What if the most powerful word you could say in your business and your life is the one you've been afraid to use?

In this episode, Dana Skaggs, psychotherapist, podcaster, and keynote speaker, shares how nearly two decades in private practice and a very personal journey with her mother's mental illness led her to become one of the most passionate voices on boundaries in the country. They call her the Queen of Boundaries, and she didn't ask for the title. She just kept showing up for people who were burning out, avoiding conflict, and slowly disappearing from their own lives.

Dana's keynote, Becoming the CEO of Your Mental Boardroom, is built on a simple truth: you already know you should set boundaries. The real question is why you aren't. And that question is exactly where her work begins.

[00:04:00] What She Does and Who She Serves

Psychotherapist with a master's in clinical psychology and nearly 20 years in private practice
Host of Phoenix and Flame podcast, built to help people feel less alone
Keynote speaker on boundaries and burnout for high performers and organizations

[00:05:40] What Inspires Her: Watching People Become Free

Loves watching clients go from trapped and overwhelmed to stronger and liberated
You stop hoping others won't harm you; you start creating your own safety
The people-pleasing tap dance ends; you can only keep your own peace

[00:06:00] The High Performers She's Fighting For

High performers keep giving until their gas tank runs dry
She's seen them on FMLA, in the ER, sick before work every morning
They're talented and creative; they just never learned to say no
Her mission is to reach them before burnout does

[00:07:00] The Keynoting Business Taking Shape

Did her first major keynote at a national convention in Dollywood
Has since spoken for chambers of commerce and young professionals groups
Signature talk: Becoming the CEO of Your Mental Boardroom: Banishing Burnout with Boundaries
Heart's desire is to reach more organizations, teams, and women's groups

[00:11:20] Why Boundaries Make You Better at Your Job

Boundaries don't give people permission to slack; they keep people performing long term
Work affects home and home affects work; they are not separate
Healthy boundaries in both areas lift both; the reverse is equally true

[00:16:00] Client Impact: From Isolation to Thriving

A client was about to quit her job; coworkers were taking advantage and she had no tools to respond
At home she was avoiding her father and had drifted from all her friends
Small application assignments helped her find her voice at work and at home
She didn't quit; coworkers changed, her father's behavior improved, and she found a new friend group

[00:22:00] The First Relationship That Changed Everything: Yolanda Harris

A podcast guest told Dana she needed to meet Yolanda Harris, a branding expert for keynote speakers
Yolanda took her through a full rebranding process three years ago
Dana told her it felt like every other word was Russian; Yolanda never let go
Her patience helped Dana see herself as a keynote speaker for the first time

[00:25:00] The Second Community: MicDrop Workshop and Jess Ekstrom

Was accepted into MicDrop Academy, described as the Navy SEALs of the speaking world
Jess Ekstrom leads with a heart specifically for women who speak
Being around giants in the field accelerated Dana's growth

[00:25:40] The Relationship That Shaped Everything: Her Mother

Her mother's mental illness dominated and enmeshed the entire family
Dana grew up believing her mother's moods were her fault and her responsibility to fix
Her aunt gave her a boundaries book by Cloud and Townsend in 1992; it felt like magic
That moment became the foundation of everything she does today

[00:33:40] Final Word: Baby Steps and Grace

Entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and figuring out the parachute on the way down
Baby steps taken consistently create real change
That is not just encouragement; it is a boundary lesson

KEY QUOTES

"You become stronger, you become safe. You are not hoping that someone else isn't gonna try to harm you. We learn how to create our own safety, and then we become liberated." - Dana Skaggs

"You can't keep someone else's peace. You can only keep your own." - Dana Skaggs

CONNECT WITH DANA SKAGGS

Website: http://www.danaskaggs.com

Boundary Quiz: http://www.danaskaggs.com/quiz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danabskaggs-speaker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.b.skaggs

Thanks for tuning in!

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