Inspiring Conversations with Kat Polsinelli of The Lotus Effect

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Polsinelli.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

My story is such a beautiful one, I feel. And for you to know and understand why it is such a beautiful one, I believe we need to go back. I grew up in a little place at the time called Lascassas with my parents and two younger siblings. I was the oldest, the strong one, the most ambitious, and the one who never backed down. I played softball for Oakland HS and sang in their women’s choir. All that changed when I got pregnant at 16 years old.

At that moment, I had a decision to make…continue to be a teen or step into motherhood. I chose motherhood. I left my school and transferred to an alternative where I could take my son with me. I graduated my junior year, 2nd in my class, and president of the student council. As I grew and pushed to prove I was better than others who got pregnant young I fell into another relationship. One that was different from my upbringing…rebellious and more of a do what I want attitude. I stayed in that relationship for 10 years. 10 long years that gave me my second child at 19 years old and took from my years of growth, friendships, family closeness, and more.

I spent 10 years in an abusive relationship, but not just the “put your hands on someone kind”. I was in an emotionally and mentally abusive relationship, what some would call narcissistic or coercive control. I got out at 28 years old with my children (ages 10 & 7) and started life over. I had a great job in the medical field, my family back in my life, and a fresh start. I bought my first car, and my first cell phone, and felt I was on the right track. Now fast forward several years … .after all the years spent in court, all the battles of stalking, all the crying when no one was looking, and becoming the yes person. I realized I didn’t like who I was and how that was affecting how my children were growing. So I dove head first into personal development and never looked back.

I bought a home, got engaged, sold that home, left the engagement, and started over again. Became an entrepreneur, met my now husband, and got married in a cave! Now my business has grown from realtor to coach, to mentor, and guide. I run a company called The Lotus Effect where I get to meet other entrepreneurs in the space or mud they are in at that moment, ask where they want to be, pull out all of the thoughts and ways to grow their business, and put a customized plan into action.

That can range from simply figuring out your time management, to building new habits, all the way up to learning how to delegate tasks to a team members because you have grown and all the in between. Business and personal development go hand in hand (or should) and this is the guideline that I use when working with my clients. Sometimes we see the surface issue but once we dig in, there is so much more that needs to be worked on, explored, and released to move forward.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, but I don’t believe any road ever is. My struggles range from a teen pregnancy to an abusive relationship, to losing my medical job, to jumping into the entrepreneurial world (completely unknown) to growing a business. And I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

I dealt with my abuser stalking me for quite some time after his arrest and spent 4 years in and out of court just trying to fight for justice. I have faced my challenges personally of shame and guilt of being a mother who had her kids in an abusive household and having to deal with and let go of that shame and guilt.

I had to learn how to say no and set up boundaries, which caused me to lose a lot of people in my life. (Not a bad thing in the long run). I had to learn and teach my children that I am not perfect, that I screw up, and that, that is ok. I had to get real with them and be vulnerable and open to my flaws to help them as they grow through theirs.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Lotus Effect?
I founded a company called The Lotus Effect, which for me, the lotus symbolizes that anyone or anything can start in the crappiest of mud and yet still rise to blossom into something beautiful. The Lotus Effect is where I get to meet other entrepreneurs in the space or mud they are in at that moment, ask where they want to be, pull out all of the thoughts and ways to grow their business, and put a customized plan into action. There is no judgement, no “you did this wrong”, or anything of that sort. Just an open space held to meet people where they are.

The Lotus Effect can range from simply figuring out your time management, to building new habits, all the way up to learning how to delegate tasks to a team member because you have grown and all the in between. Plus there is a piece of mindset work that goes into all of this and I do have some that don’t need a lot of business help but do want to improve their mindset, how they think and see things, and how they handle situations in their life and business.

Business and personal development go hand in hand (or should) and this is the guideline that I use when working with my clients. Sometimes we see the surface issue but once we dig in, there is so much more that needs to be worked on, explored, and released to move forward. I think this is what makes me unique in my business. I don’t just focus specifically on business tactics and I don’t go so far down the mindset rabbit hole that you don’t know how to come back up.

I have learned how to marry the two together. I know how to help my clients ebb and flow between running their business and upgrading their thoughts which then ripples out across not only in their business but also in how they handle and help their clients and how they interact with their spouse, children, family, and friends.

I have to say that, this is what I am most proud of. I have built something that is not unique to me but allows space for me to help others be and lean into their uniqueness. They get to be more authentic, more real, lean into their quirks and what makes them, them. There is so much freedom in this and while I can teach it all day long to anyone, it does take a person who is ready for change, for a new direction, for that up level for this to truly work.

Now because of the way that I work, I cannot only meet people where they are and guide them through the mud and help them rise to the surface to blossom but I also get to offer some unique packages. So if someone is looking for something very short-term, great I offer coaching sessions in a package of 3 that you can buy at a time.

If you are looking for a longer commitment then great we can discuss what it looks like to work together for the next 3, 6, or 9 months together. I get to meet people where they are and create something that works for them.

 

Do you have any advice for those just starting?
If I could give any piece of advice to those starting, I would say you don’t need a fancy website to get started, just start. You don’t need a huge following or a bunch of people to hear you, just start. Lean into what your passion is, why you want to do this, and what the big goal or why is….then build from there. And be ok if that why changes.

Don’t chase the dreams of others; chase YOUR dreams. What I mean is, if you don’t care to make millions of dollars then don’t shoot for that dream of getting millions. Too many of us get into the entrepreneurial space and then focus on the dreams, goals, and aspirations of others. You will never get to where you want to be if you are shooting for someone else’s dreams.

Be proud of your own goals, no matter how small. Be proud of every small step that you take that moves you forward. If that means you talk more with less anger, then heck ya! That’s awesome. Finally sent that email that’s been scaring you, heck ya! Too many times we focus on the big goal, the big accomplishment and when we fall short we forget about all the other great things we did to make it as far as we already have come. So be proud of the journey, not just the outcome.

Pricing:

• $99 for the first 90mins consult
• $120 per 60min session in blocks of 3
• Pay in full for a block of sessions and get 5% off
• Customized Packaging ranges from $500 and up

Contact Info:

• Website: www.The-Lotus-Effect.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelotuseffectcoach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katpolsinelli
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thelotuseffectcoach/
• Other: (My Podcast) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-chat-with-kat/id1652097553

Image Credits
Heidi Kane