around you that can do the processes and support you and help you find the things that oh yeah, maybe we should get insurance but …

Lesley Logan
Well, you know what is also great about them because they are listening to us. Sometimes the idea is really fucking awesome. And it goes great. And then we need to fly again. So it’s really nice when they’re like okay, here we can just like repeat, rinse and repeat. (Kevin: Yeah.) Oh, this is so so okay, so people you have people do this and then you have them have them understand their strengths better. And, and then in turn, hopefully that helps them take these next steps as a leader just owning who they are as opposed to trying to be something that they’re not in their role.

Kevin Kepple
Yeah, absolutely. And really just helping, you know them understand like it’s one of the cool things about strings like your natural sources of energy. And energies can be in different, right? Like it’s power, it’s our natural power. But, you know, gravity is super powerful, you know, you and I don’t float away to the moon or whatever, right, thanks to gravity. But if we go up to the top of my house and jump off, we go crashing into the ground, right? It’s not malicious, it’s just going the way I direct it. So with my strings, I need to make sure they’re pointed the way I want, you know, like, significant, you mentioned that one, I have that one fairly high too. And that’s a really great strength, because it’s about my make an impact, make an impact on other people, make an impact in the world, make an impact on ourselves. And that’s the balcony. Right. The the good version, you know, that, that negative space on that the basement, if you will, you know, the basements like when I make things really important that aren’t that important, right? And so, you know, maybe even making it all about me, right? The the the monster comes out, and then like, you know, just pushes people away.

Lesley Logan
I feel like I’m getting a therapy session, everyone, because I’m like, oh, I do, do that. That is a bet. That is not so great.

Kevin Kepple
But what’s the wild with that assessment? Okay, so, Gallup, I love you guys. They’re the ones who created Strength Finders, but like your marketing, people need to have a talk. I mean, you’d have a little heart to heart here.

Same with their website.

Yeah, their website, they just redid it a couple of years ago. I’m like, somehow it went regressed. But they rebranded Strength Finders to Clifton Strengths in the middle of the pandemic, because that’s what you do when you have an assessment. Somebody’s taken 30 plus million times you change the name to something even more obscure that nobody understands. Don Clifton was the guy who created Strength Finders, like thank you, Don in heaven. But you know Clifton Strengths assessment doesn’t really help me understand what it is. And now it makes it harder to find for people. So StrengthsFinder is CliftonStrengths, same exact assessment. And they package it where you can buy the top five or all 34. (Lesley: Yeah.) And so like when I went to Gallup years ago, “They’re like you have any questions?” I have lots of questions. And I’m like, “Why is competition not higher for me? I feel like I’m the best at Strength Finders.” And they’re like, “Yeah, it’s number six.” I’m like, “But it’s not my top five.” And so here’s how you read the report just for you guys. Here’s how you find your dominant strengths, your dominant strengths go all the way down to 10 11 12 or 13. Somewhere in those three numbers, like out of the again, 33 like plus million times I’ve done this. So you read when you read the top 10 in your head, you read the definition, it should sound like this. Yeah, that’s pretty much always me. Either after 10, after 11, after 12 or 13, it stops and it stops. And it sounds like this, instead of being pretty much always meets. Well that sometimes me but not always. So you just draw a line right there. Everything above that line, those are your dominant strings. So even like 12 or 13 can be as strong as one sometimes. And just because of the way they package it though a lot of people don’t understand that and myself included in the past. So …

Lesley Logan
That’s interesting. I did the top 34 because I wanted to find a new assistant. And I didn’t want to find another me because I knew I would like love someone else who was like me. I would love someone I got that’d be so much fun. But I’m an ideas machine. (Kevin: Yeah … And what about the details?) Yeah, and those no details, correct. I mean, I married someone with a detailed up I thank God, but, um, but uh, but I made sure we have everyone who like has to be on my team. We like do their Strength Finders, and they have to like make up for the bottom. There’s gonna be someone who can make up for the bottom. Because otherwise it’s like, where’s that thing? I don’t I just threw up put in this folder. I don’t even know. (Kevin: I got bunch of this.) Yeah, those folders.

