Why MC
ByWHO AM I
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 fly-fishing 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 on 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 as a student of the More to Life Program. Currently, a member of Missoula Business Women’s Network, Toastmasters International and a board for the More to Life Program..
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.