John O’Leary welcomes change and resilience expert Kim Becking to the Live Inspired Podcast to discuss how to lead with purpose, build real resilience, and face life’s challenges with courage.
Kim Becking is a New York Times bestselling author, founder of the Unstoppable Momentum Movement, cancer survivor and mom of three. A leading voice on navigating change, she’s on a mission to help people lead with purpose, build real resilience, and face life’s challenges with courage.
Today, Kim shares how she went from growing up in a trailer in small-town Missouri to becoming a lawyer and public servant. Plus, she shares the bold choice to leave a high-powered career to prioritize family, the breast cancer diagnosis that rocked her world at 30, the life-changing advice from her late friend Patty, how she’s redefining resilience, and why “grit without grace” just doesn’t work.
My friends, if you’ve ever faced a setback that left you wondering how to keep going, this conversation is for you. You’ll walk away with practical tools to build real resilience, the permission to pause and give yourself grace, and the reminder that while the headwinds may be real, the foundation is firm, and the best is yet to come.
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SHOW NOTES:
- Raised in a trailer on a farm in small-town Hallsville, Missouri, Kim was deeply rooted in community and connection, and active in 4-H, surrounded by friends and family, and even showing sheep at local fairs.
- Although her parents didn’t attend college, they instilled the power of education and that there’s a big world with no limits.
- After her high school guidance counselor told her she wasn’t “college material”, Kim invited her to her law school graduation.
- Borrowing belief from others. Kim’s college professor and advisor Dr. Alice Bartee gave her the courage to think outside the box and go to law school.
- “ No amount of money or title or, you know, being on the partner track. Could replace the time with my family.”
- After college, Kim began working with Emanuel Cleaver, first black mayor of Kansas City as the Director of Community Affairs.
- “Be an up-stander, not a bystander”
- At 30, Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer while raising a toddler, thanks to her late friend Patty, who urged her to know her body.
- Patty, who passed away from the disease at 29, left Kim with a handwritten “You Are Allowed” card, a lasting gift of grace and permission that now fuels Kim’s advocacy and awareness work. Get a copy of of Kim’s “You Are Allowed” card here.
- Kim shares that her divorce was harder than her cancer diagnosis because she found herself asking, “what’s wrong with me?”.
- In the past, organizations typically navigated one major change at a time. Today, Kim shares people are often managing a dozen changes all at once both personally and professionally.
- “The grit without the grace is not sustainable longterm.”
- To help sustain resilience, build momentum and be more productive, Kim builds 5-15 minute breaks throughout her day.
- Learn more about Kim Becking, including even more resources to navigate change and build resilience, here.
Did you enjoy today’s episode?
You’ll love my conversation with Mary Marantz. Her story of growing up in rural West Virginia and rising above generational hardship is a moving reminder that our roots don’t define our limits. Mary’s new book Underestimated launched this week and it’s the perfect next step if you’re ready to move from stuck to start. Listen to Mary Marantz on ep. 288.
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KIM BECKING'S LIVE INSPIRED 7
- Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read?
A. Atlas From The Heart by Brené Brown. - Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today?
A. Curiosity. - Q. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be?
A. Photos and memories. - Q. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be?
A. My grandma and grandpa, Mamo and Papa. - Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A. There's always going to be hard. It's what you do with the hard. It's leaning on family and friends and those around you. - Q. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
A. Have more fun. - Q. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?
A. She loved hard.
