Alchemizing Fire: How to Turn Burnout Into Fuel for Your Empire

There’s a reason fire mesmerizes us—it destroys, purifies, and ignites. In this potent episode of Crown Yourself, Kimberly Spencer invites you to sit by the metaphorical flame and reflect on the moments in business and life when the fire almost went out... or completely burned everything down.

From cleaning ashes in her Texas fireplace to unpacking deep leadership lessons, Kimberly explores how our past experiences—those “ashes” of failure, fear, and frustration—can either smother our next big vision or nourish the soil for our next empire.

🔥 Have you ever poured the past onto a present dream and wondered why it fizzled?
🔥 Are you ready to extract wisdom—not wounds—from what burned you before?
🔥 What would change if your strategy included both soul and structure?

Kimberly shares real-life examples, including how bacon fat turned into the ultimate firestarter (yes, really), and how business data is less about spreadsheets and more about sovereignty.

This is not your typical motivational fluff. This is a masterclass in energetic reinvention—where manifestation meets metrics, and visionary fire meets grounded follow-through.

If you’re ready to reignite without burning out—this episode will stoke your fire, sharpen your leadership, and help you alchemize the ash into gold.

[00:00] Sitting with the Fire

Who doesn't love a gorgeous fire and sitting around a fire? In this episode, we are going to dive into how fire destroys, purifies, ignites. And we're not just talking like a physical fire. Obviously, we're talking about that internal fire that you have within. And what is the quickest way to put it out and to contain it so that it doesn't consume you?

[03:30] Welcome to the Crown Yourself Podcast

Welcome to the Crown Yourself podcast, where together we build your empire and transform your subconscious stories about what's possible for your business, body, and life. ...Your sovereignty starts here and your reign is now.

[05:00] Real Fires and Realizations

...one of the things that I've always wanted was having a fireplace. And when we manifested our home, it had a fireplace—a real fireplace. ...I took the shovel and I started shoveling ash onto the fire. And faster than water, the ash just snuffed the fire out.

[07:00] The Internal Fire We Snuff Out

It got me really thinking about the internal fires that we have that we easily snuff out with our past ash. ...The old you, the old beliefs, the old fears. All of those are your ashes.

[09:00] The Curse of Experience

So often, especially when we've been burned, when we've tried something and it failed, then we have the curse of experience. ...Hands down, every time the biggest teacher has always been experience.

[11:30] Data as the New Flame Fuel

When we look at the data, that is when we have an opportunity to actually fuel that fire. ...Feelings will fluctuate. Stories can empower or lie. Data liberates.

[13:30] Bacon-Fat Fire Starters & Business Insights

What is the bacon fat that you need to actually fuel that fire? ...Maybe it was your funnel. Maybe it was your messaging. The system may have been there, but did you follow it?

[16:30] When the System Isn’t Working

You're going on the wrong podcast, or not being of service, or missing the follow-up. Feedback is data. Energy is data. ...People feel when you’re phoning it in.

[18:00] Starting Something New with Strategy

Whatever it is that you're stepping into... it can feel scary. You want to focus on where this is going and what past experiences are teaching you. ...Don’t let old hiring wounds or team missteps smother your current excitement.

[21:00] Practical Wisdom for Hiring & Scaling

Ask ChatGPT for measurable KPIs for your new team member. ...Don’t hire just because you can. Hire to scale with clarity.

[23:30] Systems and Soul in Sovereign Business

Look at the internal systems, not just what’s on Trello or a SOP doc. ...Your internal process determines whether your next strategy fails or flies.

[26:00] Modeling Excellence, NLP Style

In NLP, modeling excellence means replicating internal systems. ...You can’t karate chop a board if you don’t visualize your hand going through it.

[28:30] Burn It Down to Build It Better

Failure isn’t final. It’s fertilizer. ...Specificity will help you fuel your fire—and clean out your fireplace.

[31:00] Wisdom in the Ashes

We use ash from our fireplace to nourish our soil. So too, your past can nourish your future—if you extract the wisdom. ...Ashes don’t mean you’re done. They mean you’re ready.

[33:00] What Fire Are You Fueling?

I want to hear from you. What fire are you fueling today? What wisdom are you extracting from your past experiences? ...Use your ashes as the foundation for your empire.

[34:00] Resources to Stoke Your Next Move

Mentioned in this episode: 100 ChatGPT prompts to help you turn your next idea into impact. ...Grab it below. And remember: Your reign is now.

Want more fire to fuel your empire? Subscribe to the Crown Yourself podcast and share this episode with a fellow Queen who needs to rise from the ashes.

👑 Own your throne. Mind your business. Your reign is now.