You Are the Expert of Your Own Life

For some, leaving a job and starting their own business would be enough change for an entire year...

But for me, this huge leap is just the beginning! In fact, I'm about to basically change my whole entire life all at once. And it all started with selling my townhouse.

OMG, I sold my townhouse!
(even though the tarot reader told me not to!)

Two weeks ago, I traveled back to Atlanta to close on the townhouse I'd owned for over 14 years. It was bittersweet but also a HUGE relief.

While I have some wonderful memories of the years I lived there, renting it out when I moved away and becoming a landlord was SUPER stressful. I hated it.

But even though I didn't want to keep it, I almost didn't sell it...

This past July, I was gifted a free session with a really well-known and well-respected tarot reader. Since my current tenants at the time had just given their 60-day notice, I decided to ask about what I should do with the townhouse.

Keep renting it? Or try to sell it?

Her answer was clear: keep renting it - a great tenant would come along. Sell it in a few years when the profit would be much greater.

So even though I desperately wanted to be rid of the burden, I decided to try to rent it out for another few years. While my decision wasn't based on the tarot reading alone, it felt risky to pursue selling it - so I didn't.

Instead I waited. And waited. And then waited some more.

Three months passed by with no new tenants. Meanwhile, I had already given notice to my job that I would be leaving in a few months to pursue my coaching business full-time.

My days of steady paychecks were numbered. And each month I was losing $1,300 on a vacant unit.

Rent or sell?! No answer seemed like a sure thing anymore and after putting $5,000 into improvements in the home, I was watching my dwindling bank account with a growing sense of unease (i.e. panic).

So I decided to do a crazy thing. A thing that logically didn't make a lot of sense. A thing that an "expert" had warned me NOT to do.

But...

It was also the thing I REALLY wanted to do. It was the thing that felt like freedom and not like fear.

So I changed course and listed my house for sale.
One week before Thanksgiving.
And just weeks before the Christmas / New Years holiday season.
Even though the tarot reader told me not.
Even though the housing market wasn't great.
Even though my real estate agent was apprehensive (another expert who I thought should just rent instead).

And against the odds, I sold my townhouse.

There were some false starts, offers that fell through and a crapload of stress, but by early January I received an offer that was set to close just 7 days before my last day on the job. Seriously.

Right as my steady paychecks were ending, a sizable sum of money landed in my bank account. Like magic.

Maybe I could have "made more" if I had held it a few more years. But in the end I realized, I got exactly what I needed right when I needed it. How can you ask for more than that?

Now, I can say "yes" to so many things that I couldn't have otherwise. And having that money means I can serve my clients and my business for at least a year without worrying about how I'll get by.

I walked away from something that was no longer serving me, even though I was afraid to let it go. And even though "experts" told me it was a bad idea.

And my life is so much better for it.

Is there something you desperately wish YOU could walk away from?

Maybe it's no longer serving you?
Maybe it causes you too much stress?
Maybe you want something better, something different?
Maybe an "expert" has told you it would be a mistake. Something you would regret years down the road.

That can make the change even scarier. I get it.

BUT

YOU are the only expert of your own life.

Maybe it's time to look for a new job. Take that career break of your dreams. Move across the country and start your next chapter.

Advice can be great. Research can be helpful. But sometimes you have to get some courage, have some faith and follow your own intuition.

YOUR life will be so much better for it.

Ever Wished You Could Be Someone Else?

I have some pretty amazing clients. And they downright humble me with their open hearts and willingness to show up for themselves every. single. week.

This past week, one of those clients sent me an email to share her frustration.

And as I thought about her words, I realized that YOU might be sharing her same frustration.

Here's what to do when you don't like who you are or where you are right now...

You know those phases / chapters of your life where you feel SUPER frustrated? 

Maybe it's those extra 20 lbs, maybe it's your crappy job, maybe it's the toxic on-and-off relationship you can't seem to fully leave? 

Whatever "it" is, you know deep down that this isn't the life you envisioned for yourself. That you're not being the person you really want to be.

And it really pisses you off.

Maybe you've even taken a few steps forward but you're frustrated that you can't SEE any results. You want so badly to be at the end of your metamorphosis, to be the butterfly outside of its cocoon.

And when you take a few steps forward and realize you're still stuck inside, hat the changes aren't evident on the outside... it makes you want to give up.