Kevin Kepple
It’s funny, but you know, it’s important to understand, it’s not like a complete portrait of your character. It’s your natural talents is all that this shows you and at the bottom is not weaknesses. It’s just released express strengths. Like harmony is number 34 for me, like doesn’t mean I can’t get along with anyone. Right? It just means that I move fast. So I don’t always wait for everybody to see what I’m doing. I see empathy at 34 all the time. And especially if it’s a woman I’m working with the last, “Was that bad?” Like did that means you’re a serial killer? It’s really bad. Like really? Like, no, just like, super empathetic is not the end of the world. Does it mean you don’t have empathy? It just means it’s not like a dominant thing for you. (Lesley: Yeah.) And it’s no big deal. And you know what, like, talent is not rare. Not at all. Like, I’ve never seen a blank report like nope, no talent for you. Sorry. Like, what’s rare is people who have developed this talent into a genius they can leverage on demand. And genius has so much less to do with genetics than it does with habits. You know, get into the habit of being your most excellent self, whatever that looks like. And that’s the trick right there. So simple, but not easy.

Lesley Logan
So when you learned so far, because now everyone’s taking this test while they’re listening to us, and they don’t do that you really want to be by yourself because they had to time test. But, but when you when you kind of like got into your strength, how did you lean into them without, you know like, is there is there a way of like leaning into them more or is their way of like, okay, I’m gonna exercise this strength more honoring those because I think you know, it’s easy for people to go, oh, empathy is my worst one. I’m going to make that one better. It’s like how did you stay in your in your zone?

Kevin Kepple
That’s a great question. There’s probably a very eloquent way of saying this question that I get asked like, every time we were taught this or worked with somebody it’s like, and like, so the basement is like our negative behavior, like when we’re making it all about us with our strengths. Like, for instance, maximizer is my number one strength. Maximizer in the balcony is like, just fascinated with elite, like, whatever, like, mastery looks like in this, whether it’s a person I’m working with, like, Lesley, like your champion is, I was so excited to be on your podcast, like I listened to it before I reached out, because I want to be around somebody, I feel like a master. And like, You’re definitely a master at being with people and just do what you do. And that’s really attractive to a maximizer, because I wanted to just be around it, so I can show you some of that for me and help people like her or whatever. And that’s obviously really healthy getting to like just elite levels. The basement on maximizer is nothing’s ever good enough, right? Like, well, let me just make it a little better and a little better. And it’s like, how did you even get dressed today? If it’s not like absolutely amazing, you know? And so it can be very picky. And so the question that people ask, like, how do I get out of the basement, once they understand the language, right? You know, it’s like our blind spot. And like, man, it’s really simple. Stop making it all about you, right? Because if I’m solely focused on me, then like, that gives the ego a lot of time to jump in. And, you know, the BCD is, you know, blaming complaint and defendant and fear and worry, and all those like, behaviors that take a lot of energy, but bring us little rights is an addiction, you know, like addictions all have the one thing in common, like repetition, but no payoff. And you know, people get addicted to that stress filled negative space of worrying, Kevin included in the past. And so the really the way that you can lean more into these is understand what good looks like, but also understand what you know, the basement looks like, so that, you know, what I’m aware of, I can actually do something about, you know, what I’m unaware of, that’s the dangerous stuff is unaware behaviors that are just patterns in my life that take me away from what I want. And, you know, like, I can’t give what I don’t have, if I don’t understand my strengths, and I can’t use that not at the highest level. But Gallup has a great podcast, actually, if you can find it, like, they hide it somehow. But it’s, it’s phenomenal. I think it’s called Clifton Strengths, they just rebranded that to after seven seasons. So they, they’re really crushing it. But it’s awesome if you do find it, because it’s like 10 minutes of one strength. And you know, just like pick one a day a week. But I mean, like with anything else, like it’s so important to make new decisions, like so often people make this judgment, like, oh, this is how it is like, even if it’s a good thing. And whatever you like judged as being a certain thing, like you’re no longer evolving there. It’s like static, right? (Lesley: Yeah.) And so like, every time I go back and read about maximizer, I learned something new. Even though I’ve worked with this tool for years. It’s still a new version of me. So I need to make new decisions, right? (Lesley: Yeah.) What, what is the next level of this look like?

Lesley Logan
Oh, my God, I now have a new podcast. I’m gonna listen to it and be obsessed. But I also think that I’ve never heard of the terminology like the balcony in the basement. And I kind of love this because Brad’s going to listen to this because we’ll do a recap on you. We talk about you on air … You have to listen to it. But like, now I can just go, “I’m in the basement. Leave me alone. I’m in the basement. I need to get out.”

Kevin Kepple
Sometimes we go into the basement, too.

