Mary Catherine was how I introduced myself when I arrived in Missoula as a 4th grader with a southern drawl. My mom moved us to Missoula because, “they smile and say hello to you on the street.” My first adaptive act was to lose the accent and relinquish my culturally odd name to be, “MC”. Now, a grown woman with a family and an eclectic blend of education and life experience, I am settled in Missoula with a home, a husband who owns a flyfishing outfitter business, 2 girls (6 and 7) and my own business of personal training, sports specific coaching and life coaching called Training for Life.
The adventures filling my life range from navigating the Alberton Gorge on the Clark Fork River in a kayak back in the days when people asked, “what do you do with that plastic thing on the roof of your car?” to a college degree in French and Dance with a M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language. Favorite parts of my life are living in Denmark at 16, France at 22 and Japan in my 30’s as well as organizing horse and bike trips in Mongolia. Then, there was being the first woman to compete in the Gelande contest at Snowbowl followed by years of passionate devotion and focus on competitive road cycling. Now, I spend my days full of ambition for mothering, and supporting my family by creating a thriving coaching business.
BUSINESS HISTORY
I am an experienced trainer and coach beginning to embrace my identity as a “businesswoman”. Three years ago, I moved back to Missoula, built a house amidst piles of toys, stored furniture, and the words, “mommy, mommy” echoing at every turn. Out of that, was the start of my business. My word-of-mouth marketing plan and pulled-from-a-hat pricing structure was adequate to build a modest clientele. I had clients including the Mayor (permission was granted to tell you that) before I had even arranged a space to work in. I found a fine space tucked into the old Warehouse Mall off Spruce next to St. Pat’s Hospital. I have had 8 individual clients and at least one group class going at a time. My clients range from 13 to 82.
I found out that doing the bare minimum of working “on” the business was going to have to do. It worked for awhile. But, it’s no longer the construction, naps or the ever-so doing of errands that holds me back. I recently heard, “an amateur wings it, a professional is prepared”. Now, every bone in my body is yearning to be “prepared”. No more winging it and wondering if this working. My girls no longer need me to buckle them in or put their shoes on. That’s my cue for learning to fly with a strong sense of identity as a competent and thriving businesswoman.
BUSINESS CURRENTLY
I am offering a unique and essential product to the well-being of our community. Working with me elevates physical, emotional and spiritual vitality through a blend of physical training and life coaching. My clients are describing to me experiences of great clarity, calm, presence, sense of choice, and life purpose. Together, we identify stressors that stem from lifestyle habits around thoughts, food, water, exercise, breath, and sleep. I exist to support and partner with people who “feel stuck” in their lives and spend time feeling “too tired”. I draw a wide variety of movement practices and processes to energize change.
I am positioned with a variety of certifications accumulated over the years to serve people seeking coaching, support and guidance: CHEK Practitioner (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology), ACE (American Council on Exercise), IDEA ( Int’l. Dance Exercise Association), PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America), Spinning (Lemond and Johnny G.), Creating Gracious Space (Center for Ethical Leadership), Intercultural Communication and 6 years of training with the More to Life Program. Currently, a member of Missoula Business Women’s Network, Toastmasters International and on the board of Kairos Foundation.
It’s time to announce my business and be prepared to receive growing business with a sound understanding of exactly what I am going for and how I am doing it. I am choosing impeccable professional integrity for my business.
BUSINESS GOALS AND VISION
It is my goal to learn how to run a business for many reasons:
- Show my daughters the creation of a business with focus and passion
- Show my daughters how to cultivate relationships in a community
- Earn enough money so that I may afford to pass money on to others
- Have profitable number of clients that allows space for my family and myself
- Have measurable ways to know if I am on target for my financial goals
- Create a marketing plan that is fun and powerfully connecting for people with website, facebook and personal mailings.
- Be consistent and timely with marketing, billing, filing, updating
- Continually source the community to invigorate my business
- Explore ways to connect with other business owners in Missoula
- Earn enough money to have a budget item called Continuing Education
- Create pricing that upholds the integrity of my abilities, heightens level of accountability of client.
My vision is to:
- Have a waiting list of clients.
- Arrange for referrals from healthcare professionals to coach patients on the recommended change of lifestyle patterns
- Empower clients to assess, trust and build knowledge of their own state of health in preparation for appointments with healthcare providers.
- Be a speaker for other businesses, institutions and organizations about health and wellness through presentation and experiential learning activities.
- Serve a wide range of ages, abilities and states of fitness or healing from competitive athlete to minimally active person.
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I am so impressed with your writing MC, what a great snapshot of the real you in your truth and honor! I really get what an amazing and unique service you offer to your clients and I get what you are going for: to have a successful, sustainable yet organic business practice and all in an atmosphere of mutual respect. You get my vote!
