We were lucky to catch up with Cait Kuentzel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cait, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Learning to embrace failures and things not going according to plan. Once I shifted my perspective about failing and came to the understanding that failures aren’t fails at all. Failures are learning experiences that the best money can’t buy or greatest college can’t teach. Each learning experience is unique to your journey and if you don’t give up and have a great attitude you are able to add a very valuable tool to your tool box.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Hey! My name is Cait Kuentzel.

I currently run two companies out of gorgeous Sarasota, Florida. The first is Fezzle Learning Academy that offers courses from Content Creating to creating Facebook Advertisements. The second is a media company that offers video production, marketing, and business consulting. When I am not traveling with my husband and caring for my wildly creative six year old son I am uploading fun vlogs on YouTube or interviewing guest about their journey with addiction and mental health on my podcast “Sober AF with Cait”.

I spent my entire 20’s creating companies (some very successful, some not so much), learning everything from video production to marketing, traveling anywhere and everywhere I could, partying in NYC and LA, jumping out of planes, snowboarding in upstate New York, hanging out with celebrities and YouTubers, and building a family. It was a crazy wonderful 10 years that had a lot of up’s and down’s. The biggest down I faced was getting diagnosed with early liver failure and alcohol induced seizures. The wild “Wolf of Wall Street” life came to a halting stop. After getting sober, shutting down my company, and focusing on just being the greatest Mom I could be; something amazing happened. I got everything back and more. I now have an amazing marriage, two companies that run themselves and allows me to work VERY minimal hours, spend all my time with family & friends, and be in the best health of my life. I am so grateful for every failure and every kind word spoken to me, I wouldn’t be living a life beyond my wildest dreams if not.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I am what you call an “over thinker” which we all know leads to depression and anxiety. We can’t “think” our way to success or out of problems. I highly recommend the book by Nancy Colier “Can’t Stop Thinking”. It’s changed my life and the way I handle my clients.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Two of the greatest choices I made was getting sober and deleting my personal social media accounts. I struggled with major depression disorder and alcohol induced bipolar disorder and no matter what pharmaceuticals I was given, living by a healthy diet, and exercising daily, I still struggled. Two of the largest positive impacts were giving up the drugs, drinking, and the social media game. I now take zero medications, been sober for almost two years, and living the most peaceful and content life I could have ever imagined. My worth no longer comes from likes and follows and my highs no longer come from drugs and drinking. I am living proof that you are only a few hard changes from living a life beyond your wildest dreams.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/fezzleofficial
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/FezzleOfficial
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/caitkuentzel
• Other: https://soberafwithcait.buzzsprout.com/ “Sober AF with Cait” streaming on all major platforms