"I'll never be a person who lives debt-free / has fulfilling job / leaves this terrible relationship so why even bother?" I'm done. It's never going to get better.

How do you stop feeling so frustrated and actually make the change you want?
It's simple...

"No one can go back and make a new beginning,
but anyone can start today and make a new ending." 

Start being the person you DO want to be. Right now.

Simple, but not so easy - right? I get that, but here's the thing...

Change starts from within and is always available to us.

The coolest thing about our lives is that we are constantly choosing them, whether we realize it or not. 

We don't necessarily choose the circumstances, but we do choose the way we respond to those circumstances.  

And those choices we make have the power to influence our circumstances.

When I started saving for my career break, I was a person who didn't manage her money well. I wasn't terrible at it, but I didn't have ANY savings even though I was making $95,000 a year. I know, right?

But one day I knew I wanted something better, something different. I wanted to change my life and take a career break.  

So I decided I was going to become a person who DID manage her money well. 

Because that person could afford to take risks and do the things her heart wanted her to do. Like take a 1+ year career break.

And I kept choosing to be that person every day. I started tracking where my money went, I started being more selective about the things I spent money on and I started making choices that would help me fund my break.  

In the beginning, I didn't magically find $20,000 in my savings account.  In fact, on the outside, I was still the same girl making $95k/year with only $1,500 in her savings account.
   
But guess what?  

On the inside, I was different.  I was making different choices every single day and believing different things about myself. 

And eventually... the external results appeared from that internal change.  

And 18 months later I had $40,000 in my bank account.

Wish you were healthier? 
Wish you were a person who travels abroad? 
Wish you were someone who had a better, more fulfilling job?
Wish you were better at saving money and could finally manage to be debt-free?

You CAN be that person. And here's how to do it:

1. Choose to be that person.

This means deciding, right now, that from today on you are a person who takes care of their health. You are a person that travels abroad. You are a person with a fulfilling job. 

2. Don't beat yourself up over past decisions.

No beating yourself up about things you can't change. Did you make bad choices in the past that led you to where you are now? Forgive yourself and let it go. No amount of bad feelings will change your past - in fact that negative loop you keep playing is holding you back. Cut the cord and move forward. 

3. Keep choosing to be that person every day.

You have to keep making choices that are based on who you really want to be.  And being her/him means that every time you make a decision, you make the decision that the person you want to be would make. 

4. Focus on the internal shift and the external results will come.

If you want to be a person who takes better care of her health, focus on making healthier choices each day. Don't focus on when those results will manifest externally... When you'll lose those 20 lbs or fit into your old jeans. 

If you want to travel abroad, don't focus your energy on taking your first trip. There's work to be done and focusing on the external result will just leave you feeling frustrated 99% of the time until you finally make it happen (assuming that you don't get so completely frustrated that you just quit trying altogether).

Instead focus on making choices that someone who travels abroad would make: start saving more money, do some online research, buy new luggage, etc. One day, before you know it, that big trip will come.

The results you want will absolutely come if you start making choices that a person who __s would make.

You don't have to wait for someone else to give you permission.
You don't need to wait for the external results to suddenly make it true.

You can decide to BE that person right now.

You'll be that person on the inside and soon feel a change. And that change will eventually work its way to the outside for the whole world to see.

You will eventually emerge as a beautiful butterfly from that cocoon.

So I'll tell you the same thing I told my wonderful client (who shows up for herself every single day, who invested in hiring a coach to help her and who is already being the person she really wants to be)...

Be kind to yourself. 

You don't have to search for examples in the PAST to confirm that you are who you want to be. If you decide to be her, you get to be her. That's it. 

The outside will catch up with the inside. And the results (and your life!) will reflect the internal choices you are making right now, every single day.

---

If you want help on your unconventional journey to create a happier life and become the person you want and were meant to be - I can help! 

Click here to schedule a 30-minute discovery call.

How to Make Your Monday Great

Mondays hold a lot of power as they set the tone for the week ahead. During my years of following a conventional path, I often saw Monday as the enemy.

Monday mornings were rough, especially when I felt the most disconnected from my job (right before my career break). I would lay in bed for almost an hour, just avoiding the simple act of getting up because that's when Monday would officially start.

Once I finally made it to the office (usually late because #procrastination), the work would start and I would commiserate with my co-workers about how much Mondays sucked.

"I've got a case of the Mondays"  "Happy Monday" (said with a sarcastic tone)  "It is over yet?" (asked around 10am)

And it wasn't just my Mondays that suffered... I'm looking at you, Sunday night.

Sunday night was just as bad, if not worse. All the of joy, connection and ease of the weekend suddenly evaporating into a poof of smoke as 4pm on Sunday rolled around. My mind and body started preparations for the battle ahead.

Even when the jobs got better along my somewhat conventional path, there was still a sense that whatever I was waking up to do that day wasn't aligned with what I most wished to be doing with my time and energy.

FUN FACT: If there are 52 Mondays in a year, that's almost 2 months of my life each year I was grumpily trying to just survive.

And when you really think about that, it seems like such a waste.

When my path towards building a coaching business started to illuminate itself, I had to dig very deep to find the courage to ask my bosses to go part-time at my 9-5. And it's a small company, so this felt like an especially big deal.

In truth, it was a hard conversation. But... we all survived! And in the end, they were supportive and agreed to let me have Mondays off each week to focus on growing my business and serving my clients.

And even though I didn't know it, that was the most magical gift they could have given me. Why? Because I fell back in love with Mondays.

Finding the courage and clarity to create my own unconventional path to success has changed my life.

I wake up each Monday without an alarm clock and start my day focused on doing something I love and enjoy doing. I no longer lay in bed, dreading the start of my day or uttering phrases like "just a case of the Mondays".

Now, when I say "Happy Monday!" I mean it. And it feels AMAZING.

It also sets a great tone for the rest of my week and my days at my 9-5 (currently Tuesday through Friday) are blessed with more enthusiasm than they used to receive.

So what does this mean for YOU? It's your personal invitation...

It's an invitation to see how you can make Monday feel more magical.

And I've got a few ideas to get you started...

>> Sprinkle in something you love. Is there something you already enjoy doing? Maybe it's just a hobby or interest and currently doesn't bring any money in - that's ok! Whatever it is, make space in your Monday routine to include 30 minutes focused on that thing. Maybe it's writing. Maybe it's sending out emails to connect with others about a business you want to create. Maybe it's planning a master meal you want to make over the upcoming weekend. Whatever it is, make it part of your Monday.

>> If you've been dreaming of going part-time but are afraid of the tough conversation, start working through your fears and concerns to see what's really there - what's really holding you back from making the ask.

>> Stay subscribed to my weekly newsletter. I send these motivating notes out on Mondays to help you have a strong start to your week. I plan to keep them coming so I hope you plan to stay tuned!

>> Check out my podcast! There's a new podcast in town and it's called Break the Norm. It's meant to create conversation around what it means to have an unconventional career and life on the path to fulfillment. It officially launches January 15th - I hope you check it out!

Don't Stop Just Because It's Hard

Coming off the heels of a peaceful and reflective Thanksgiving, I'm especially grateful for many great things in my life...

• Awesome bosses that support me leaving my job to transition into life coaching as a full-time endeavor
• Having the financial means and good sense to get my own coach to support me in this big leap
• My health and good health for the people I love and care about
• A mild start to the Minnesota winter this year
• A trip to Chicago next weekend to enjoy the Christmas festivities
• And many other things...

My list could go on, as I hope yours could too.

But today I want to share more than just things I am grateful for -
I want to share with you some of the current challenges I'm facing.

Why would I do that? 

Because I want YOU to know that even when you're doing big things that align with what you really want, there are going to be some hard days - and that's OK!

Don't get me wrong - following an unconventional path, especially in regards to your career, is incredibly rewarding (and fun!).

But... it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

It will require courage to keep moving forward even when presented with challenges.

What does that look like? Right now, for me, it looks like...

Spending $5,000 to update a vacant townhouse that I'm trying to rent out.

Having that townhouse sit vacant for 3 months, while costing me $1,300/month.

Dropping the advertised rent so low, I eventually decide to try to sell it even though it's the holiday season and house sales are slow.

Receiving an offer during the first week it's listed for sale, only to have said offer fall through days later once the inspection report has come back.

Crying a loud, ugly cry at my desk while worrying about my finances and thinking "holy sh*t, I'm going to give up my steady corporate income when I quit my job in just 2.5 months..."

Pulling myself together and working hard to control what I can and accept the things I cannot. And to Keep. Moving. Forward.

This unforeseen obstacle has definitely put me through my paces. And there will likely be more.

But I'm still here. I'm still standing and I'm still working to make my big dream of being a full-time life coach come true. 

I've been hard at work starting a podcast, a weekly FB Live to help those who want to know more about achieving unconventional career success and a kick-ass course I cannot wait to launch early next year.

And when things finally settle down, this ridiculous townhouse gets sold and I'm actually a full-time life coach making my dreams come true (and those of my clients)... you'll know the real story.

And I hope that real story inspires YOU to create and follow your own unconventional path to success. And on the days it gets hard, that you'll be able to muster up the courage keep moving forward.

Are you tired of trying to make it work "the right way" and feeling like you're just going through the motions?

Don't be afraid of an unconventional path. Challenges will come but they will be much easier to face with the knowledge and enthusiasm of following YOUR dreams and not someone else's.

3 Life-Changing Lessons My Career Break Taught Me

Truth time.

Throughout most of my career, I was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.

While those around me thrived, I suffered from a lack of enthusiasm and the sneaking suspicion that this wasn’t what I was supposed to be doing with my life. 

8 years and 3 companies later, I ran away to business school with hope of finally figuring myself out. It was an amazing two years, but the answers didn’t quite rain down on me like I hoped they would.

I graduated from business school and started a new career - I gave it a chance, but deep down I knew – it wasn't "me" either.

Up to this point, I had let life to happen to me instead of going after the life I wanted.

I wanted to change my approach, so I got myself a life coach.

During our time together, I came to the realization that I needed a break. A big break from life with the freedom to travel around the world and to reconnect with family and friends. 

After 18 months of diligent planning and saving, I left with $40,000 to set out on a career break that turned into a 20-month adventure around the globe. 

Dreams were realized, perspective and meaning were found and happiness returned. 

It was a magical experience and life-changing moment that continues to have ripple effects in my life 4 years later. 

And now I’m going to share with you 3 life-changing lessons I learned from my break.

Courageous leaps are sometimes required and always scary but they are also the moments when you feel the most alive and present in your own life. 

You are steering the ship - not your family, your boss or your own fears that can often hold you back. 

You won’t be able to know your final landing spot ahead of time but that’s a good thing – life may deliver opportunities that you couldn’t have previously imagined. 

I was offered (and accepted) a job working for a dream company in Boulder, CO that didn’t exist before my career break.  A wish I’d put out into the universe 4 years earlier came back to me in a bigger way than I could have imagined.

Sabbaticals and career breaks make you even more interesting and give you lots of great stories worth telling.  

There was a director that sat on my floor at my last corporate job.  He was actually the first person to interview me for the job I eventually accepted.  I always felt like we should have a connection because of that experience but after years of passing each other in the hallway with just a smile and a hello, I realized that was not to be the case. 

But when it was time to leave my job and head out on my big break, the director took time to pull me aside and tell me, with sincerity, that he thought what I was doing was amazing and that he was proud of me for being so brave. 

And when it was time to end my break and start the job-hunting process again, I found it so easy to stand out, find connection with others and have an interesting point of view during my interviews because of the experiences I had on my break. 

It only took five weeks of job hunting and dedicated focus to land 5 job offers after I returned.

It turns out that most companies find those brave enough to follow their dreams and take big leaps interesting and highly desirable. 

Career breaks are not a magic cure-all. 

My career break was a fantastic experience but there was a lot of behind the scenes work done with my life coach beforehand to change my mindset, broaden my perspective and start seeing the possibilities ahead of me. 

I also spent 18 months being very mindful about how I spent my money and working towards a goal that required changing a lot of old habits (retail therapy after a stressful day anyone?).

And while returning from my break was a relatively smooth experience, there were still tough choices and compromise to be made. 

I landed an exciting, but still corporate-ish, job so I could pay off the last $42,000 of my MBA loans (tough choices). 

I took a pay decrease to have a job I thought I would enjoy much more (compromise).  It took me 21 months, but I finally paid off all those loans!

Along the way, I found the courage to listen to my inner voice again and follow my own path in life, no matter how unique and twisty that path may be. 

