We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate McCauley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kate thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

As a health and PE educator for 20 years, I quickly learned the importance of flexibility. Early in my career, my gymnasium doubled as the elementary cafeteria, requiring me to constantly adapt. Later, when I moved to the high school level, I often had to get creative with spaces, using classrooms, auditoriums, or even outdoor areas when the gym was unavailable due to events. This adaptability has been invaluable in my current role as a business owner. Running workshops or speaking at events often involves last-minute changes to the venue. Thanks to my teaching background, I handle these shifts with ease and without stress.

Just this past weekend, I was set to run a guided meditation for a high school cheer team at their pre-season pool party. When an epic storm rolled in, we adjusted by moving inside to the booster mom’s house. It went smoothly, and a parent even complimented me on my composure. On the drive home, I realized how grateful I am for the skills I gained as a teacher, even if adjusting lesson plans was stressful at times. Those experiences prepared me to handle anything with grace and confidence.

Kate, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I spent twenty years as a health and PE educator, passionately helping students thrive. However, when my work environment became increasingly toxic, I made the terrifying yet exciting decision to resign from teaching and jump into running my business. I went for it because I knew people needed me. I had a vision that not everyone else could see, but I knew it was possible. I chose ME. I chose my mental well-being. I chose my family. In starting this business, I chose to stay home with my youngest son, who has a uniquely beautiful brain, navigating dyslexia, ADHD, and auditory processing challenges during the virtual learning adventure.

This period marked the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey. I started as a one-to-one health coach for women and expanded my expertise by earning certifications in life coaching and mindfulness training. Today, I offer a variety of services, including coaching, an online course, workshops and speaking engagements focused on mindset and tapping into the power of the brain.

I provide workshops and speaking engagements for athletes from youth to collegiate levels, students, and educators. I also occasionally jump in and get to love clients in the corporate and non-profit spaces, if it aligns.

My 1:1 coaching is available for individuals aged 15 and up, focusing on personal and professional goals through mindset and educational tools to keep clients accountable and foster behavior change. If local, my 1:1 clients meet me for a walk and talk during our one hour session. If not, we hop on zoom or a phone call. I have clients globally. At the end of each session they have an action plan that I recap inside my private accountability app.

Additionally, I’ve created an online course designed to guide female athletes middle school through high school in harnessing the power of mental training and performance in sports. I also offer group coaching for women and female athletes in grades 8th -12th. We meet monthly on zoom and focus on different topics. Each session ends with a guided visualization connected to the topic.

In my workshops, we work on boosting performance, enhancing focus, team bonding, setting goals, mastering self-talk, and the art of visualization. I retrain brains! Each session is tailored to meet the unique needs of the group, ensuring everyone gets the most out of our time together.

What sets me apart is my background as an educator. I know how to teach and differentiate instruction, quickly build rapport, and understand how the brain works. I keep it real and bring a Philly tough love vibe to everything I do. I’m incredibly proud of the impact I make on my clients’ lives, teaching skills that not only improve performance athletically, academically, personally and professionally but also foster a positive mindset for everyday challenges.

I solve a wide range of problems for my clients, empowering them to unlock their full potential. Whether it’s athletes looking to boost performance, teachers seeking better classroom management and student engagement, or individuals striving for personal and professional growth, I’ve got you covered.

For athletes, I help them enhance focus, develop mental toughness, shift to viewing failure as research for growth and master visualization techniques to excel in their sport. For instance, I worked with a high school softball player who initially struggled with game-day anxiety. Through our sessions, she learned how to harness her mental strength and not only improved her performance but also gained confidence that spilled over into her academics and personal life. Her manager at work even mentioned to her mother that she seemed different. When she asked, “What is it?” her mom replied, “Not what, who. She works with a life coach, Kate, and it’s been helping her become more confident.”

Teachers benefit from my expertise in mindfulness and mindset strategies. I once assisted an educator who felt overwhelmed by classroom challenges and stress. By implementing mindfulness practices and mindset shifts, she found renewed energy and effectiveness in her teaching, and ways of creating a more positive learning environment for her students. I’ve been incredibly grateful to weave my journey as an IEP mother into my work, blending mindset strategies with personal experience. This unique perspective allows me to help educators better serve their special education students, bringing a deeper understanding and a heartfelt approach to every interaction.

Individuals from all walks of life come to me for help with personal and professional goals. I remember a client who started with a focus on career advancement. As we worked together, she not only achieved her professional goals but also experienced significant improvements in her relationships and overall well-being. Her mindset shifts worked magic on her whole family. Her three kids became happier and more connected as she chatted about what she was doing and role modeled it through her actions. Her relationship with her husband grew stronger and more loving as well. It was amazing to see how her positive changes made such a big difference at home! The positive changes that started professionally had a ripple effect throughout her life.

When I start working with a client, we often focus on one specific area, like confidence in reaching their goals or weight loss, for example, but the impact quickly ripples through all aspects of their life. I always say, “I GET TO LOVE THEM,” and I truly mean that. I’m deeply invested in every client’s success, and seeing those positive changes extend beyond our sessions is incredibly rewarding. The ripple effects are never-ending, and for that, I am most grateful.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

My best source of new clients has been referrals from those I’ve worked with. When people mention my name to others, it’s the highest compliment I could ask for. My testimonials speak volumes, and I’m often invited back for additional workshops or more coaching because of the lasting impact of our first experience. I always offer to add everyone in my workshops to my email list and I send a weekly Tuesday Tips email out to share more mindset tools. This is a great way to stay in touch and clients often share those emails with others were refferring me.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Transitioning from being an employee to being the boss was a major shift for me, something I call “unbossing.”
After working in a school district for twenty years, I had to let go of the familiar role of following someone else’s lead and embrace the challenge of leading myself.

For example, I used to rely on structured schedules and directives from the principals and district leadership. Now, I set my own agenda, prioritize tasks, and make decisions that shape my business’s direction. I had to unlearn the habit of waiting for approval and instead trust my instincts and expertise. It meant letting go of old routines and stepping into a role where I was responsible for every aspect of my business.

This process of “unbossing” wasn’t always easy, but it allowed me to create a business that truly reflects my values and vision. It’s been a journey of empowerment, growth, and discovering how to lead with confidence and creativity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shop.danunow.com and https://www.kate-mccauley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate_mccauley_xo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mccauley-danu
• Other: https://www.kate-mccauley.com/athletescorecard

Image Credits

Jennifer Kearney, Kylie McCauley