Today we’d like to introduce you to Lanna Brasure.
Hi Lanna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I always enjoyed writing when I was younger, I often wrote poetry in my room. Leading up to college, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. I knew I enjoyed cooking and being creative in the kitchen. So I declared my major for college in Culinary Arts. I got a job as a line cook at the time and quickly realized I wouldn’t be able to live the life I want as a chef. The hours, the physical labor, the pay, among other reasons. I changed my major to Pastry Arts, because I also always loved baking and being creative with sweets, as if this would somehow give me the life I wanted. I then realized I didn’t want to continue pursuing that either. I changed my major again to Psychology, because I had always been interested in the human brain and our behaviors; what makes us us and why we do the things we do. I wanted to be a therapist, psychologist, or guidance counselor. But then I realized that might make me more sad that I needed to be. I changed my major again, this time to Business…because I figured whatever I end up doing with my life I’ll have to understand the business side of things. After changing my major so many times and taking so many different classes for various things, I received an Associate’s degree in General Studies. After this, I was discouraged, I had no idea what I ‘wanted to be when I grow up’. I felt like I was supposed to have it all figured out by now. Mind you I was in my early twenties. From there, I took a ton of personality, career, and skills assessments to see what I might be interested in that I may not realize, or what skills I have that could be put towards a career I had no idea existed. I would take the assessments and then cross examine results and see what came up multiple times. Fashion designer was one, which I am still interested in. But one that kept coming up was Computer Scientist. Because I love problem solving, I love being creative, I love learning new things, I love being analytical. At the time, coding was becoming this popular yet intimidating thing that some people were learning. There were some classes online, so I figured I would try to learn how to code myself, and if I felt good about it and like I understood it enough, I would change my major for the last time and pursue Computer Programming. And that is exactly what I did. I went to the library several times a week, because at this time I didn’t even own a computer, and I would research and practice how to code. I was surprised and impressed with myself that I was able to talk to a computer through a keyboard, that it understood what I was asking, did the thing I wanted it to do, and I understood all of it too. I changed my major to Computer Programming and two years later I received my Associate’s in Computer Programming. I had the highest GPA I had ever had in my life, was on the Dean’s list almost every semester (I might have missed one), and had multiple of my professors write me recognition letters. I became someone in class that would help others and work on things together with people so that we would all succeed. Mind you, in my previous classes for other majors, I was so uninterested and so unmotivated to pursue these topics that I barely applied myself, so my GPA was low and I even failed a class. It felt amazing to find out what I wanted to do, and to do well at it. I felt setup for success, or so I thought. After college, I couldn’t find a job because I didn’t have a lot of the hands-on skills most companies wanted. I felt defeated. I needed to continue down this path though, I was determined. So, I went to a coding boot camp. I had heard that boot camps were great at helping beginners get the skills they needed to land a job in tech. They were also a shorter time commitment and less expensive than college. So I attended a boot camp, and that was a game changer for me. Not only did I learn so many code related skills and excel more than I thought I would, but I became far more of an extrovert that I anticipated. I also helped many more people in class since I had my foundational college knowledge, and my drive to help others succeed only grew more. Post boot camp, I got a job 30 days after graduation. I was finally a software engineer! My goal was accomplished. But, now what? My need to learn more, share my knowledge, and help others kept growing. I started helping out with coding classes at the boot camp I had just graduated from, while also being a software engineer. From there, I would go on to teach them, introductory then shortly after I was teaching their advanced and longer classes. To be apart of someone’s a-ha moment, for them to see that they are smarter than they thought, to help someone believe in themself, that was a monumental feeling. After being a software engineer for a few years, I could tell this was not my end goal. It didn’t set my soul on fire, and working a corporate job forever didn’t feel aligned with my soul’s purpose. Someone ended up reaching out to me at the absolute perfect time, it was for a coaching role. To coach people in the tech industry. I didn’t even know a role like this existed. After a few interviews, I got the job. I loved my team, I loved what I did, I loved working remote, and that I could live the lifestyle I wanted. But, I still wasn’t fulfilled. I wanted to make a bigger impact. I know this sounds like the story of a girl who can never be satisfied, but I didn’t ask for this feeling to be put inside of me. I have a calling that I cannot control, an emotion, bigger than an emotion, but I cannot ignore it. And we are going to die one day, so I might as well pursue it. Because the alternative of me not pursuing it is wondering what would have happened if I did. And I just can’t live with that.
