Today we’d like to introduce you to Catryce Thompson.

Hi Catryce, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My entrepreneurial origin story began in April 2020, during the pandemic when I found myself furloughed from my nine-to-five job. One day, I was scrolling through Instagram and an ad for an influencer course caught my eye. Intrigued, I decided to invest some of my tuition savings into it. At the time, I was also studying to become a high school family and consumer science teacher, a path I had been set on since I was 16. However, I wasn’t really sure if working in a classroom was what I actually wanted to do, so I decided to explore this new opportunity.

In September 2020, I returned to my nine-to-five job while continuing to build my influencer presence. I dedicated my mornings, lunch breaks, and evenings to influencer activities, balancing both roles. In May 2021, I invested in a group coaching program for influencers, which helped me refine my skills and grow my online presence.

By the end of summer 2021, I began managing social media for two photographers. This period was pivotal as it made me realize how much I enjoyed the strategic and psychological aspects of social media. At the same time, I started thinking about the impact I wanted to make and began transitioning from being an influencer to life coaching. I aimed to help high school seniors and college freshmen navigate the transition into adulthood.

Balancing my job, influencer work, social media management clients, and pivoting towards life coaching, I decided to invest in a virtual assistant to help manage my workload. This allowed me to focus on the impact I wanted to make. In November 2021, I took a significant step by investing in a high-ticket mastermind to further my business acumen. Despite my efforts, the next few months were challenging. I had made no money from my coaching endeavors, yet I reinvested in another round of the mastermind in May 2022, hoping for a breakthrough.

During the mastermind’s retreat in New York that August, my coach suggested I lean into social media management. Though initially resistant, the necessity for income pushed me to embrace this path. By the end of September 2022, Captured Media PNW had launched. I had partnered with a friend who was a photographer and we launched Captured Media as a digital marketing agency. But by November, my friend decided to exit due to not feeling like it was a good investment. Determined, I continued alone and evolved Captured Media into a small business support agency.

Captured Media PNW was my main entrepreneurial focus, and I had a goal of for it to be a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs. I’d help clients determine their goals, identify obstacles, and map out actionable plans. My team of specialists then would assist in implementing these strategies.

In September 2022, I launched my own mastermind program focused on making business support more accessible, but bringing that one-stop shop approach to life. I named the program, Solopreneur Sidekick. Creatives and biz owners could join the program and not just get coaching support, but also receive done-for-you services ranging from brand design to Instagram support to systems set up, and more.

Recently, I launched the Seattle Content Club, a community for female creatives and business owners based in the Greater Seattle area. The club focuses on making content creation easy and fun while also connecting like-minded biz baddies.

And looking ahead at the next few months, I plan to revive my life coaching business.

So, that’s my journey—started as a lifestyle influencer, dabbled with life coaching and social media management, and now I run a small business support agency and community. It’s been a wild ride, but I’m excited about what’s next.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Entrepreneurship has certainly not been a smooth road for me, but I don’t think it ever truly is for most people. Unless you have a wealthy family and a large social media following from the start, the journey is often full of bumps and challenges. For me, there have been several significant struggles along the way.

One of the key struggles was investing in my first high-ticket mastermind. Looking back, I don’t think I was a good fit for the program, and I suspect the coach might have been more focused on her own financial needs than on whether I was right for it. I invested a substantial amount of money, and then reinvested in a second round, losing a lot in the process. This financial strain put immense pressure on my fiancé and me, and it set us back significantly. While I can’t say for certain that avoiding this investment would have propelled me further in business, it definitely contributed to ongoing financial stress.

Another major challenge came when my friend and business partner decided to step back from Captured Media. Her departure was not amicable; she defamed me and my business, which included my life coaching business and a new venture my sisters and I were exploring in the wedding industry. This happened in December 2022, and her larger following and local influence made it particularly damaging. As a result, I felt like I was starting from scratch at the beginning of 2023 and all the work I had put in up until that point no longer mattered, because she had acted based on assumptions.

Beyond business-specific struggles, life has thrown many curveballs my way the last few years. I was wrongfully terminated from my nine-to-five job, experienced a painful breakup when my first engagement fell through, and navigated my parents’ separation. Each of these personal challenges made it harder to focus on and grow my business.

In September 2023, I launched my mastermind, Solopreneur Sidekick, and as of June 2024, I have yet to have a single person sign up, which has been incredibly disheartening. Despite this, I continue to refine the program and sell it, because I know that it has a lot of potential to help creatives and biz owners reach their goals faster.

These struggles, from financial setbacks and defamation to personal life upheavals and business disappointments, are part of my journey. I believe that 99% of entrepreneurs face similar hurdles. The road is never smooth, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Each challenge has shaped me, making me stronger and more resilient. I am grateful for these experiences because they have brought me closer to becoming the best version of myself and the best business owner I can be.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am extremely multi-passionate and thrive on wearing many hats. I own a small biz support agency called Captured Media PNW, where I help entrepreneurs bring their visions to life. I’m also getting ready to revive my life coaching business, Thriving Human, and recently launched a community called Seattle Content Club, which aims to support female creatives and business owners in their content creation journey.

Additionally, I work in the wedding industry as both a wedding content creator and an officiant, and I side hustle as a swim instructor at a local swim school. My fiancé and I also model together for styled shoots. Despite my many ventures, what I specialize in is seeing someone’s vision and supporting them in turning their dreams into reality. I believe there will never be a time when I’m focusing on just one thing—my passion lies in the diversity of my pursuits.

I am known for my loyalty, commitment, and unwavering belief in others’ dreams, even when they struggle to believe in themselves. For me, the destination is wonderful, but the journey is where the magic happens. While I sometimes get frustrated with the process and tend to try to force things along, I genuinely love being part of people’s origin stories and helping them push through hard times.

What I am most proud of is my persistence and ability to keep going despite the challenges. What sets me apart is my collaborative spirit and commitment to community. I believe in sharing success and wealth. When I am successful, I want others to be successful too. I firmly believe that the world is a better place with women making more money and thriving in their endeavors.

Overall, I see myself as more than just a business owner, coach, or model. I am a goal-getter, a connector, and a community builder, dedicated to empowering others and helping them achieve their dreams.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The best advice I can give is to expect life to happen and for things to get tough, but you must keep going. The difference between successful people and those who aren’t is persistence. This sounds basic and is often said, but it’s truly what sets people apart.

For example, I’ve struggled with selling and signing people up for my mastermind. It’s easy to launch something, get no sign-ups, and feel like it’s time to move on. But the magic happens when you persist. If you believe in what you’re selling and its potential to make an impact, why would you throw it away? Don’t offer hop—don’t launch something new just because your first attempt didn’t meet expectations. Continue selling your offer. Try different methods and platforms, and explore new marketing avenues. The key is not giving up.

You don’t need fancy tools or platforms to succeed. Use what’s affordable and within your budget.

Another critical piece of advice is to be mindful of who you invest your time and energy into. This affects your ability to show up for yourself and your business. In the past, I had friends who drained me emotionally and spiritually, making it hard to even take care of myself, let alone my business. Be careful about who you surround yourself with, as they can significantly impact your energy and motivation.

Persist, believe in your vision, and be cautious about your personal and professional relationships. These are essential for maintaining your momentum and achieving success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://capturedmediapnw.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/catrycethompson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@catrycethompson
• Other: https://www.threads.net/@catrycethompson

Image Credits
Aesthete by Alexandrae