How is domestic violence still one of the biggest issues in the US, and how are we not providing enough services to stop this? Today I spoke with Heather Knight, the founder and CEO of Surviving to Thriving, an Atlanta based non-profit organization that provides a long-term sustainability program for victims of domestic violence. The passion for domestic violence awareness and prevention started from a personal situation in her teen years and then grew into a career in law enforcement to start her own non-profit organization. 

Let’s dive into this episode and find out how she gets through her mindset journey to find mental happiness and creates ways to help victims of domestic violence to thrive.

Things you will learn in this episode:

[00:01 - 09:29] Opening Segment 

• I introduce my guest, Heather Knight, to the show
• Heather talks briefly about her current life 
• Supporting the behind the scene aspects of Knight Protection Service 
• Surviving to Thriving
• Women self-defense class
• Heather shares about her background and how her story began
• Grew up in Minnesota
• Faced self-esteem issues 
• Mentally abused by her high school boyfriend and toxic environment 
• Having the mature mindset of having divorced parents 
• Went to Georgia for criminal justice degree
• Hired at a police department in Georgia 

[11:45- 24:15] Surviving to Thriving 

• Heather talks about her journey in finding her mental happiness in college
• Taking courage to leave the toxic relationship and environment 
• Started to do all the things she loves 
• Unintentionally taking her step out to move forward
• The intuition to survive 
• Heather shares her experiences in the Police Department in Suburb Atlanta 
• The wild ride since day one
• She shares the story being in night shifts
• Encountered so many domestic violence calls
• Shift into Community Policing officer role
• Community awareness, media relation, and certified in self-defense, etc
• Heather talks about her encounter and experience in dealing with victims of domestic violence
• Researching and learning the reasons behind it
• Taking a list of what they need to get out of the situation
• Got motivated to start a non-profit organization to help the victims
• Heather shares the toxicity and unhealthy balance of Policing Culture
• Being a woman in a man’s’ world
• The pressure from a Macho culture 
• Great community relation vs. Poor Policing relation within the department
• Heather shares the biggest obstacle to help the victims of domestic violence as an officer

[24:16 - 35-24] The Step to the Entrepreneurial Shift

• Heather shares about the pivot to entrepreneurship
• 2018 went into Thriving organization 
• She shares the dilemma of keeping her job
• Get through the deployment of her husband
• Keeping the house and the business afloat 
• The self-realization to focus on her mindset shift
• Aware of the discomfort 
• Affected on everybody else around her 
• Taking the step of faith to fully jump into entrepreneurship 
• Focusing on building the Organization back
• The momentum of learning
• Joined a mastermind group
• Started a Podcast in January 2020
• She interviews some survivors of Domestic Violence
• Heather shares her motivation to keep going and finally taking a step to leave the Government work
• Finding her entrepreneurial drive

[33:00 - 40:14] Turning Empathy to Solution 

• Heather talks about the impact of COVID-19 on her Non-profit 
• Finding ways to keep the sponsors while also keep providing services to the community
• Preparing for the conference and projects in 2021
• Heather talks about the main approach she took in helping the victims of domestic violence.
• Giving education to the victims on the outside 
• Prevent victim shaming
• Using empathy to find the solution 

[40:15 - 44:07] The FOCUS FIVE Segment

• What book have you gifted most often? 
• The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
• If you can get an hour of somebody's time and ask questions, who would that be and why?
• Ted Bundy or Jeffry Dahmer
• What is one thing you believe that most people would disagree with you:
• Chocolate is disgusting
• Morning routine; How do you start your day?
• Wake up
• Read news for 15 minutes
• Drink Pre-workout and hit the gym
• Get back home and start working
•  What is the best place we can connect with you online and find your book?
• See below for social links.
• Final words from me

Tweetable Quotes: 

“ One thing I realize from being on the night shift is, the number one call besides silent alarm is domestic violence.”  - Heather Knight. 

“How is domestic violence still one of the biggest issues in the US and how are we not providing enough services to stop this? ”  - Heather Knight 

“You can't judge somebody on what they do with the resources that you give them, all you can do is provide them what you feel is necessary and step back.” - Heather Knight.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
• Surviving to Thriving Podcast

You can connect with Heather on LinkedIn, Instagram  and Facebook.  You can also visit her website on https://tothriving.org/ or listen to her podcast at Surviving to Thriving.

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