I started a coaching business on the side to help those interested in becoming a software engineer or for those in need of general career guidance, I felt like others could learn from my experiences and I had already done tons of mentoring on the side before and loved it. I realized, regardless of what career you want or industry you want to go into, we all suffer with holding ourselves back to some degree. Whether it be impostor syndrome, negative self-talk, or just general self-doubt. I went through some major life changes and turned to gratitude for some of it. It helped me tremendously with rewiring my mindset, it gave me hope. I wanted to share that with others. I started writing again. But this time, I took to writing a gratitude and reflection journal. A guided journal with prompts to help you reflect on where you have been, where you are now, and all that there is to be grateful for in between. I self-published it last year. While creating this journal to help others believe in themselves more, I started believing in myself more too. I typed out all of my old poems that I wrote in my bedroom when I was younger, I started organizing a newer poetry collection, and have a list of books I’m writing. I’m not done yet, there is still so much I want to do and positive impact I want to make. But all of it is coming together to work together. The culinary arts so I can cook and eat healthy food and to share those tips and recipes with others, the pastry arts so I can bake as a form of a love language and give to those in my life, the psychology around our brains and why we doubt ourselves, and why we must push through, the business for all of the goals I have, the computer programming and boot camp so I can have this job where I get the luxury of not being stressed after work allowing me to work on my dreams instead of escaping through Netflix or a nightlife, the writing for me to express myself and to help others, all while coaching others and myself through it all.
This interview is supposed to be about my story and how I got to where I am now. I’m honestly not sure where I am right now, or where is next for that matter. My name is Lanna, I’m from Detroit, MI – currently sitting by a pool in Huntsville, AL on a year long road trip trying to change the world with every interaction I have. To help others see the potential within themselves that they may not see on their own. To help you believe in yourself. To show you that if I can do it, you can too. And to help others feel less alone.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road but we push through it, don’t we? I think we need to appreciate duality more, that good only exists with bad and bad only with good. And to learn from it all. I met someone on my road trip adventure recently, the universe sat us next to each other at breakfast yesterday morning. He said, “life gets a lot easier when you accept everything”, and boy is he right. I’ve had all sorts of struggles along the way. Struggling to figure out what I want to do with my life, what my ‘purpose’ is, if I’ll ever ‘make’ it, having toxic jobs, working with toxic people, working for toxic bosses who were not leaders, being sexually harassed at multiple jobs, being told at my last software engineering job by the VP of engineering that I didn’t get a promotion that I was working toward because he ‘didn’t want anyone to think anything was going on between us’, having to be walked to my car in college and when I was a line cook because some men are just too unstable to trust, not knowing if I could afford college, not knowing if I could afford boot camp, meeting toxic women who want to see you fail, being worried I wouldn’t get the job I wanted, being told I didn’t get the job I wanted, being told I didn’t get the job I needed, asking for help when my pride didn’t want to, healing myself when my body didn’t want it, healing my relationships when it was uncomfortable for everyone involved, always being worried I’ll never have enough money to live even the simplest of lives in this world, not believing in myself, losing my mom, losing my marriage, but the worst of all was losing myself. This is where duality comes into play. Because I would not be who I am, where I am, or wanting to help those in need so much unless I didn’t endure all of that. I had to lose myself to meet the most authentic version of myself, and I have always been genuine, honest, and authentic. But there’s a certain type of rock bottom that has to happen to rebuild yourself and to become all that one is capable of becoming. That’s the name of my journal by the way, Becoming. Inspired by a quote from psychologist Abraham Maslow, “to become all that one is capable of becoming.” We often settle for much less, a consumer really. I just can’t live like that, and I don’t want anyone else to either.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a fan of doing everything. Anything. Especially if it scares me. Living inside of a comfort zone is the least comforting thing when you want growth and adventure. I have mostly held corporate jobs, mainly because I wasn’t sure how to make a living from my ideas and creative pursuits without the cushion of a set, guaranteed annual salary. I now feel like I’m more of a corporate artist at this point in my career. I may be a corporate technical coach, but my mission revolves around one thing – that you CAN do anything. And, that you should, if you long to.
I specialize in belief, and helping you not just see that belief but to feel it within yourself, so much that you take action and eventually you become the person you want to be.
