Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in coaching but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katherine Smailis, CEO of Intimacy Academy, located in Austin, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is called the Intimacy Academy, and my customers are individuals who are experiencing turmoil and conflict in their love life. They aren't necessarily in a relationship but rather notice that this area continues to be challenging and begins to affect all aspects of their lives.
Tell us about yourself
I was first motivated to leave the hospital system after noticing a correlation in how ill people were and that they also had a history of prolonged loneliness, isolation, and mental/emotional dysfunction. They often disclosed stories of conflict in the home environment, high stress, and disconnection. These similarities helped me to connect to the concept of building a company to create more Peace at Home through strengthening intimacy. Intimacy is the felt experience of being seen, heard, and understood. I created a protocol to reverse engineer the process that leads people to greater long-term health by helping them explore their relationship with themselves first.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I had various setbacks, as most new business owners do, and got to the end of the year more motivated than ever to continue to push this vision forward. I embraced all challenges as opportunities to grow personally and professionally and can confidently lead people through "dark times" by helping them find the light in any situation.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Riding the Law Of Rhythm. Your business goes through seasonal changes— periods of ups and downs. The hardest but MOST rewarding thing is to see the downs as lessons for revision and improvement. They are the golden nuggets that help you grow and evolve.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Hire someone who is where you want to be: Someone who inspires you and can anchor you into emotional states that will support your growth and exploration.
- Create a plan: This can continue to evolve as you gain clarity but write down what your business structure will be and continue to work on feeling aligned with your vision.
- Cut out distractions: This one is a radical approach but super helpful to accelerate your business growth. If you notice that you are feeling "jealous" or "weighed down" by anything in your awareness (i.e. social media), delete or hide these sources. Stay in your lane and focus on your goal.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.intimacyacademy.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kat_intimacytherapist
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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