This gift continues to serve me well today, as I move to become a full-time life coach and am using my own experiences to help others find the same clarity and courage in their lives that I found in mine.

Sometimes You Just Have to Leap

I'm quitting my job (again).

For those who know a bit about my history, it might not be shocking news that I've decided to leave my current 9-5 and become a full-time life coach.

Maybe it's not really that surprising, but please don't think that means that it's not scary. Quite the contrary - it's scary as hell.

This job was a good job.

I worked from home every day, had a steady paycheck and I knew that I did my job well. In fact, my bosses were my friends and at this company I felt valued.

And leaving this job feels a bit like going off to college.

The "faraway" kind of college where you forgo the family dinners and free laundry you could have had if you'd just gone somewhere closer to home.

In other words, it's the scary kind of change that demands you leave the safety of what you know and those who love you, to spread your wings and become what you're meant to be.

It's the kind that forces you to create your own special place in this world instead of fitting into a space someone else has already created.

Why go through all that? Why not stay where it feels safe and comfortable?

Because this kind of change is also the really exciting kind of change. The kind that is filled with limitless possibilities and the freedom that comes with them.

I did my job well and I loved my team.

But.

I couldn't stop yearning for something more. Something that made me come alive.

My heart wants bigger things for me.

Like becoming a full-time life coach that helps others change their own lives.

So here I am, clipping away at the safety net below me. Preparing to leap because I know I'm meant for something on the other side. And the only way to get there is to jump.

Exciting.  Scary.  Overwhelming.  Magical.

It's all of these rolled up into one grand adventure. And that's ok. Good things can be both scary and exciting at the same time.

In fact, if you're waiting for things to be easy, your moment might never come.

Some of you reading this might be thinking "oh, she's so brave, but I could never do something like that."

But that is so wrong.

What if I told you that I currently have just $8,000 in my savings account?

That the townhouse in Atlanta that I rent out has been sitting vacant for over 2 months, even after $5,000 in repairs?

That I'm still working to build my coaching business and it currently doesn't come close to replacing my corporate income?

That I'm new to this world of entrepreneurship, and I have no idea if I will be able to make it all work?

But I'm not waiting for things to be easy. And you don't have to either.

I believe in us both.

I want you to think about your "thing" - what are you longing to do but keep putting off because it doesn't seem easy, safe or logical?

Now, ask yourself...

"What if it never feels easy? What if it never feels safe? How will it feel to be at the end of my life and know I that was too scared to try?

If you don't like your answer to that question, I've got one last question...

Care to join me?

How Elizabeth Gilbert Changed My Life

Last week, I had a very "full-circle" moment as a featured guest on the Extra Pack of Peanuts (EPoP) travel podcast.

And during my interview, I revealed a secret that I don't often share. (More on that in a moment!)
  
When I made the HUGE decision to quit my job to travel around the world, EPoP was an invaluable resource that helped me figure out things like how to pack 8 months of "stuff" into a 40L backpack. For real.

As a guest on their show, I was able to return the favor and use their platform to inspire others with the story of my own 20-month career break.

And during our interview, I explained how Elizabeth Gilbert changed my life.

I don't often share this piece of my story - it can seem a bit cliche when I explain how her memoir, Eat Pray Love, inspired my own big career break.

But cliche or not, it's the absolute truth.

And that's why I'm sharing it with you today. Because I want you to see how YOU too can go from "there's absolutely no way - it's impossible" to "holy sh*t - this is really happening!!!"

When I first read her story, I was in the middle of a full-time 2-year MBA program. In the midst of accruing massive debt, it definitely didn't feel like the "best" time to drop everything and spend a year traveling around the world.

But something deep inside my heart connected with her message.

And even though I didn't think there was any way to make it possible for ME, I carried her story with me and the seeds of a big idea were planted.

And one day, almost four years later, when I had grown desperate for a big change but felt hopeless about how to achieve it... I got myself a life coach and those seeds started to sprout.

And 8 months later, when I was sitting on my life coach's couch trying to figure out what I would do next... those seeds broke the surface and burst to life.

In that moment, I let go of the idea that I needed a "better" job. And instead I grabbed onto the impossible dream my heart had been holding.

I was going to take a career break and live my life "Eat Pray Love" style.

And that's exactly what I did, just 18 months later.

Taking this leap changed my life.

