017. Your Story Is Your Superpower with Kirbee Miller
Listen to the episode:
My goal when starting this podcast was to highlight the incredible stories of business owners I know and love. Our stories are what connect us. They give us hope and ignite passion. They remind us to dream, to try, to honor every part of our journey. Stories are what keep a lot of us going, and I know for me personally, each interview from our first season has done just that.
But I couldn’t let the season end without honoring one of the greatest storytellers in my life, Kirbee Miller, owner and Chief Culinary Experience Coordinator at KiNiMi Kitchen. To know her is to be blessed with so much wisdom and joy! Whether it’s through an intimate dinner party, or a big bowl of her customized popcorn, Kirbee uses the gift of food to cultivate meaningful connections.
I can’t say enough about this incredible woman and on today’s episode we go deep into her story and learn how food has impacted her life even from a young age. Kirbee and I discuss why telling our stories can transform lives and the simple steps to sharing yours in a meaningful way. She shares how brokenness can be the best thing that’s ever happened to your business journey and how to reframe that season. She shares her story of community and how the people in her circle stepped up in the lowest moment of her life. She also gives us advice on personal development and the value of knowing yourself before you make big decisions or start something new.
I can’t tell you how much this interview meant to me, and if you’re doing some inner work in this season, you are going to love this woman and her raw authenticity! Kirbee is just so generous with her story and her heart, and I am really grateful she took the time to bless us all with her light!
Meet Kirbee.
In her own words, “We often rush past people, we don’t “see” them. Food is an equalizer.” Kirbee is the owner and Chief Culinary Experience Curator at KiNiMi Kitchen. On a daily basis, she creates delicious & inclusive spaces that foster connection.
Growing up in Michigan in a cooking family and surrounded by neighbors with various cooking styles, she had a diverse training ground. However, her whole world was rocked on New Years’ Eve 2018, when her parents were in a terrible car accident and critically injured. She spent the next 5.5 months sleeping in the hospital, navigating being their bedside advocate, working and running her company in the late hour hours.
Seeing how drastically life can change in seconds fueled Kirbee’s desire to pursue her passion and encourage others to do the same while living life to the fullest. She launched her multidimensional brand to share her love for food and people. Kirbee uses unique ways to connect via an online cooking show, cooking classes, kitchen consultations, as well as TV appearances and Pop-Up shops. She see sfood and cooking as opportunities to connect and create community, and boy is she incredible at it!
“Our stories can be a medicine for someone else.”
The heart behind her business.
Kirbee’s heart for KiMiNi Kitchen has always been to deeply connect with others. She knew from experience that food was an equalizer and everyone at some point in the day felt hunger. So her business began to reflect that love for community and hunger for meaningful moments of connection.
We had the opportunity to design the labels for her signature Rosemary Garlic Popcorn that was included in the Official GRAMMYs Gift Bag given to every Performer and Presenter! (Including the likes of Trevor Noah, CardiB, Lizzo, and Billie Elish!) This was a partnership with Valued365 and KiNiMi Kitchen that required special custom elegant labels featuring both brands!
On brokenness & growth.
Much of Kirbee’s story is centered around getting to that broken place and learning what you’re made of. She says, “I have been broken before. Everything was stripped away and I was running of fumes. I had to have some really hard conversations and revelations. But out of that brokenness came strength. I feel like those things I learned could be somebody else’s roadmap.” She encourages us all to tell our stories and I realized throughout our conversation the real power of empathy.
“Growth is uncomfortable and it requires you to get sticky and dirty,” says Kirbee. She equates growth to a seed getting thrust into a dark, wet hole. We are covered in rain and it feels heavy in the unknowns. But over time, we begin to experience a transformation. We grow and break ground. We were always meant to put down roots and once we’ve gone through that season, we’re ready to share our store and spread all the love
Rob the grave of your talent.
When I asked Kirbee for advice on sharing your story, she was filled with nuggets of wisdom. “Just do it! Honor yourself your voice and your vision by giving it time,” says Kirbee. “Make the time, create the time, steal the time. Whatever you have to do to get it done! Our heartfelt things will stay in our heads if we don’t give them structure.”
Kirbee encourages us to set a 30 minute timer and simply dream. Free flow with your story and get all the ideas down on paper. If you dream in little chunks of time, it can feel a little less overwhelming and will move you in the right direction.
“Rob the grave of your talent! Do not go to your grave with everything you have to offer,” she says.
Best Advice to your younger self.
“No one can tell you when the time is right. No one can give you the perfect formula. You have to know yourself. Take time to learn about your strengths and gifts outside of others opinions or fears. Dial in on other resources for personal development to discover how you’re meant to show up in this world. Turn inward and get quiet and still. Get to know your heart and forgive yourself. Then make a decision, move forward, or start the thing!”
“Adversity introduces a man or woman to themselves.”
Connect with Kirbee.
So how did Kirbee learn to tell her story in a meaningful way? How does she balance her work and passions with family and community? Where did she get all that strength? I know you’re going to learn so much from this amazing woman this week! Press play to listen to the full interview and hear more about why your story is your superpower with Kirbee Miller!
Connect and check out the links mentioned in the episode below!
Please Rate, Review, & Subscribe
“I love Small Business Big Heart!” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more small businesses — just like you — connect with inspiring stories and create businesses that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast!