We had the good fortune of connecting with Cathy Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cathy, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
When I began my first business back in 1995, I was a mom with 2 young children – and a 3rd would be on the way in less than a year. As a young mom, I had to be very intentional with my time. I worked while the kids were sleeping or at pre-school and by 2pm, work was done.

As the business and my children grew, I started spending more time in the business but lost my balance. I felt like a bit of a crazy mom running between all things – answering emails while waiting at ballet and returning phone calls from the car at soccer practice.

As my kids graduated from high school and moved on to college, I was again able to restructure my balance.

Bottom line on work/life balance – work to live, don’t live to work. This was a difficult lesson in a society that praises long hours and a badge of busyness. But you only have one life to live – so i’ve learned to live it to the fullest following dreams, desires and adventure.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
YES I CAN was founded on a treadmill at a women’s gym in Torrance on the weekend before Thanksgiving, 2014. I was in a dark difficult place and while I was already an entrepreneur for almost 20 years publishing a family magazine (What’s Up For Kids), I was making a shift that truly I didn’t even see coming.

My transformation transitioned my business into coaching, consulting and mentoring for women entrepreneurs. Was it easy. NO. But I knew I wanted to share the message of transition to transformation and the endless possibilities. Many women tend to put themselves last – after the kids, the parents, the significant other, taking care of everything and everyone else and losing themselves. But you can’t pour from an empty cup! I had to fill myself – with inspiration, health, wellness, the Spirit etc – and to reflect and share that with others.

Lessons learned?
1. Strategic YESes and abundant NOs. It’s essential to get your YESes aligned with your values and dreams so that your NOs come easy and abundantly. When values and vision align, your YES flows and you can truly experience soul alignment.

2. Commitments vs Obligations: We all have those obligations in life, but when we are considering what we are doing on a daily basis, the lines of commitments and obligations can blur. Get clear on what matters most and what aligns wholeheartedly with your committed YES!

3. FOMO vs JOMO: FOMO (fear of missing out) keeps you from experiencing the joys of presence and what’s most important to you. JOMO (joy of missing out) gives me the perspective of not feeling obligated but also that there are opportunities I might miss when in FOMO.

YES I CAN Living is a mindset, a mantra and motivation for success. It’s following your passion and purpose. It’s thriving, not just surviving. It’s believing in YOU and your unstoppable faith-fueled mission.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The South Bay is a part of Los Angeles that gets forgotten. It’s where I was born and raised and then raised my 3 kids. There is so much to DO, but also so much to just experience.

The ocean is certainly calling – and Riviera Village in Redondo Beach doesn’t disappoint. I would absolutely take longs walks along the beach in Redondo or maybe even the trails at Terranea. Hanging out at one of the restaurants in the Village for coffee or cocktails would be our next stop.

Yellow Vase is always a great place for breakfast or lunch, as is Good Stuff. For dinner, for top favs you’ll find me at Bettelino or Pacific Standard Prime.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As an entrepreneur of 30 years, I could not have had the success and incredible learning lessons turned teaching tools, without my coach Joy Chudacoff, and my girlfriends Bibi Goldstein, Kim Trezek, Pam Owens, Nichelle Craig and a whole bunch of others I know I’m missing. My clients have also made a big impact in how I see the world.

My kids, who inspire me daily to live my best life.

My husband and soulmate, Mark Johnson. His support has made an huge impact in how I am making a shift in my coaching and truly going after what I feel called into! I am uber grateful for the incredible love and adventure we get to share.

Lastly, my relationship with God. My prayer life in the last 10+ years has shown me I am loved, I am forgiven, I am enough and I am called.

Website: https://www.YesICanLiving.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathyalessandrajohnson/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyalessandra/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.alessandra

Other: iTunes Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-fueled-living-and-thriving-on-purpose/id1799312484

Image Credits
Linda Cotter Photography, Rose Pierce Photography

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