In the latest episode of The Jeff Robertson Show, I sat down with Karissa Dean, a powerhouse of resilience, authenticity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Karissa’s journey from burnout to bold living is one that every entrepreneur and parent needs to hear. Her story is a raw, unfiltered look at what it takes to navigate business, family, and self-identity, especially when life gets messy.
Karissa started her journey as a dance instructor, then moved into property management while juggling multiple roles as a mom, wife, and business owner. But life hit hard when she found herself overwhelmed, struggling to balance it all while staying true to herself. The pivotal moment came when she realized she was living for everyone else and not herself, a pattern she traced back to societal expectations and her own upbringing.
“I was fed up with overwhelm,” Karissa shared. “I had to stop and get curious about why I was doing everything I was doing. Who was I doing it for? I needed to reclaim my life.”
That turning point led Karissa into the world of personal development, where she hired a coach and began reimagining her priorities. One of the biggest lessons she learned was the power of saying “no,” especially to things that didn’t align with her values. This journey ultimately led her to become a coach herself, where she now helps other high-achieving women find balance and purpose without losing themselves in the process.
The Journey from Burnout to Balance
Karissa shared how she transitioned from being overwhelmed to becoming a strategic entrepreneur. One of her key strategies was embracing delegation and understanding that perfection isn’t the goal; progress is. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, she focused on being present for her daughter and building a business that aligns with her passions.
Her most unexpected challenge? Running a dump truck business. Initially an “olive branch” to support her family, it became both a source of pride and frustration. Karissa admitted that while she’s good at it, it doesn’t light her up like coaching does. The experience taught her that just because you can do something well doesn’t mean you should do it forever.
“The biggest shift came when I stopped doing things to prove myself and started doing things that actually fueled me,” Karissa explained.
Owning Your Story: From Survival Mode to Thriving
One of the most impactful parts of our conversation was Karissa’s insight into survival mode. Like many driven people, she found herself constantly in motion, working, building, pushing, but never stopping to ask why. This relentless drive led to exhaustion, both physically and emotionally.
Through personal growth and self-reflection, Karissa learned that survival mode is often a response to past conditioning, the idea that staying busy somehow equates to being valuable. She found healing by learning to slow down, ask herself deeper questions, and, most importantly, redefine her identity on her own terms.
Karissa’s authenticity shines in her approach to coaching. She’s not about quick fixes or glamorizing success. She’s about doing the hard, honest work of figuring out what truly matters.
“You can’t build a fulfilling life on someone else’s expectations,” she said. “It has to come from you.”
Connect with Karissa Dean:
- Instagram: Coach Karissa Dean
- Website
Connect with Jeff Robertson:
Takeaways:
Karissa’s story is a reminder that true success isn’t about doing it all; it’s about doing what aligns with your purpose. Whether it’s running a business, being present for family, or finding yourself after a major life change, the key is to be honest about what you want and make intentional choices.
Tune into this episode for more insights on breaking free from survival mode and living with purpose.
