We were lucky to catch up with Catrina Clark recently and have shared our conversation below.

Catrina, appreciate you joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

My practice is called Louisa57, named after and in memory of my mom, Laverne Louise Clark. She passed away 3 months before her 57th birthday. Due to her mental illness, she was unable to raise my 3 siblings and me. I did not have her in my life from around the age of 7 until my early 30s. However, once I got her back in my life, I became very involved in her life and mental health. We met in a February and she passed away 4 years later in February. With nothing to leave as a legacy, I decided to fully pursue my psychology degree and became a certified life coach. I focus on the mind. My business tagline is “Mind Your Mind” which directs individuals to intentionally focus on what they are thinking, how it makes them feel, and why they are thinking their particular thoughts.

This coaching practice began in January of 2018. I became a licensed coach, registered my business with my state, and was given the vision to name it Louisa57. I didn’t do much with my business for a few years since I was working full time and in school full time pursuing my master’s. However, in the fall of 2020, I began to do more with my business. I created 2 programs under it. I created social media specifically for it and invested in coaching, classes, advertisement, and more. In April of 2022, I decided to do my business full-time and left my full-time job.

It has been a little over a year since I made that leap. What I would have done differently though is I would have worked a part-time job dedicated solely to my business so that when I stepped away from full-time employment, I would have a bigger financial cushion to pull from and fall back on. I would have also put in 2-3 months of advertisement/promotion prior to my departure. I am, however, thankful that I did leap out there and have given myself a full year to develop my business and develop myself.

The advice I have for someone about to pursue their business is:
-If at all possible, put aside funds to use for developing your business.
-Research all that is needed to start a business. This can also be done by registering with one’s state SBA organizations. Take the free courses so that what is needed for a business is understood
-Create a business budget, then do a task or 2 at a time, instead of trying to do it all
-Most importantly, develop yourself as a business owner. This may include times when not doing business is in fact better than trying to do business when you are mentally and emotionally drained. Getting a business coach, having a therapist/psychologist, etc. is key to becoming and maintaining strong business ownership.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I go by the name Coach Catrina. I am your Mind Coach. I specialize in helping people focus on their thoughts and emotions. I help people to be aware that their mind is what guides them in pursuing some things, changing some things about themselves, how they see themselves, what dreams they secretly desire to happen and what are some things or desires they hold thoughts about in their mind. I help people delve into their thoughts and identify the root of them as well as address emotions they have connected to their thoughts.

I have 2 coaching programs under my practice. The flagship one: Mind Your Mind and then a financial education one called FOREX Is For You Too where I educate people on learning the FOREX Market. I have recently co-authored a book on dealing with the loss of a loved one with 4 other women. Additionally, I am currently filming and airing a talk show on Roku and Apple TV. My talk show features guests who are business owners, nonprofit leaders, authors, or full-time parents who tell their real-life stories and give advice and tips on what they do to maintain their mental and emotional balance.

I am proud that I have taken what was meant to be a traumatic childhood experience and turned it into a business to help people talk about mental health and have various ways to do it.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn that I needed to work for someone in order to provide and take care of myself. Having worked in a few business sectors, with 12 years being accounts payable, and over 20 years working for someone, I had to take all that I had learned and put it into building my business. Without my business, how would I truly experience all of the education and training I had received and see that I can do it? The lesson was hard in discovering what I contained within. After so many rejections, overlooks, and more in the traditional workplace, I had to overcome several moments of dissatisfaction, un-fulfillment, and incompleteness, before I realized that I had what it took to provide for myself and seek out to do my business full-time.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think telling my story over and over, being on platforms that allow me to tell it, and posting on social media, helped solidify me and my reputation. I also fully commit to my clients. That commitment resonates with others and gives me the leads to establish more relationships with potential clients and connects with other business owners.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.louisa57.org
• Instagram: iamlouisa57
• Facebook: Louisa57_Mind Your Mind
• Linkedin: Catrina Clark