You’re a rock star and an inspiration. You get my vote!
you kick ass mc!
MC — Good luck!!
What a fascinating business to engage and inspire people to look not only at their physical conditioning but to reach into their emotional and psychological conditioning to become a more complete and healthy person. Sounds like you have prepared yourself by training in such a wide range of disciplines to fully understand the nuances of what it takes to be a healthy person. Congratulations – definitely a winning game plan!
No wonder P Dowd ranks you so high. I am so glad she has you in her life. Thank You. Blessings, Lisa
You’re MC!!! You get my vote
Hey MC: You’ve got my vote!
Go MC! It made my whole day brighter reading your entry!
You’ve got my Vote! Any friend of Jenny’s is a friend of mine!
MC Jenni has the ability to gently, confidently encourage one who knows life needs to be different but may not be sure what to do to make it so. Once MC is on your side, you can’t help but succeed and have an incredible time doing so. MC has a natural ability to combine nurturing with empowering, not an easy thing to do I imagine. She is able to see the real person, underneath the layers physical and emotional limitations. She finds that kernel of life deep within a person, shines a light on it, then holds up the shiniest mirror until you see your own beauty, claim it and become desirous of brightening it for the shear purpose of your own delight. Without hesitation, I boldly state that I am a different person because of MC’s coaching ability.
MC is a genius in in her combination of knowledge about how the body works, how it interacts with our spirits, and how to make body and spirit work together for a positive life. She makes you soar!
MC,
I love your essay. You are an inspiration. I’ll be voting for you every day between now and the 31st!!
Hello MC!
We really need some of your business cards at Women’s Care at St Pat’s. What a wonderful service you provide and something we can not help our patients with. Could you please drop some by or mail them to us? Women’s Care 500 W Broadway, Level 3 Missoula 59802.
Thanks!
Doria Keesling, APRN
MC, my friend, I am even more in awe of you. Who you’ve been, who you are and who you are becoming. You put into words so fantastically eloquently who you are, a mix of heart, drive and tenacity. I love you and appreciate even more all the phone chat/quick in person chats (free coaching). Love you. I SO intend for you to win.
Sign me up!! Best of luck MC, you’ve got what it takes and more!
MC,
Good luck with your business venture. You have all the qualifications and passion to be as successful and and as powerful as is possible. It is my joy and honor to know you and your wonderful family. With love and joy. RC
MC love, you know you are a sister in our lives. Our fiber together has been woven over many years, beginning with our grand jetes in ballet during our primary years with Fifi! Now, you fill my heart even when I’m just passing you in the halls. You have given an extraordinary gift to my daughter, allowing her to break through her extreme anxiety that came prior to every swim meet, to her current state of calm and focus and self confidence…before every swim meet. What a radical transition! Thank you for believing in her, and for your precious friendship that seeps deep within our families. Love you sweet girl, Maria
You are awesome, inspiring, and full of passion. A role model for your daughters and every one you meet!
MC , you have the coolest little girls on the planet…that says a lot about you as a Mother…and Human Being.
I didn’t get to know you as well as i would have liked, but I always felt you are like this wonderful onion…you can just keep peeling away layers with more, more, more underneath. I love your modesty and beautiful smile and am definitely voting for you!
Way to go, MC!
MC- it has been a pleasure to work with you on our project the last 3 years. You are clear, caring and concise. As a small business owner myself, I wish you all the best!
Human Being of the Year, that’s MC!
MC, you have so much to offer. Yes, you have had remarkable adventures, have challenged yourself in so many ways, and have a bucketload of experience, but people will seek you out because of the person you are. You connect with others and that can’t be taught. You have arrived woman. You have my vote!
Merry Xmas! MC, you are great. Good luck!
I’m a little concerned about the online voting software because when I checked your name tonight MC to vote and hit ‘submit’ I ended up in the comments section of the lady who has the Nature Boy business. So I am wondering if she got my vote for tonight. Is there anyone to follow this up with? Best of Life for your success, Love and Compassion, Troy
Good luck and congrats on on the hard work you’ve done!
Wow! Way to go MC!! You’re getting all my votes as always!!! Do you remember having a little wine, maybe running a little naked, and vowing to write a book about “girls like us?” Maybe your next adventure! We miss you.
@ Troy Bertelsen — I have emailed you regarding this issue. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Thanks! Laura (official mamalode momgeek)
Way to go MC! Congratulations from all the Mongolians!
[...] your soul use a little spring cleaning? MC Jenni — who was a finalist in our mom-owned business contest this winter — is holding an 18 [...]