Meet Kayl May of Rise Up and Reach Higher in Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayl May.

Kayl, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I had worked for a major Fortune 500 company as an area manager since 2008 starting from the bottom. I worked myself up to Area Manager Lead within five years which was my goal. I was known as the fixer-upper. I was over 31 stores that were struggling and I manage to help those location become mid to top stores by changing the culture of leadership and the customer experience by elevating the level of basic customer service skills. I was in a near fatal car wreck on 12-17-2013 that left me where I could not return to work. I decided that I was not going to give up. I decided to use my corporate skills to start my own company to help small business increase their bottom line by teaching leadership skills to business owners and management staff to ensure they were able to transfer those skills onto their staff and by teaching the frontline workers the basic of customer service skills to increase the customer’s experience and therefore increasing the bottom line of the company. My ideal client is Wal-Mart because I see the most need there. My passion is to train those that have served their time in the prison system. After being in that environment for many years, leadership and customer service skills are lacking. I would like to help transition them back into society to ensure a better success rate with these skills that they can use in their personal lives and as job skills.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth rode. The first hurdle I had to jump was knowing that I did not have a corporate name behind me. When I would teach others on my job they knew that had and needed to listen to me. I realize where I was widely known throughout my previous workplace, that now no one knew me or of my skills. I had to start from scratch.

The second hurdle I have had to cross is getting small business to want to pay for something that they all agree is needed and understands the value of.

The third hurdle I would say is learning how important referral are and networking with others who are able to refer you to business. I get people telling me of a horrible experience they may have experience in a business, but rarely do I get someone saying I talk to management or a company about your business and how you can assist them. I have come to realize though it’s said that you can’t do business by yourself, I seem to see others aren’t willing to help. I see the crab in a bucket mentality way too much. This is something I can’t understand because I give freely and never a hoarder of information that may assist someone else or their business.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I think the name of my company and my tagline says it all. Rise Up and Reach Higher where everything I do is about making a better you. My profession is a leadership and customer service consultant, but I’m so much more than that. I am an author, online radio personality, mentor, veteran, curvy model.

I will receive the advocacy award from 2017 Bold Favor Magazine Awards December 2, 2017, I have been nominated ATLHottest Author and Online Radio Personality (results December 3, 2017), and I have initiated and have signed proclamations by 4 governors of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. I have been in many magazines for all I do and my advocacy work with NAMI bringing awareness to mental illness.

Every platform I have is about making someone or a business better. It is my purpose to ensure companies understand the value of its customers. I think that is something they have gotten away from as businesses. We must get back to the basics. Business owners and management staff are always amazed at the reaction I get from the class. They are amazed at how teaching the basics of customer service and not expecting one to come in knowing just basic skills enhance their customers experience. Most companies have some type of computerized customer service training, but if it is not enforced, role-played, and started at the top it will not help the company. I love our computer age, but sometimes hands on in front and personal works so much better.

Lastly, what I bring to the table is the business owner or management taking responsibility or blame for their team not being their best. It is so easy to point the blame to your frontline workers saying they are not doing their job or what they are not doing correctly. What I like to teach is whatever is going wrong in your company starts at the top. Leader and business owners must take the blame for what has gone wrong and to fix it. The blame game doesn’t help solve the problem. Bring the solution to your team and hold them accountable with compassion.

I love what I do and I love working with the public. This is my passion and I want to see everyone and every business successful.

What were you like growing up?
I have always been a natural born leader. I have always loved the structure of the military. I love been on a team. As I held leadership positions, I never really announced my position, I love being a team player and being in the trenches (as I call it) with my team. I see that as I work for corporate, my own business, and as I raise my sons the same.

I was taught early on from my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who helped raise me, that whatever you do you be the best at doing it and you do your best. I have carried this throughout my life and in everything I do and sometimes to a fault. Before I start anything or taking on a new task, I always made sure I would be able to give my all. I am the same way now. I don’t really know how to half do anything. Normally I am known to be an overachiever. I still am known for this. Not on purchase, it is just part of being a leader.

I am and have always been a direct straightforward person sometimes a little to direct. With age and growth, I am still the same, but I know how and understand the need to show compassion at the same time. I want a person to know what I saying without having to read between the lines. I think this trait comes from my mother. It is help me be a mentor for over 50 young adults and 7 teenagers. My goal is to help them grow professionally and personally to be the best they can be.