Podcast Summary
Beyond Blind Blaming
Host: Kevin D. St.Clergy (YAP Media)
Episode: Seasons of Reinvention – Elevate Your Brand and Own Your Worth | Maya Elious
Guest: Maya Elious, Personal Brand Strategist, Entrepreneur, CEO of Built to Impact
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode delves into the hidden mindset blocks and blind spots that prevent high-achievers—especially women entrepreneurs—from fully stepping into their power, elevating their brands, and owning their worth. Host Kevin D. St.Clergy welcomes Maya Elious, a renowned personal brand strategist, to discuss the cycles of reinvention, the importance of clarity and values, overcoming imposter syndrome, and shifting out of scarcity into confident, aligned leadership. The conversation is filled with actionable frameworks, honest reflections, and powerful anecdotes designed to help listeners move beyond “blind blaming” and toward authentic success and fulfillment.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Maya’s Journey & Brand Philosophy
- (02:44) Maya shares her journey from customizing MySpace pages in high school to building a creative agency, then transitioning into brand strategy and coaching.
- “I was helping people build their brand before I even knew what branding was … Somebody offered me money to create a custom MySpace page. … That was how I began my entrepreneurial journey.” — Maya (04:44)
- Recognizes the importance of clear messaging—clients often struggle more with what to say than with the technical aspects of branding.
The Power of Values in Branding
- (07:23) Maya’s framework for clarifying your brand:
- Who am I?—Not just by title, but by core values.
- Who do I serve?—Who benefits most from your skills.
- How do I serve them?—Outcomes, transformation, and delivery.
- “If you're building a brand that you love and you're building a brand where you get to work on projects and people that you enjoy working with, you first have to truly know yourself to the core. And I believe that starts with your values.” — Maya (07:41)
- Explains that passion includes both what you love and what you hate; many world-changing movements are fueled by aversion to injustice, not just love.
Overcoming Overthinking & Imposter Syndrome
- (05:54) High-achieving women often:
- Overthink the concept of personal brand.
- Worry about being too self-focused or too exposed.
- Struggle with the misconception that branding is self-centered rather than service-oriented.
- Advice: Reframe content creation as a service, a conversation with the person you want to help—not performance for the masses.
- “I need you to look at content as simply having a conversation between you and the person that you want to help.” — Maya (00:00, echoed at 05:54)
From Skillset to Mindset: The Core of Transformation
- (10:53) Coaching is about facilitating transformation, not just sharing tactics.
- True breakthroughs require understanding and shifting mindset blocks.
- Identity struggles (versus mere confidence issues) often cause self-sabotage and undercharging.
The “Seasons of Reinvention” & The Alignment vs. Hustle Debate
- (14:14) Alignment over hustle:
- There are appropriate seasons for hustle, but ongoing “overwork” is a symptom of misalignment—either lack of systems, relinquishing control, or masking underlying fears.
- Three Alignment Questions: Will this make me money? Will this impact others? Will this bring me joy?
- “The moment one of those things fall off, I am no longer in alignment. … Burnout is not a result of overworking. It’s a result of working out of alignment.” — Maya (15:23)
Pricing with Confidence & Value-Centric Mindset
- (17:25) Overcoming scarcity, especially for women (and women of faith) who may see wealth and goodness as incompatible.
- “Money gives you the financial resources to be more of who you are… you’re not making decisions on lack, but based on values.” — Maya (18:07)
- Value is subjective and must align with the client’s burning desire or pain point—not just “how to make money” outcomes.
- Raising prices changes the caliber of clients and the professional’s own self-image.
- “When you increase your prices, you show up as a different person completely.” — Maya (28:55)
Identity, Blind Blaming, and Owning Responsibility
- (22:45) Many people’s real block is confusion about identity, worsened by information overload and societal noise.
- “When it comes to identity, we have to be very honest about who we're allowing to speak into our minds and what we are choosing to believe about ourselves.” — Maya (24:29)
- Blind blaming (assigning blame to externalities like algorithms, audiences, or even yourself without true reflection) is common, especially when desperate for solutions.
- Solution: Deep reflection, honesty about influences, and possibly guided support or diagnosis from a mentor or coach.
Client Transformations & Stories
- (28:20) Maya recounts transformations where clients radically increased their rates, owned their expertise, and built 6- and 7-figure businesses after stepping into their voice:
- “Just because your title was one thing when you were working a 9 to 5, as an entrepreneur, this is what your zone of genius is.” — Maya (30:34)
- Encourages clients to recognize and claim their “zone of genius” (Gay Hendricks, The Big Leap).
Storytelling Without Overexposure
- (31:57) Maya’s framework for story sharing:
- Past experiences/problems.
- The pivot or turning point.
- The purpose or lesson.
- “Don't tell the story that you need to be telling your therapist. Tell the story that's going to position you as an expert.” — Maya (32:37)
- Stories for business should be solutions-focused and not processing live trauma.
Action Steps for Listeners
- (33:59) “Do the thing that scares you.”
- Stepping into new, uncomfortable actions is required for growth and entering a new ‘season.’
- “You're not going to be ready. That's not the point. … People are successful because they did what they knew they needed to do, even when they were scared.” — Maya (34:03)
- Embrace tasks that cause nervousness; if you’re not a little scared, you’re not pushing enough.
Investing in Personal Growth
- (36:13) Maya’s favorite self-investments:
- Being intentional with time/money
- Exercise for mental clarity
- Books and audiobooks
- Coaching programs and masterminds for community and challenge
- “I want to be the person that gets to soak in all of the wisdom, the genius. … I put myself in environments where I can learn something new and where I can be humbled, lovingly.” — Maya (36:41)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Value Clarity: “Clarity is a form of kindness both to yourself and to those you’ve been called to serve.” — Kevin (01:00)
- On Raising Prices: “If your business is going to make money, we have to know what you’re selling and how much you’re selling it for… you need to know how many of it you need to sell to actually be profitable.” — Maya (17:32)
- Alignment Test: “If it doesn't bring you fulfillment at all … it’s going to be out of alignment. If it doesn’t serve people, it’s out of integrity. If it doesn’t make you money, you’re running an expensive hobby.” — Maya (16:42)
- On Storytelling: “If we can get your past, your pain, the pivot and the purpose, that is the story you want to lead with.” — Maya (33:27)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00 – Start the episode / Maya on content as conversation
- 02:44 – Maya’s journey from MySpace to coaching and messaging clarity
- 05:54 – Imposter syndrome, overthinking content & branding for women
- 07:23 – Maya’s 3-question clarity framework (Brand values and identity)
- 14:14 – Shifting from hustle to alignment and reinvention seasons
- 17:25 – Pricing, money mindset, and teaching value-based selling
- 22:45 – Identity confusion and social/media influences
- 25:33 – Blind blaming, reflection, and availability bias
- 28:20 – Client transformation stories—raising prices and visibility
- 31:57 – Maya’s approach to authentic storytelling
- 33:59 – Taking bold action despite fear (“do the thing that scares you”)
- 36:13 – Favorite self-investment practices
- 39:17 – How to connect with Maya
Conclusion
Maya Elious offers practical wisdom on building a values-based brand, moving through seasons of reinvention, and dismantling mindset blocks around visibility, pricing, and identity. Her frameworks for clarity, storytelling, and alignment present a powerful roadmap for any entrepreneur or leader determined to stop “blind blaming” and step into their fullest potential. If you’re yearning to elevate your brand, own your worth, and welcome your next season, this episode is a must-listen.