Lesley Logan
I feel that. I feel that. As an activator, I felt like that’s really … Oh my gosh. So this is I think this is really cool. So you, how many people are you like, coaching on leadership? And is this something you’re doing all the time? Like is this like a you work with like one on one people? Are you just going over people’s quiz like it’s not a quiz? It’s definitely a test. But like, are you are you going over these like individuals or with teams? How do you work with this?

Kevin Kepple
That’s a great question. So a few different ways, I do a little bit of one on one coaching, but not very scalable, because there’s only one me. So I have actually some coaches that support the work that we do. So I have a good team underneath me that can extend out and do a little bit more one on one. But then I do a few different types of groups host a mastermind group for entrepreneurs and business owners that is really want to go further faster, you know, like minded people and like minded journeys, and I love that we’re all co elevating together and also do some corporate work, I work with a couple of different CEOs, and then work with their leadership team as well. And just helping them really to, you know, be better, faster, smarter, and build a better, more powerful culture and really just lean into the gifts that God gave them to go out and create whatever their version of amazing is. And so long answer to a short question.

Lesley Logan
No, but I find it fascinating cuz of course, my brain was like, well, do you like, do you make sure that there’s a bunch of different strengths represented in your mastermind. Like my other and then another thought, because a bounce was like, are you ever do you ever do that with the CEO and their leadership team and realize, “Hey, you’ve got like these people doing like, the wrong roles.” Do you ever like move people around so that they can be more aligned with their strengths or you kind of just help them find balconies in their roles with what they’ve got?

Kevin Kepple
I mean, if they do internal shuffling, that’s, you know, I don’t really do the consulting piece as much as I have. But I really prefer just helping people figure out whatever it is that’s, you know, stopping them slowing down standing in the way. Because it’s like, when we’re happier, we perform better period, right? (Lesley: Yeah) And we’re all innately happy, we’re just covered up with all this BS, it doesn’t matter. And so a big part of what we do is know, like, limiting beliefs, right? So simple, but a lot of people just don’t understand it. Even if they’ve heard the phrase, they don’t, they don’t know what’s limiting them, right? And helping people learn to master the mindset and the heart set. Because so many people give away all that power, right? It’s just the mindset, it’s all they use, right? It’s all logic and reason. I’m like, dude, your mind is a fraction of your being. Like, you don’t have to use it all the time. Like when I sit down, I don’t use my legs. Not much, right? I don’t need to use my mind constantly. But if I’m trying to use reason and logic, where there’s no risk and reason and logic, right, I’m eliminating all that. And I’m going to stick to the known and I’m going to crawl through life, like very slowly. But when I can go through the gut, right? That intuition, that knowingness, like, I know what’s for me, like, I knew this podcast was for me. I knew the space was for me, right? And then I go into the heart, like, where’s the energy? Where’s the love? Like, dude, I love your attitude, your energy, the way that y’all do recaps. I’ll heard y’all doing one. I was like, “Is that something they do all the time?” (Lesley: Oh, yeah.) Then the basement came out. And I’m like, “Hey wait, they’re gonna do that about me.” And I’m like, “Wait, that’s awesome. I think it’d be really cool.” And then like, go into the head for the planning, right? And then I did want to leverage that mind to create the plan. And then I use reason, then I use logic, right? Once I’ve already like, you know, gone through the, like, most infinite parts of me down here. And so if that makes sense …

Lesley Logan
Yeah, that’s so far, there’s, like, 17 things I wanted to touch on. But one of the things I love the beginning is you, you are not being everything in in that role, like, of course, you could probably consult for them, you can make it part of your package, but you are actually like, going, “This is what I actually do. This is what I really like to do. This is where I really excel and doing it.” And this, and that’s good. You know, I think a lot of times, I’m, as we coach people, they’re like, “Well, I can do this, and I can do this, I’m gonna do all these things.” And I’m like, “Okay, and you’re gonna, that’s exhausting. Do you really want to spend that much time with people do? Do you know how much time you just said, you’re gonna make sure that person you’re selling it to?” So I think that’s because so because I think a lot of people would do that. So I love that you shared that because I hope it gives people listening permission to like, like, it’s not limiting, because now you have like, it’s like more energizing to do what you do by just giving yourself like, this is a thing I like to do.

