Hi! I’m Eugenia Kelley, Founder of Spirit of Success
All my life, I have been fascinated by leadership.
I marveled at people who could stand up, speak with confidence, and inspire others to follow.
Many of my teachers and mentors seemed to have a special gift. It was as if they had been blessed with leadership talent.
Leadership was something I admired and aspired to.
But I never saw myself as a leader.
In fact, I had been told that I was more of a follower.
I found myself in desperate need of a job that would provide for me and my four children.
I decided to go out on a limb and say yes to the position of Director of Religious Education at a small Catholic parish.
Once I realized I was going to be the leader, fear set in.
I was going to be the person people came to.
I would be responsible for making decisions, running programs, leading staff, and basically being the one in charge.
I prayed, “Oh God, what have I done? I’m not a leader. I don’t think I can do this.”
At that moment, the pit in my stomach rose to my throat.
I felt like I might hurl or pass out.
Neither one was going to take back my yes.
So, with the tiniest bit of faith, I prayed:
“Lord, help me.”
In that moment, I was hoping the saying I had heard time and time again was true:
“The Lord does not call the equipped. He equips the called.”
Once I realized this was really happening, I began to research leadership.
I knew I wanted to create a safe place for everyone in my care.
I wanted people to feel seen and heard.
I wanted an open door policy.
I wanted to serve everyone well without losing my soul in the process.
I also knew one of my weaknesses.
I often gave too much of myself.
My boundaries could be soft.
Sometimes they were almost nonexistent.
As I searched for direction, I rediscovered the John Maxwell leadership training I had received when I was a Mary Kay consultant.
I began defining the kind of leader I wanted to become.
Then I identified the steps I needed to take to become that person.
The results were astounding.
The children loved CCD.
Parents felt seen and heard.
My staff knew I had their backs.
They also knew their ideas would be heard and valued.
Our membership increased.
The very job that had terrified me to my soul became one of my greatest loves.
That experience is why I created Spirit of Success.
I saw what could happen when leadership focused on the growth of the people.
People flourished when they felt seen, heard, supported, and valued.
I also understood how difficult it was to be a leader without leadership support.
Spirit of Success was created to give leaders the support they need so they can lead without sacrificing their souls.
When leaders sacrifice their souls and feel like they are carrying everything alone, burnout begins.
The work becomes a chore.
The joy begins to fade.
The spirit loses its spark.
That is why I believe leadership has to support the whole person: body, mind, spirit, and relationships.
Leadership is woven through every part of my life, but it is not the whole story.
Leading at Home and in Life
I am also a mom and a grandma.
My family has taught me some of my greatest lessons about love, patience, forgiveness, communication, and letting go.
They have reminded me that leadership does not only happen in an office, a ministry, or a meeting.
It happens around the dinner table.
It happens during difficult conversations.
It happens when we listen.
It happens when we set healthy boundaries.
It happens when we love people enough to tell them the truth while still giving them a soft place to land.
My faith is at the center of it all.
It grounds me when life feels uncertain.
It reminds me that I do not have to carry everything alone.
It helps me trust that God can use every part of our stories for good.
When I am not coaching, mentoring, or speaking, I love entertaining and spending time with my family.
I also love gardening.
You will often hear me talking about tending to our gardens and kicking out the weeds.
Life and leadership are a lot like gardening.
We have to nurture what we want to grow.
We also have to recognize the weeds that are stealing our time, energy, and peace.
One of my favorite places to be is sitting on my patio and listening to the sound of my fountain.
I am a water girl through and through.
Wherever there is water, that is where I want to be.
Water is my sacred space.
It is where I slow down, breathe deeply, pray, and reconnect with God.
I also love traveling and experiencing new foods and cuisines.
Exploring new places reminds me that there is always something new to discover.
Anyone who knows me also knows how much I love watching sports.
I never missed my children’s games.
I am definitely not the athlete in the family.
But I am a very engaged and enthusiastic spectator.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Steelers will always have my heart.
Cheering for them at a live game is a dream worth living.
These parts of my life keep me grounded.
They also shape the way I lead and coach.
I believe success is not about doing more and more until there is nothing left of you.
Success is learning how to lead, love, serve, and grow without losing yourself in the process.
That is what I want for the people I work with.
I want you to become a stronger leader.
I also want you to enjoy a life you love.
I want you to feel confident in your decisions.
I want you to enjoy the people you love.
I want you to protect your peace.
I want you to keep the spark in your spirit.
Leadership should not cost you your soul.
It should help you become more fully the person God created you to be.
You Do Not Have to Lead Alone
If you are carrying a lot, questioning yourself, or wondering how long you can keep going at this pace, I understand.
I have been there.
Spirit of Success is a place where you can feel seen, heard, supported, and lovingly challenged to grow.
Together, we can strengthen your leadership, create healthier boundaries, and help you lead with confidence without sacrificing your soul.
If something in my story feels familiar, perhaps it is time for us to talk.
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