career

I finally started my own business

/ Cate Tracey / 4 Comments

You read that right! I started my own business. I’ve always wanted to help people outside of the “typical” business world, and I’m finally taking the plunge. I’m a certified professional coach (CPC) and TEFL-certified tutor, and want to help others find joy in life during and after a major life change. This can include divorce, relocation, career and more. I’ve been through so much in my life and I would love to continue helping others who are going through their own journeys.

Here’s the timeline of how things went:

  • August – I started my professional coaching certification through the University of Georgia, because I’m tired of corporate and truly want to help others.
  • December – I officially registered for and launched my LLC: Cate Tracey Coaching.
  • January – I officially graduated from the certification program!
  • February – My website was built, and made me appreciate UX and other web features even more.
  • This month – I’m going all-in on social media and I’m trying to create better reach, page views and engagement overall.

My goal is to have my business full-time up-and-running before the end of this year. It’s an aggressive goal, but I’m aiming high so I can keep at my North Star. I have a few clients right now but I hope to grow this enough so I can do this full-time. This is the only career path I have ever been excited about, and to finally feel excited about my career and professional purpose feels incredibly inspiring.

And no: this blog will not become a professional coaching blog, but I did want to share this news with y’all. 🫶

Here’s where you can find me:

I’m excited for this new chapter and have faith that it’s all going to work out. I can’t wait to help more people and continue to grow in this profession!

Trying to be the best ally I can be 🫶

/ Cate Tracey / 4 Comments

I once withdrew my candidacy for a dream job. I would’ve been a partnership program manager for a large nonprofit based in DC, but would’ve been a remote employee with quarterly travel to DC and Arlington, VA. I would’ve been shaking hands with some pretty powerful people, helping nonprofits achieve their goals and partnering with them directly. 

While doing more research on the organization, two things existed at once: I was both impressed with the causes I would’ve been supporting (accessible education, decreasing homelessness, etc.) AND scared of the ties the organization had to the libertarian/right-of-center political spectrum. Although the organization was clearly anti-Trump, it also appeared anti-inclusive. 

I met with the recruiter a few days before my final, four-hour panel interview was scheduled. I had some questions and also was transparent in my political beliefs. I said, “I will never ask this question of you or the panel, but I want you to know where I stand. I’m an independent but am very left-leaning and although I don’t associate myself with the Democratic Party in our nation’s context, I do call myself a social democrat. I just wanted to be upfront about that because I do try to reach across party lines, but am fearful that I won’t be accepted here because my beliefs seem to differ from the majority’s.” I wanted to share this because I am the only person in my immediate family with LGBTQIA+ friends and progressive views, and know how uncomfortable and lonely it is to be the outsider. 

She was shocked, but really respected what I shared. I’m sure she and I don’t agree politically, but we had an amazing, civil and even insightful conversation about it all. I respected how she handled my vulnerability and how she never made me feel judged during our conversation. THAT is what disagreements should look like. 

HOWEVER, I do know the subtext: it’s likely that even though she was this way with ME, she may not have been this way with the people I support. I support my LGBTQIA+ friends and community so much so that it’s the main reason why I chose to share my political beliefs with this recruiter. I can’t say I’ve walked a day in my friends’ shoes, but I can say that I’ve gone through family estrangement and feeling like I don’t belong in many settings. My friend K is one of my best friends from Michigan, they’ve always included me and was even a friend I could go to when I didn’t have a place to spend during holidays. KP is probably my only true friend from Chicago and was by my side when I was losing my job and going through a really painful divorce. Gainer has been like a sister to me ever since we met each other here in Atlanta, and her girlfriend Nikki has also become this way for me, too. Heck, even one of my friends who I met through this platform has been an inspiration for me during really dark times (you know who you are!) 

At a conceptual level, I’ve never understood homophobia or transphobia, but at a personal level, it confuses me even more. My LGBTQIA+ friends have accepted and loved me when others couldn’t, and I will continue to stand with them no matter what—even if that means pulling my hat out of the ring for a “dream job.” 

One day I would love to work for a nonprofit that’s more aligned with my beliefs and ALL communities I support. But until then, I’m going to be the best ally I can be. 💛

Insomnia

/ Cate Tracey / Leave a comment

I lay in bed with Alex and Linley lightly snoring next to me, feeling calm in their presence now but waking up from a panic. I’m panicking about trying to find ESL students and coaching clients, too. I’m panicking about not being able to “do all the things” or “getting it all done” before the end of the day/week/month/year. You know, the typical anxiety stuff 😅

Kidding aside, I’ve really been trying to write more rather than simply post more. I’m personally not a fan of Taylor Swift’s music, but I do find it fascinating that even when she’s not going through a breakup, she still remains super popular. As I’ve been adding to my blog and redoing my website, I’ve realized some of my most popular posts were from my darkest days. I hope that sharing my anxiety around career stuff doesn’t necessarily make me more “popular,” but I do hope people read this and think, “Oh, she’s in a great marriage now and Linley’s still doing great, but she’s real like me, too.” Yes, I’m in a much better place now and that depression I felt a few years back is no more; but sometimes my anxiety and OCD can feel daunting at times (and unfortunately, that time is usually 3 or 4 a.m.!)

In the meantime, I’m going to try to get some sleep, realize that I’m doing the best I can, and lay with Linley and Alex by my side (in that order haha 😉)