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

Hi Carolina, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Most people think there’s some secret to success that’s only available to the uber-smart, rich, or powerful.

The truth is – success is simple. Now, let me clarify. Success is simple, but it’s not easy.

Success is showing up every single day, especially when you don’t feel like it.

I recently completed a year-long coaching certification for my business. The process included over 12 months of curriculum and study along with over six months of live coaching sessions (totaling 90+ hours). The formula was simple: submit a 20-minute coaching session for review and approval, schedule a live coaching call for evaluation, and complete a 100-question exam to pass. Simple, right?

Well, now comes the hard part. As part of the submission process, I recorded my coaching sessions and they would be reviewed one at a time by an evaluating coach. Based on their feedback, I would either pass or submit another session for evaluation. My first six submissions were not even evaluated. They were closed without review due to a technical issue. I was crushed. For every session that I submitted, there were at least 3-5 that I could not submit because they did not meet all the criteria for the submission review. That meant I had at least 18 hours of coaching sessions that would not be counted towards my certification. I made the choice to continue to ask the people in my personal network to volunteer for coaching sessions with me. I continued to make that decision on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Throughout the six months of live coaching sessions, I had many days where I was frustrated and anxious. Submission after submission did not certify, and I had thoughts like: Am I really cut out for this? Am I ever going to be a good coach? Am I even helping the people I’m coaching? In that moment of self-doubt, I had another choice to make: Was I willing to go through this process even if there wasn’t a guarantee that I would earn the certification? The answer was yes. I was willing to go through the journey of certification because it wasn’t the certification that made me a coach, it was my desire to help others and hold space in each and every session that made me a coach. It was the hours upon hours of coaching clients that made me a better coach each session! That final breakthrough moment came in the very last week of my certification journey. I had just received news that my last submission did not certify, and I thought there was no way I was going to certify. I had one last call scheduled, and I almost canceled it because I felt so defeated. But I remembered my promise – to myself and to my clients: I would follow through no matter how I felt in the moment and regardless of the outcome.

I showed up to that last session and I gave my client my full focus and attention: after all, this was a coaching session they volunteered for; they wanted my help as much as I wanted theirs.

The session passed, and I became a certified life coach the next day!

That’s what no one sees. The dozens (or hundreds) of hours of work that you spend (mostly alone) honing your craft, getting that certification, or marketing your work to potential clients. That’s success. Making the choice to show up, despite feeling defeated, despite feeling uninspired, and despite feeling like your work doesn’t matter to the world. It matters to you, and that’s what creates the tenacity in a successful person. That’s what sets successful people apart from unsuccessful people. It’s not that they have more money, are better looking, or have three more degrees than you do. It’s that they show up and they show up especially when they don’t feel like it.

I learned that when I clearly understand my why, if I am willing to work toward a goal without guarantee of the outcome and show up every day for my future self, I will continue to be successful.

Carolina, 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?

You know how some businesses start off with a “to-do” list that over time turns into a “to don’t” list? Well, I’m the person they call to actually get it done. For example, I developed a proposal process for a client that now boasts a remarkable 51% win rate for their business.

I have a gift for executing, relationship building, and influencing – you could say my superpower is getting things done! As a consultant, I have a long history and a proven track record of finding and filling those various, unrecognized needs for organizations before they arise. My goal is simple: take their vision and turn it into a reality.

For years, I’ve felt this inner fire, craving something more than just the ordinary. Despite having a good job, a tight-knit family, and a love for travel, I knew deep down I was meant for bigger things. What sucked was I didn’t know how or where to begin. What I did know was that I wanted to help more clients turn their plans into tangible successes. I felt a sense of purpose and knew I could make an impact. But let’s be real, change can be pretty scary, and then there’s the whole what will people think, right? ‍My next step was to take an audit of my past accomplishments, future goals, and create new possibilities for myself. The path was clear – starting my own consulting business – Capital C – was the best way for me to make a meaningful impact.

I approach every organization from both micro and macro perspectives. My work includes collaborating with clients to develop frameworks that bridge the gap between their current and desired states. That means everything from auditing internal processes to managing change and keeping everyone in the loop. My ability to think strategically, be resourceful, and flexible when (not if) there are unexpected changes to a project, helps keep organizations advancing toward their objectives. Whether it’s setting up internal protocols or refining client engagement practices, I pride myself on providing support and accountability throughout every engagement, consistently exceeding expectations.

What I’m most proud of is that despite self-doubt and believing I couldn’t start until everything was just right – I pushed forward, empowering myself to make a difference and deliver results.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me has been referrals.

They come with a built-in level of trust and credibility. When someone refers a client to me, they are essentially endorsing the quality of my work or services. That referral increases the likelihood of converting a lead into a client. According to recent research, potential clients will consume approximately 7 hours of content or 40 unique touches of your brand before they pull the trigger to buy your product or services. That endorsement goes a long way in today’s market.

Referrals also tend to be highly-targeted. People tend to refer clients to me who they know will be a great fit for what I offer.

The best part is that referrals often turn into long-term relationships. Since these clients already know what to expect from me, they are more likely to continue working with me. This means repeat business and additional referrals in the future.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

You know, I used to have a fixed mindset. I truly believed that my skills and intelligence were set in stone, and if something didn’t come naturally to me, well, it just wasn’t meant to be. Most of my life, I effortlessly achieved whatever I put my mind to. But one day, I found myself diving headfirst into the world of marketing at a boutique agency. My new role? Running the operations show. From project management to client engagements, and even managing the office, it was a whole new set of responsibilities.

Of course, with all the newness, I felt overwhelmed, unqualified, and completely ill-prepared. I kept beating myself up for not knowing what to do or for making mistakes in every situation. Imposter syndrome showed up fast, leaving me convinced that I was getting fired. So, I did what anyone would do – I marched straight into the CEO’s office, confessed my incompetence and admitted that I had already started looking for a new job. Guess what happened? She burst into laughter.

It turns out, she’d been rooting for me all along. “You’ve only been here for three months,” she chuckled, “of course you don’t have all the answers. Not only are you adjusting to a new role, but you’re also immersing yourself in an entirely new industry.” Wise words, indeed. That’s when I discovered the power of having a growth mindset—a mindset that embraces discomfort and acknowledges that it’s okay not to have all the answers yet, as long as you’re willing to learn, grow, and work hard.

And did I work hard! I stopped trying to look smart and instead focused on learning as much as possible about my industry and role. I devoured books on leadership, sought wisdom from other Operations Managers, and even took courses on marketing and project management. Over time, I developed a genuine love for learning and even a love for new challenges. These experiences prepared me for my entrepreneurial journey—instilling in me the tools and mindset to face any new “unknowns” in my path.

I had to unlearn my fixed mindset and embrace the freedom that comes with continuous learning and growth. It may be a simple concept, but believe me, it’s not always easy. It takes patience, perseverance, and a healthy dose of curiosity. So, if you find yourself facing a similar obstacle, remember: get comfortable with being uncomfortable and trust in yourself!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.CapitalCConsulting.co
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolina-varon-gambrel/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capital-c-consulting-llc

Image Credits
Professional photography courtesy of Christopher Prazak of CMP Photography