Client Case Study Katiusca Polanco - When I Grow Up

Client Case Study Katiusca Polanco - When I Grow Up Um, do you know that Ive coached hundreds of women since I started offering dream career guidance in 2008? And that these women are freakin rock stars, leaving soul-sucking jobs and traveling the world and launching creative, grown-up businesses and simply doing work that fits their lifestyle goals? Well ya do now and youll hear their stories firsthand in my  Client Case Studies series!  Katiusca and I worked together in 2013, when she was a photographer but wanted something more. Its so exciting to see where shes landed! Why did you decide to work with a creative career coach? I decided to work with a creative career coach because I wanted to find my career path; one that would allow me to be creative while using my biggest assets and prior training. I had always been a very creative person but followed a traditional career path from high school to college and then graduate school. In my heart I wanted to be doing something artistic, or doing work I could use my creativity to not only make something but find solutions for others. I knew that I needed guidance in figuring out what skills would be useful while letting go of the things that would not serve me as I transitioned to a new career. What were you doing work-wise when we started our sessions? When I contacted Michelle, I had been laid off from my full time attorney position and was already working as a photographer. I was photographing families, weddings, engagement sessions, etc., but none of it was fulfilling my desire to pursue a career as a portrait photographer for women. Talking to Michelle I realized that I was boxing myself into a corner following everyone else’s advice on how to be a photographer. None of what I was learning from others seemed to really help me do the work I wanted to do. What was your biggest takeaway from our work together? My biggest take away from my time with Michelle was her ability to help think about what was important to me and what I wanted in my business. She helped me understand that it was OK to serve my needs while still providing a service to others. At the core of my work has always been a desire to help others, but having so many ideas and not knowing how to focus them was difficult. Michelle really help shine a light on what I wanted to do, who I wanted to work with and how I should go about doing it. Was there anything else you tried to do as a career between the time we stopped our sessions and what you do for work now? If so, how did it inform your current career? I have somewhat changed the focus of what I do now but its not too far off from what Michelle and I worked. So the answer here would be no. What would you tell someone now that was in your shoes when we first started working together?  Whats your best tip to allow them to make a grown-up living doing what they love? The best tip I would give someone in my shoes is to really take the time to listen to their own needs and desires. Prior to talking to Michelle I was surrounded by all of the chatter of other photographers. When I finally took the time to consider what I wanted for my life, by journaling and working through my own thoughts, I was able to figure out who I wanted to serve, how and why. Once I had those answers I was able to look at my values, set some intentions and work out some goals for my life and business. This process took me some time because I was really avoiding some important issues, but having the right mindset is the key to making a grown-up living doing what you love. Whats on the horizon for your  business? My business has changed a bit from simply portrait photography to transformation mentoring and portraiture. What this means is that I help women who are undergoing some type of change or transformation begin to shift the stories that hold them back so they can see who they really are. I now offer some guidance before our portrait sessions and help women feel at ease in front of the camera so that they can truly see how beautiful they are. In addition, I have an ecourse, Becoming You: Transformative Visions, due to be released in the Fall. The course is about helping women become the person they want to be by taking them through a process of self-discovery and self-portraiture that will lead them to not only shift their mindset about themselves, but help them see who they are now. Ill be opening up my client applications next month, but theres only 4 spots available they fill up fast. Get on out my waiting list to be the first to know when Im ready to take on new clients (and have some free consultation calls!)