I do this in multiple areas, not just my corporate coaching job. I do this on the side with coaching and mentoring for whatever your dreams are. I’ve taught people how to code, how to cook, how to bake, how to research, how to problem solve, how to love, how to do pole fitness, how to do parkour, how to do aerial arts, how to eat alone, how to do things scared, how to tie ribbon, how to fix printers, how to clean a grill, how to practice gratitude. I’m not sure where the line is for me, if I can help, I will. From whatever experiences I have, I will offer my perspective and guidance. I think what sets me apart, other than I do multiple things, is that I genuinely believe in you. And that I am willing to go with you on the journey. If you want to go rock climbing, but you’re too scared to go alone, I will show up for you. Starting is the hardest part, and I want to help you get over that so we can get to the good stuff. If you’re uncomfortable going to the gym alone, we can be workout buddies. If you always wanted to go skydiving but need an extra push, no pun intended, I will literally be that person. I think I try to be the person I used to need, and that I know we need more of in the world. A real belief system, a real hype girl, a real friend. Yes, I charge for coaching services on the side, but most of my impact is done free of charge simply as a person bopping around this world (so thank the universe I have a salaried job because I wouldn’t be able to live my lifestyle on hugs, although that would be amazing). If you come in contact with me, it’s not that I think something is missing in your life, but the conversation will come up and I will help you in whatever way you need. Don’t believe me? Reach out.
I think I’m most proud of turning the worst moments of my life into flowers I get to give to others.
If you asked around to find out what I am most known for, I think it would be spreading positive energy. That I am always my most authentic self, not just because that’s who I am, but by me showing up as my authentic self, it is an invite for you to show up as your most authentic self. And when we are all showing up as our most authentic selves, raw and authentic conversations and interactions happen. And from that, raw and authentic connections and relationships are developed. And to me, that is what this life is all about.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I think a lot of people think that if they get a mentor, that means they can’t do it themselves. Full disclosure, you probably can’t. And you shouldn’t want to. You get further when you go with others. And you learn a lot more when other brains are involved. Don’t let your pride keep you from progressing.
When looking for a mentor, you can look on different websites, LinkedIn, coffee shops may have posters up of people looking for new clients, you can ask at your work, you can ask your friends. A lot of the time, you can just reach out to someone who is in a position you want to be in, and ask them for guidance. You may not get a full mentorship program out of it but most people are willing to help especially if it means helping from their own experiences. You can reach out to interview someone or to grab a coffee. Worst thing they can say is no. Best thing that can happen is they get you to where you want to be faster, and with more information than you had before. At multiple jobs I’ve had, there was no mentorship program or onboarding process in place, but I reached out to people for help and ended up in weekly meetings attending mentorship sessions that I created that helped me progress in my career, and I learned a lot of things I didn’t know that I didn’t know.
As for networking, I would say to just get out there. That could be meet ups offered from meetup.com or other websites (LinkedIn is a good one too). I have found most opportunities from just talking to anyone about anything anywhere. Pole classes, climbing gyms, coffee shops, I met a guy at breakfast at a random diner I almost didn’t go to who has resources to help me publish my books. You can also do digital networking like Instagram, but I have found I get most return on investment when I do things in person. It is so much more fulfilling. Also, make business cards. If you are learning to code and want to become a software engineer, create business cards that say “Software Engineer”. If you are an artist trying to get your work into the world, make business cards that say “Artist”. Whatever you want to be, you already are, you just have to start acting like it. Don’t wait for anyone else to give you permission to say you are who you want to be, give yourself permission. Then, pass your business cards out at networking events, leave them on tables at meetups, put them in coffee shops, cafes, anywhere.
What has worked best for me is never playing an angle. Being honest about what I want, staying true to myself about what I’m willing to do, and not budging. Because my integrity depends on it. People like working with honest people.
Pricing:
- Please reach out for Technical Coaching pricing as I have different packages and tiers.
- Please reach out for Career Coaching pricing as I have different packages and tiers.
- Please reach out for Pole Fitness pricing as I have different packages and tiers.
- Please reach out for Writing pricing as I have different packages and tiers.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goingblue_/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanna-brasure/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@going_blue
- Other: https://www.lulu.com/shop/lanna-brasure/becoming/hardcover/product-m2qyqjz.html?q=becoming+lanna&page=1&pageSize=4
