This episode of Small Business Origins features Kat Polsinelli, founder of Agent Services Plus and host of the "A Real Chat with Kat" podcast. They have an insightful conversation about Kat's origin story, from getting pregnant at 16 and overcoming an abusive relationship, to finding purpose in entrepreneurship and coaching. Listeners can expect to learn about limiting beliefs, rebuilding after trauma, the importance of networking and collaborating, and Kat's unique approach to business coaching.

Main Discussion Points:

- Overcoming trauma and limiting beliefs

- Leaving an abusive relationship and starting over

- Finding purpose in helping others through entrepreneurship

- The importance of networking and collaborating

- Taking a collaborative approach to business coaching rather than one-on-one

Guest Bio: Kat Polsinelli

Kat is a passionate individual with a goal of helping others get out of their head and into what they love. She is a business organizing powerhouse and a personal development strategist. She uses her personal stories and the skills she has developed as a unique way to approach helping others. She strives to help others feel more seen not only by others but by themselves as well but helping them grow their mind as well as their business.

Key Quotes:

"If you don't work through them, it's going to eventually affect you. And for some of us, it can be very dramatic, and it can tear businesses down. It can tear relationships apart." [00:08:38]

"I love sharing people's stories, other podcasts. I share their websites, like, anything I can because if someone in my group coaching or someone that's listening finds that they connect better with them, that's who I want them to connect with." [00:22:39]

Links Mentioned:

Agent Services Plus Online

Facebook

Instagram

Beefy Marketing

Small Business Origins

Every Business Needs a Wingman

John Kelley's Links

In this episode of Small Business Origins we speak with Marissa Fernandez, founder of Marissa Fernandez LLC, an executive coaching company. Tune in as we discuss Marissa's journey from climbing the corporate ladder to starting her own business, how coaching can help both individuals and companies perform better, and mindset shifts around money and confidence that are critical for entrepreneurial success.

Main Discussion Points:

- Marissa didn't initially consider entrepreneurship. She followed a traditional corporate path inspired by her parents' careers (timestamp 00:09:44).

- Getting laid off from her CMO position during the pandemic, though difficult, prompted Marissa to reflect and realize where her true passions and talents lie - in developing teams and talent (00:15:51).

- Marissa suggests giving yourself a timeline (she gave herself 6 months) when trying out entrepreneurship, so it feels less daunting (00:17:29).

- Pricing coaching services higher actually helps attract more committed clients (00:30:20).

- Coaching is most useful for ambitious, high-performing people who want to reach their full potential (00:35:53).

- Examining money mindset and beliefs around stability and earning potential is key for entrepreneurs (00:41:53).

Guest Bio:

Marissa Fernandez is the founder of Marissa Fernandez LLC, an executive coaching firm. She has over 15 years of marketing leadership experience at major companies like Procter & Gamble, the NFL, and others.

Tweetables:

"If somebody reacts and says, that's a lot of money, when I say whatever the price is, I don't try to talk them out of that thought. It is a lot of money. And my clients who are ready to make that investment in themselves then show up to each coaching session, ready to grow, unafraid to look at their blind spots..." (00:30:43)

Links Mentioned:

Marissa Fernandez Online

Marissa Fernandez Instagram

Marissa Fernandez LinkedIn

Beefy Marketing

Small Business Origins Online

John Kelley's Links

Wingman (Sponsor)

**Trigger Warning** We discuss some pretty heavy topics such as veteran & first responder suicide, mental health, life stressors, etc... We also use some colorful language. Nothing here is overtly offensive, but you should use caution listening around children, or those sensitive to these subjects.

Join us as we discuss veteran and first responder mental health with Wes Drake from Camp Comrade and Jason and Patty Corthell from Guardian Grounds Ranch. These guests represent non-profit organizations focused on supporting veterans and first responders through initiatives related to mental health, community, and healing spaces in nature.

Why is this important? Answering the call to serve, whether in the military or as a first responder, comes with tremendous sacrifice and exposure to traumatic situations that can have lasting psychological impacts. Too often, the invisible wounds of mental health struggles go untreated for these heroes. Providing adequate mental health support for veterans and first responders is crucial - they put their lives on the line to protect us, and we owe it to them to ensure they get the care and resources they need to heal from the mental and emotional tolls of their service. By prioritizing veteran and first responder mental wellness, we can help prevent issues like PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and suicide from devastating those who have already given so much for their communities and country.

Key Discussion Points:

- The importance of community, camaraderie and peer support for veterans and first responders (timestamps 00:29:07, 00:29:58, 00:57:10)

- Why spouses and family members also need support and resources (timestamps 00:27:30, 00:36:01)

- How traumatic experiences can impact mental health for veterans, first responders and their families (timestamps 00:52:02, 00:53:54)

- The lack of dedicated inpatient and counseling resources tailored for veterans and first responders (timestamps 00:46:47, 01:19:07)

- How sharing stories and being vulnerable helps reduce stigma around mental health (timestamps 00:31:01, 00:55:55)

- The vision to provide trauma-informed counseling, peer support spaces and inpatient facilities specifically for veterans and first responders (timestamps 00:50:15, 01:18:00)

Guest Bios:

Wes Drake - Co-Founder of Camp Comrade, a non-profit providing recreational camps and peer support for veterans. Wes has experience as a combat veteran in the Army.

Jason Corthell - Jason is a fourth generation firefighter and Marine Corps Veteran. He is the President and CEO of Guardian Grounds Ranch and enjoys the pursuit of a better life for veterans and first responders.

Patty Corthell - Co-Founder of Guardian Grounds Ranch. As spouse of a veteran & first responder, Patty provides crucial perspective and support.

Key Quotes:

"I think it's a, like, bullsh*t answer when people say, hey, you know, they're just a wife of a first responder or husband of a first responder, like, they're not a part of that, you know, they they're not an actual veteran." (00:03:54)

"Everything happens for a reason, and we always wind up so much better in whatever it is that we wind up doing even if we thought it was something different." (00:06:51)

"When I see my family struggle, I'm like, this is because of what I do for a living. Like, it has to be." (00:27:40)

Links Mentioned:

Guardian Grounds Ranch

GGR...