We had the good fortune of connecting with Kafi London and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kafi, what matters most to you?

We live in a world full of go-go-go and find ourselves continuously chasing life. We are encouraged to do, be, and have more which often drives the desire for more material things. As a result, we find ourselves trading success for stress and quickly lose sight of what really matters most.

It’s easy to get stuck on auto-pilot simply going through the daily motions of life which can be both mentally draining and physically exhausting.

There are many things outside our control, however, energy is not one of them.

We have heard the phrase “Knowledge is power” many times but I believe “Energy is the currency of success” as it can positively affect our mindset, mood and motivation.

To me, prioritizing health and well-being over all other things matters the most…because this affects how we think, feel and show up in the world as it fuels our deepest desire to have a successful, healthier and happier life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Beating work fatigue and staying engaged is hard. Often the focus is on doing more…faster, quicker, better…and this will eventually lead to burning out, so I help leaders and teams bring more energy and enthusiasm to the workplace.

For most, it is about slowing down to speed up. Yes, it’s a paradox for sure, but most individuals, leaders and teams need time and space to recharge if they are expected to do their best work.

After 27-years of climbing the corporate ladder in the fast-paced, high-demand world of management consulting, I lost my drive and passion for the work I once loved and eventually paid the price…BURNOUT!

From the outside, it appeared I was excelling by achieving all the key performance indicators but in reality, I was overworked, overwhelmed, stressed and a hot mess!

Once the reality of how bad things had become became obvious, it was time for a change.

Healing my mind and body became the top priority – as I realized “state matters more than success”.

Fast forward, I now love what I do and bring deep compassion to the challenge of feeling overworked and overwhelmed. There are so many people going through what I went through and I want them to avoid making the same mistakes I did.

By blending my skill in leadership, well-being and facilitation, I now support my clients by providing strategies, tools and experiences to help them stay energized and win at work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Workout:

  • CycleBar East Cobb – I am a little biased because in full disclosure I teach there a few times a week and love motivating and inspiring our clients to get fit while having fun! It’s challenging but worth it.
  • Atlanta Track Club: A great place that has training programs for new, casual and seasoned rummers
  • Walking: Chattahoochee walking trails and the Beltline – both great places to hang out and people watch

Cool Space: The Lola – A Womxn’s club, workspace and community. This is my 3rd space and I LOVE IT!

Food: Ponce City Market

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

In the beginning, I thought I could transition from employee to entrepreneur with little-to-no support from others (yeah, right).

I started my journey fast and alone – and soon realized starting a business takes time, so I stand on the shoulders of many who have provided support, mentorship, love, community and encouragement.

My favorite African proverb that I refer to often is “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

I am deeply indebted to those with whom I have crossed paths (and those who I will cross paths with in the future) – thank you for your time, energy and love.

It takes a village – and I am still a work in progress.

Website: https://smartwomenonfire.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kafilondon/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.