Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kim Ann Curtin, CEO and Founder of The Wall Street Coach, located in Waimea, HI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is The Wall Street Coach, and I redesign high-performance for C-Suite, executive teams, traders, and investors.
Tell us about yourself
I used to work in the high-stress world of Wall Street. Part of why I was drawn to coaching in the first place was that I craved more equanimity and peace in my own life — not to mention more meaning - and I wasn't getting it where I worked.
Prior to the financial crisis of 2007-2008, I hired a coach for myself. It was game-changing. I began to think about how the lessons that were so paradigm-shifting for me could be applied to the high-pressure world of Wall Street. If ever there was a population that could really use some emotional tools, I felt the world of finance was at the top of that list!
What motivates me each day is to share all of the tools I have gathered through my own journey (with plenty of hard knocks). I want to give others access to what I have — equanimity, joy, transformation, and empowerment.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Writing my book, "Transforming Wall Street: A Conscious Path for a New Future." It was a massive undertaking for me, but it was an incredible experience to speak with individuals like Bill Ackman, John Bogle, Oswald Grubel, Jim Rogers, and Brad Katsuyama.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The volatility of business. Being isolated as the decision maker. The responsibility of taking care of your people. It takes everything and then some from you!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you can live without your need for security and equanimity being met, as they infrequently will be. Be sure you have thick skin and strong muscles to deal with uncertainty, the unknown, and rejection.
- You've got to be passionate about what you're doing. You'll be pushed to the limit, and you can only deal with what comes at you if you're really passionate.
- Get some true entrepreneurial training. You'll need a lot of tenacity, wisdom, and experience to get ahead — take the time and effort to learn from the pros.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'd encourage anyone reading this to listen to that quiet, still voice within about all the choices you make. Yes, you should do your due diligence and have the experts weigh in. But come back to your own heart and belly and make the final choice yourself. After all, you're the one who will live with the consequences of that choice for a long time. Make sure you are always true to yourself.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thewallstreetcoach.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimanncurtin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimanncurtin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimanncurtin/
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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