Cathy Kuzel is an Award-Winning Business Consultant, Speaker and the founder of The Connected Woman Community. She helps entrepreneurs to let go of limiting beliefs, expand their visibility, and create and implement strategies to “Stand Up, Stand Out & Step Forward” to increase their impact and ultimately their bank account.
How did you decide on your career path, and what made you start?
Whilst I may not have taken the “traditional” career path into this role, I am thankful for the skill sets, knowledge and experience I gained in the process. I’ve always believed that “Knowledge shared is Success magnified.”© and truly wished I had had a “me” to go to as I worked to build my business.
It was the constant calls for “coffee dates” and “can I pick your brain?” requests that turned on the light for me. Seeing solutions and opportunities where others didn’t was the catalyst for me to become a coach and business strategist.
Since choosing this career, I’ve been honoured with awards for coaching and speaking, but most importantly, by becoming an advisor and coach for professionals, business owners, and thought leaders, I have made a positive impact to the business community.
What advice would you tell someone embarking on building a business?
Create Connections. There is so much experience and knowledge around us and all we have to do is connect to tap into it. Unfortunately, many people have difficulty initiating conversations and so I teach clients and Connected Woman Association members the art of talking to strangers in my “Intriguing Introductions” course. Based on the feedback and testimonials, this course has made a huge difference for business owners.
Let me share a couple of game changing tips when it comes to networking:
1. Tell people how you help them NOT what you do.
2. Have a specific ‘ask’. People will gladly help if they know what it is you need.
Creating Connections is all about rapport and relationships – not selling. (Ok, technically that was tip #3!)
With all the challenges over the past year and a half, have you made any changes and what is your goal moving forward?
I won’t sugar coat it; it’s been brutal for small independent business owners to stay in business during the pandemic. Having to adopt new technology, adapting to health guidelines, and for some, having to pivot 180 degrees just to keep the lights on and the doors open. Now that our economy is beginning to re-open, more than ever, consultants like me will be an essential resource for the ‘new normal’.
My mission and purpose as we move into this new normal is to connect with women through workshops, speaking to more audiences and sharing stories so they can “Stand Up, Stand Out and Step Forward”
Do you have a project you are currently working on?
Of course! There’s always something exciting happening!
I’ve put a call out for Authors for my upcoming “When Women Talk” Collaborative Book.Ever read a story or listened to someone talk about their life and you thought “Wow! Someone else has gone through what I’m going through!’ Your story may feel ordinary to you, but it might be extraordinary to someone else. Sharing your story can give someone amazing insight into taking action and experiencing something that they may never have thought possible. 21 women will share their story – I’d love for you to be one of them!
Connect with Cathy
Facebook: @TheConnectedWoman
Meet other Connected Women in the private Facebook group, Join us here!
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