Kevin Kepple
Yeah, I mean, that’s such a great point. You know energies, like, either there. It’s not right. Like, we feel really good about things, or maybe they take our energy away. And that’s a really cool thing again about this assessment. It just shows you your natural sources of energy. (Lesley: Yeah.) And you know, just like, “Hey, I’ve got this predisposition for doing this. So what does it look like when I invest time learn about it and actually using it?” And that’s how your superpowers and it’s so funny, like, I work with this tool, so many different amazing people and asked this question, probably 200 times, like, “Hey, tell me your top strengths.” Like with somebody I’ve already worked with for a decent amount of time. They look at me, and I look at their phone, or they start going through their papers. Like waiting, waiting, and they finally fall, “Okay, oh my gosh, I can activate her and I got this. And I got that.” I’m like, “Dude, do you think it would be awkward if we were walking down the street, we met Superman. And we asked him what his superpowers were. But he had to look at his iPhone and tell us he could fly like these are your superpowers? Don’t you think you should just take the time to memorize them?” Like, and you know, like Kevin included because my coach will one point was like, “Hey, what are your strengths.” And I pull it off the shelf? I’m like, blow the dust off.

Lesley Logan
Yeah, I I love thinking of it like that. And I think I hope everyone listening goes and gives himself the test, if you haven’t, or dusts off the strengths if you have and, and, and dive in and get to know yourself a little bit more. Because when we, the more we know about ourselves, the easier it is to, like, lean in and be ourselves and be that for others. And I think that’s I mean, that’s kind of how you be it till you see it.

Kevin Kepple
Yeah, exactly. And know that so I read that in a good book once.

Lesley Logan
All right, we’re gonna take a quick break, and we’re gonna find out how we can find out, how we can work with you more.

So Kevin, where can people find you, follow you, share their superpowers with you?

Kevin Kepple
@kevinkepple on Instagram or LinkedIn. Unlock Your Freedom Podcast with my name. Yeah, really any social media wherever you like to go. Yeah, just reach out if I can help and I love helping people. I’ve got a question. Let me know. If you’re wanting to take the assessment by the way, it’s kind of hard to find. We were talking about just Google Clifton Strengths Assessment purchase. That’s what you put in like … (Lesley: Put and purchase.) Yeah. It’s gonna get you to the right place.

Lesley Logan
We’ll put the link below and if you don’t know, everyone, it’s really easy. You can just swipe on up and like my team puts all these links, including how to get to Kevin, how to get this podcast and all that. So but yeah, it’s, it’s also very interesting if you buy it for other people then you have to figure out how to find that purchase, but you can it’s possible we we’ve done it. (Kevin: Yeah) So well have that their. So Kevin, we ask everybody be it till you see it. Bold, executable, intrinsic, targeted action steps people can take to be it till they see it.

Kevin Kepple
Yeah, what a great question. I think like keeping it really simple, right? Leonardo da Vinci, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Like such good advice. So ask yourself two questions like, “What do I want? And why do I want it?” You know, what am I passionate about creating right now? What absolutely I love? And then why? How can I mix generosity into that? Because passion is a little selfish sometimes. And don’t ask how. Because if you knew how you’d already be doing it, what do you want? Why do you want it? And you know, just without judgment, like what’s slowing me down, what stand in the way was stopping me and find somebody powerful like Lesley pay her money so that she can help you go further faster, because you will always go faster with a really powerful coach. That is really really lethal, beautiful combination of a big heart and a big brain. And that’s definitely what Lesley Logan is. And so I would highly suggest find somebody like her to take you wherever you want to go.

Lesley Logan
Oh, my gosh, Kevin, well, like attracts like, so same to you. Thank you. These are great questions. Everyone, how are you gonna use these in your life? Let us know tag Kevin on Instagram, tag the @be_it_pod. Share this with a friend. Take your test, share your top five with us and your friends because the more we all know about ourselves, the easier it is to be it till you see it and if we’re all doing this, I’m like, “What a better world we’re all living in. So much easier.” So thank you so much and until next time, Be It Till You See It.

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Lesley Logan
That’s all I’ve got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate this show and leave a review. And, follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over on IG at the @be_it_pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us help others to BE IT TILL YOU SEE IT. Have an awesome day!

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Lesley Logan
‘Be It Till You See It’ is a production of ‘As The Crows Fly Media’.

Brad Crowell
It’s written, produced, filmed and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan
Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

Brad Crowell
Our theme music is by Ali at APEX Production Music. And our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.

Lesley Logan
Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can’t see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell
And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.