And to think it all began with someone opening my eyes to what was really possible. Right now, I want to pay it forward and do the same for you.

If you need a dose of inspiration to plant beautiful seeds for your own future,
download this Career Break guide right now.

In it, I share 4 of my favorite experiences during my 20-month break and outline how much I spent on each. I also share 9 signs that you might need a career break yourself.

Get ready to start feeling like the impossible might actually be possible...

- Katrina

When Happy Becomes Sad

Yesterday was my 38th birthday.

And it also marked another important milestone - it was the first birthday since 2013 where I didn't feel heartbreakingly sad through the entire day.

I wasn't always sad on my birthday - it used to feel like the most magical day of the year.  But then... my brother died.

And his birthday is the day after mine.  October 9th.  Today.

Once he passed away, my birthday stopped feeling like a celebration and started feeling like just "the day before Phillip's birthday." 

I didn't want to celebrate or go out and do "birthday" things.  I mostly just wanted to sit with my sadness and remember how magical my birthday used to be...

Growing up, my parents took the shortcut and ALWAYS celebrated our birthdays together.  While many kids might have hated this, my brother and I actually loved it.  It made our birthdays seem even more special. 

Different cakes, presents and friends but always celebrated at the same time sharing the same birthday song...

This photo is from one our last birthdays celebrated together.  Phillip was on his way to homecoming so he was dressed extra fancy that night. 

Phillip passed away unexpectedly in August of 2013.

And since that day, his birthday has always felt like a day of mourning.  If I'm being honest, it still does.

BUT...

For the first time in four years, I found the space to miss him while also celebrating my own special day.

My mom even made it out to visit and we were able to celebrate my birthday together - something that hasn't happened in MANY years.

There were so many small and wonderful moments yesterday that I feel completely grateful for. And I will remember and hold them close to my heart.

---

"Right now, it's like this."

It's a Buddhist phrase I sometimes use for comfort. 

When things are good, it reminds me that all things are temporary and it encourages me to be more present and truly in that moment.

And when things are bad, it reminds me that all things are temporary and that whatever "this" is, it won't last forever.

If you're going through something that feels incredibly hard at the moment, I hope this note reminds you that the clouds will eventually break.

And if life feels pretty great right now, I hope this note encourages you to be present and embrace this moment so you may experience all of its magic.

- Katrina

How to Be the Best

Last week was a BIG week for me - my story was featured in Forbes!

It was an amazing opportunity and I spent some time this weekend reflecting back on the past week and this experience.

And I had an epiphany that I couldn't wait to share with you...

The only way to be the BEST you can be is to be YOU.

Ok. I realize it might sound a little cheesy and maybe not quite as impressive as your typical "epiphany", but please give me a moment to explain...

I've spent a fair amount of my 37 years on this Earth trying to be the best. Or at least "one of the best."

I was trying to be the best something but it wasn't the best me. 

I tried to be the best healthcare actuary I could be. I won a few awards but I never quite fit in and job satisfaction often eluded me.

I tried to be the best senior data analyst I could be. I was actually really good at this job but also really bored. I loved my team but not my role, or working in healthcare for that matter.

I tried to be the best consumer insights associate I could be. This one was especially rough. My work was often good but not great and I was willfully inept at being strategic about promotions. After 3 years here, I left feeling like a pretty mediocre human being. And that kind of sucked.

---

But right as I was leaving, during the final days of saying goodbye, something really unexpected happened.

A director, who was the very first person to interview me several years prior, stopped me in the hallway. We worked on the same floor and every day I passed his office. I would smile and wave but was never invited in for conversation.

But on this particular day, he came out of his office just to greet me. He had gotten wind of my impending career break and wanted to tell me how proud he was of my decision and to commend me for making such a "brave" choice.

Wow, y'all.  Like wow.

Flash forward to this past week when I was featured in Forbes.

This was a great accomplishment for sure, but by business school standards it was a spectacular achievement. If someone had told our class that one of us would be featured in Forbes, I don't know that anyone (including myself) would have guessed that it would be me.

But here's the CRAZIEST part...

I wasn't featured in Forbes for being an exceptional consumer insights associate or corporate business person.

I was featured in Forbes for telling my own personal story and for following my dreams of being a life coach.

Let that sink in for a minute.

