Tracy Konane
Tracy Konane
Empowerment Coach for Creatives
Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
www.tracykonane.com
instagram @konanelifecoaching
tiktok @rebelphilosophy
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I help creatives do their best work and live their best lives by guiding them towards becoming the most empowered version of themselves. ”
In the chaos of modern life, it can be easy to slip into "zombie mode" where you are living life just going through the motions, reacting, moaning and groaning, and feeling stuck and uninspired.
What I do is show you how to switch off your autopilot and start living in "ninja mode" -- where you are able to take back your power from the outside world and start being more agile, skillful, and stronger for your life.
I work one-on-one with creatives, helping them pinpoint areas in their life where they are giving away their inner power, and help them fortify and create a more empowered self -- so they can take on the world!
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I've been a life empowerment coach for four years -- working almost exclusively with creatives for the past two -- but I once never would've guessed I'd be able to do anything like this.
I spent much of my life feeling unempowered.
I was the smallest, shyest, late-bloomer kind of kid while growing up.
Because of my sheltered upbringing I struggled to make real friends and got used to sitting awkwardly on the social outskirts, pretending to not be completely out of my element as the other kids effortlessly bonded over pop-culture.
I'd been told that my artistic pursuits would always just be a rainy-day hobby, and that all the stuff I sucked at were the real factors that would determine my future -- so I spent a lot of time alone in my room with my random personal projects, escaping from the disheartening greyness of the impending real world while I still could.
But as it happens, one must grow up.
I was spat out into adulthood as an uninspired, ambitionless, misfit teen who was terrified of picking up the phone to order a pizza -- let alone going out and doing any of the things required to be a responsible adult.
I secured myself an equally pessimistic antisocial boyfriend. I found a job that required me to stay happily hidden away from other humans. I figured that if I could just create a fortress deep within the bowels of my comfort zone, my life would be nice and safe for the rest of my days.
The only problem was, I was miserable. I secretly swam in self-loathing and frustration, and I didn't know what to do about it other than blame my upbringing, society, my boyfriend, the world -- everything. I gnawed my relationship to shreds with my anger, insecurity, and over-dependence.
Once that ended, I hit a sort of rock bottom. I had centered my entire world -- my identity, my future -- around my ex.Without him, I didn't know who I was or what I really wanted. I felt like nothing. No one.
And finally I saw that nothing, no one, was going to rebuild myself, but me.
So slowly, I made the choice to rebel against my "nice and safe" comfort zone. For the first time in my life I began to deliberately decide who I was going to become -- despite who I'd always been.
I began voraciously reading psychology, philosophy, and self-help books. I majored in Philosophy, and later got my Masters in Information Science with the intent of being a librarian. I was also able to completely break free of my childhood insecurities and live a thriving social-butterfly existence, which ended up changing the trajectory of my entire life.
Around the time I graduated, I discovered that life coaching was an up-and-coming profession, and I felt a deep surge of reckoning. This is what I'd been searching for -- career-wise and for my own growth -- all this time!I did more research and eventually took steps towards becoming a certified life coach through a highly-respected school.
Since then, everything in my life has changed. I've worked through so many of my own previous limitations -- from overcoming shyness to getting out of people-pleasing, unhealthy habits, abusive relationships, and alcoholism. It's been, and will continue to be, a life-long journey!
How do you stand out in your field?
I like to think of myself as the life coach version of Ms.Frizzle (from The Magic School Bus) -- as I love bringing creative exploration and fun to the often daunting and starchy world of self-improvement.
So much of coaching isn't inherently visual because self-growth is so mindset oriented, so I wanted to bring concepts to life by incorporating illustrative video game/anime-like analogies to make it all easier and more understandable. Basically I make all the "left-brain" mindset stuff into something us "right-brain" folks can get on board with!
I deeply believe that creativity and self-empowerment go hand-in-hand, and I heavily emphasize creative methods within my coaching.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Due to the circumstances of 2020, I'm current expanding my coaching into the online world. I previously saw clients in person, but I am now working to reach more creatives across the world through my social media and website offerings. I recently started creating on Tiktok and it's been fun and rewarding!
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
If you take a look at any of my social media, you'll immediately see my mind visually expressed.As mentioned earlier, I take what I do very seriously, but I like to keep it colorful, fun, and creative because that's how I believe real inner growth happens.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
One of my first loves since childhood is creative writing, and I would love to have the time to write some short stories or other types of expressive fiction.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
I was definitely frustrated a few months back at the start of all the 2020 changes, but I am current learning to adapt and expand myself online and finally starting to see some new (and possibly more fun!) ways of doing things.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
It'd be amazing to have someone keep the back-of-house chaos in order! Help me keep my house tidy, determine good lighting for photos and video, help me back-up all my digital files in an organized manner (this is a big one!)…and be a sounding board to bounce ideas off of!
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I'd tell my emo, uninspired teenage self that it's ok to not fit in -- and in fact, it's what will get you ahead if you develop yourself. That adulthood is not going to be as bleak and boring as you think it's going to be, and that you're going to get to have purple hair in your 30's and still be a responsible adult who wakes up with purpose every morning, be creative, and changes peoples lives! That you really can live life the way you want if you put awareness, flexibility, and ownership into it.
Keep following what truly inspires you, even if it seems weird or no one else gets it.
Also, practice being understanding and empathetic to other humans, even if they can't currently show the same to you -- that isn't weakness, it's power.
Your mind will be blown.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
The tension I keep in my neck and shoulders. I've been perpetually stiff for years and no professional has really has given me any real insight into why or how to stop. Trigger point therapy helps a lot, but it hasn't solved it.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Being an empowerment coach to driven creative individuals who dig my approach and are willing to do the work to take full ownership of their lives. Also open to considering creative collaborations… anything involving creativity and empowerment.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal client is someone creative, driven, possibly quirky/alternative/geeky, ready to think outside the box, and serious about having fun while powerfully improving who they are.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Just reach out via email, my website, or any of my social media!
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Thinking outside the box about everything, especially myself.
This member profile was originally published in August 2020, Updated January 2021.