This is one of the most inspirational and actionable interviews we’ve ever shared with you.  We sat down with Kate Courageous to see how she helps entrepreneurs battle their fear and become the amazing success they dream of being.  She has some truly great advice for those of you who are life coaches or who dream of being a coach.  Be sure to check out her site for constant inspiration and fear-kicking blog posts.

In case people don’t know about you and your amazing business, would you mind sharing what you do?

Iʼm a life coach and writer who works with people on practicing courage in their lives and their livelihood. I work with fear in radically different ways than our culture typically chooses to, and as a result, myself and my clients live some pretty radically, fully-alive lives.

You offer The Coaching Blueprint, an e-course specifically for new and emerging life coaches.  How do you feel about the surge in people pursuing this career?

I see the interest in coaching in two ways. A part of me sees that there really is a contingent of people who are interested in doing it because they think they can make a ton of money really easily, and they havenʼt really done their own core work to be of best service to their clients. I think that the coaching industry–the big conglomerate training institutions–are largely responsible for creating this phenomenon.

But for those people who truly have done deep, core work? Who have walked through the fire so that they can now share their expertise and knowledge with others? Who are truly masterful at their skill-set? Iʼm thrilled that people have a calling to do something big, to be part of helping to change the world. In this respect, coaches are world- changers. They want to invest themselves in someone elseʼs process. They know the powerful ripple effect that can be had. Itʼs beautiful to bear witness to.

What have you gained by surrounding yourself with people who ‘live courageously’ and revolutionize the world?

Well, Iʼm definitely kept more on my toes! I have people in my life now who love me enough to point out any inconsistencies, and to do it in support of me rather than to tear me down or feel better about themselves. Thereʼs real courage in knowing that I can ask the friends I love for honest feedback, and theyʼll give it.

In an ongoing way, my heart feels more open. I can see actual, tangible change in the way that I walk the world today, versus how I did years ago. The people who are with me for this journey, now, are amazing.

Did you ever imagine when you started your business that you would one day be asked to speak at organizations and businesses around the country?

This is for every single new and emerging life coach or entrepreneur, out there: No. Absolutely not. I never, ever, ever saw this for myself. I never thought this was possible when I first started.

The most that I hoped for when I started was that I would be able to get a few clients. I never saw myself leading retreats, speaking, or creating downloadable programs. A huge thing that the people around me are now calling me into–the courageous crew–is a reminder to go beyond “just enough.” Someone very wise once said to me, “Kate, with you everything is ʻjust enough.ʼ Youʼre only hoping for ʻjust enough.ʼ You need to go beyond that.”

I could see what she was saying. It was a scarcity thing. So–entrepreneurs, what you want is so totally and completely do-able and achievable! And–also–you need to remember that this is an evolving process. Put the right people around you, and even six or seven years in, theyʼll still be challenging your edges.

Your business is all about living courageously while acknowledging fear.  Did you yourself suffer fear of failure when you started out?

No, but only because I defined failure as “never having any success, whatsoever.” I was willing to acknowledge all of the small successes as they came my way. Every client is a celebration, to me. Every client session stays with me. Rachel W. Cole once said to me that each of her clients had a room in her heart, and that feels like the perfect description of how I feel about my clients, too. I always felt that as long as my clients were getting value, I couldnʼt fail.

With that said, Iʼve had ups and downs, mostly related to money–it has been an eye- opening experience for me to explore all of those little money triggers. I always thought I was “so above” the money conversation, but it turns out–shocker!–that Iʼm human, and Iʼm not “above” any of it.

I also think that a skill of mine that has come in handy is one that anyone reading this can learn: a really relentless commitment to the idea that if you work hard and donʼt give up, itʼs impossible to fail. I keep innovating how I structure things. I hire people to help me with my blind spots. I donʼt keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Aren’t you just inspired now?  Don’t forget to check out Kate’s site to learn more about her philosophies, her coaching, and how you can be courageous in your own life.