Today we’d like to introduce you to Clarissa Findlay.
Clarissa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my business going on three years ago this month! But the journey starts way before that. I went to college and got my Bachelor’s Degree in Family, Consumer, Human Development – Psychology for short. My plan was to go on to get my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and become a licensed therapist. But for years, that plan just didn’t feel right and I could never quite figure out why. After I graduated with my Bachelor’s I decided I wanted to get out into the world and learn about myself and so I moved across the country, from Utah to Washington D.C. to do some self-discovery. No reason I went there, that’s just where my heart was calling me. From there, I was offered a job in Las Vegas and about a year after moving across the country I moved back to the West to Las Vegas.
Working as a teacher in Las Vegas, teaching middle school aged kids about Character Development, I learned a few things – 1) I loved teaching and encouraging people to be better and live better lives 2) it was the scariest thing I’d ever done and 3) I hated having a set salary. Throughout those two years teaching, I continued to have the most intense feeling that there was something else for me.
About that time, I started hearing about coaching and so I started attending seminars, going to conferences, and it was like the universe was handing me every little thing I needed step by step. For the first time ever I knew I was on the right path and that this was the path I was meant to follow! In 2017 I launched my coaching business and I’ve been learning, growing, and hustling ever since.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Some people say that you know you’re on the right road when things start to come easy. And I don’t think that’s so. I think that when you’re on the right path, you feel the passion and the strength to get through whatever is thrown your way and I think you have the motivation to do whatever it takes to make things happen. I also think that when you get to know yourself and become more in tune with your own intuition and are able to trust yourself that the road gets, not necessarily easier, but more easy to navigate.
This is how it was for me. There have definitely been blessing showered down from the universe as I’ve continues along this path, but it hasn’t been all easy. Three weeks after I launched my business, I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and DEFINITELY wanted to throw it all in. But my mom coached me that I better not let this stop me and so I didn’t. 2017 was the hardest year of my life, but I grew so immensely that I was able to continue to where I am today.
Being an entrepreneur and starting your own isn’t easy because you are no longer following anyone. You get to make your own way. Which is EXCITING and TERRIFYING. It has been said that entrepreneurship is the fastest road to personal development and I believe it because you are tested every single day.
My advice to women who are just starting their journey is to 1) trust yourself. Let go of the “should’s” and look for the “musts”. What does your heart feel called to do? And do that. I didn’t know why I wanted to move to Washington DC, I didn’t know why I felt called to be a coach when I didn’t even know that existed! But as I’ve followed my gut and done what felt right to me, every baby step has led me to the next baby step of where I need to be.
My other advice to women is to get community. For a year, I tried to grow my business by myself. I mean, I hired a coach and learned all I could, but I didn’t know a single other soul that was trying to do the same thing. Three years later, it feels like the only people I do know are working towards the same thing as me, but that’s why I’m progressing. Having mentors, peers, and people to lead is the key to making incredible things happen!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a Courage Coach who helps women understand their fears and develop the tools to walk through them! I believe every one of us has a purpose to fulfill and our fears are the thing that hold us back. I help women to release those things and stand in their power to create the greatest dreams.
I’m excited to be launching round two of “Courage to Be School” this spring! In this six week course women go from feeling anxious and stuck to feeling confident and driven as they move forward in trusting themselves, knowing they are good enough and developing the skills to not only plan your dreams but take action to make them happen.
My motto is “make it happen.” There is always a way if you want something bad enough and when your vision aligns with your mission, the universe aligns to help you.
Author of the book “Brave New Life: Declare Your Big Vision, Design Your Action Plan and Live Your Dreams Now.” In Brave New Life, Clarissa Findlay reveals TWO signature step-by-step methods that will help you to 1) design the next chapter of your life and declare it bravely, 2) release what’s holding you back and gain confidence that you can create everything you dream of, and 3) develop courage so you can finally step into your power and do the thing you were born to do.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Stay open to the possibilities and opportunities that will be placed before you.
If I could go back in time, the only thing I would change is the attitude I had about the journey. I felt so confused and lost and stuck and frustrated! I didn’t know if my college degree choice was right and didn’t know what career was right for me and then when I started a career path, I was so worried it was wrong. I spent so much time stressing over every little thing and it was exhausting!
Now as I look back, I can see how every step and opportunity was leading me right along to the next thing and every little piece was paramount to getting me to where I am now, and I’m still on the journey! The journey never ends. It’s not about getting there. It’s about enjoying the ride, being open to possibilities, making powerful choices, and always moving forward. If you do that, you’ll not only get to where you want to go, but you’ll enjoy the experience of getting there.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.clarissafindlay.com
- Phone: 8016955913
- Email: hello@clarissafindlay.com
- Instagram: @clarissafindlay
- Facebook: @ClarissaFindlay
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Brave-New-Life-Declare-Vision/dp/1796415855/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1579304565&sr=8-1
Image Credit:
Mckay Findlay Photo
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