I would have NEVER guessed that I could be featured in Forbes for something other than doing whatever it is I thought successful business people do.

But I was wrong.

I was featured in Forbes... for being ME.

And the director at my old job was probably never going to notice me for being the best associate he'd ever seen. But he did notice me when I was following my heart. When I was being brave enough to do something different.

When I was being me.

And that feels so freeing. Because it never felt great to try to be someone else. To go through the motions and do the things I thought I should be doing, while downplaying all of the things that make me special and different but weren't seen as valuable in the corporate setting.

And now I see... I don't have to. The only way to be the best I can be is to just surrender and be myself.

How's that for an epiphany?

---

I'm dedicating this story to anyone who feels like a bit of a misfit, weirdo or odd bird - just like me. I know you've been working hard, but I want to ask you... are you sure you're working towards the right goals?

Are you working hard at being the best YOU that you can be? Or are you working towards someone else's version of success?

If you're bravely charging ahead to be yourself, then I commend you - it took me a lot of years to get here.

But if you're not... I want you to take this opportunity to stop and think about what it might look like for you.

Maybe it's:

•  Sharing your wacky but innovative idea at the next team meeting
•  Joining a group that loves your hobby/interest as much as you do
•  Enrolling in a course that has nothing to do with your current job but everything to do with your passions and gifts
•  Creating a plan to leave a job where the real you never shines

No matter what it is... know that I support you and am rooting for you, just like I'm rooting for me.

If your current definition of success is weighing you down or leaves you feeling inadequate, check out this article in Business News Daily where myself and 15 other entrepreneurs share our own definitions of success.

Find one that's more empowering than your current one and claim it!

- Katrina

The Magic of Determination

Are You Determined?

I'm what one might call "selectively determined." I don't always choose to exercise my strong sense of determination, but when I do - watch out.

Things will happen.

So when do I choose to be determined?

I am NOT determined when it comes to physical activity.

Me when running for longer than 30 seconds: "This really hurts. I think I have a stitch in my side. I should probably stop before I really hurt myself."

But I am totally determined when it comes to saving money.

It's sometimes scary what we can manifest when we really pour our focus and energy into something. Many of us have experience doing this for others and for our jobs and careers - but I'm talking about the kind of determination that's all about getting what YOU want.

I'm about to share one of my best secrets for saving money AND having more fun, but first I want to tell you how determination led me to this amazing discovery.

I was cranky and needed new clothes. Nothing seemed to fit anymore but I was too stubborn to buy anything - I was trying to pay off the last few thousand dollars on my student loans and I definitely wasn't up for spending $$$ on a bunch of new clothes.

Did I mention that I'm also bad at picking out clothes for myself and easily get discouraged / annoyed? Yeah, I'm a real dream to shop with.

I kept fantasizing about hiring a personal stylist to help me but the price tag, given my big goal of paying off my student loans, just didn't make sense. I desperately wanted help but it was feeling like a no-win situation.

Until I became determined.

I just KNEW there had to be an answer out there somewhere. Some way to have a better shopping experience that also fit my budget. It seemed a bit crazy - like I was asking the universe for too much... but I was determined.

So I googled the sh*t out of personal shoppers, discount stores, consignment shops, personal stylists, etc. I tried a million magical combinations of these words over the next several days. The hours were starting to add up (as was my frustration).

But then... a twinkling star on the horizon.

There was a local thrift store chain that had started an amazing new program. They hired personal shoppers to help you shop their stores. And the best part? It was FREE. Add in the super affordable merchandise - Bingo!

Eureka - I'd found it!!

For those who are curious, here's how it works:

You fill out an online client profile before your session. The shopper arrives early and pre-shops the store for you. You then spend 90 fun-filled minutes being handed loads of clothes that are just your size and picked out for your body type and style preference. For FREE. And then when you're ready to buy #allthethings, you pay THRIFT STORE prices for them.

Say what?!

So how did it turn out? It was AMAZING.

In fact, I just completed my third shop this weekend. The photo shows what I walked into with lots more waiting for me just outside the dressing room.

Click here for a link to their website.

Let this be an example of the magic we create when we believe in something (no matter how crazy-sounding) and proceed with determination.

What would you like to manifest in your life right now? Can you access that part of you that's determined to have a good outcome? What baby steps can you take today that will help lead to the result you want?

- Katrina