The Origin of “Your Catalyst for Growth”: Discovering My Why

The Birth of Your Catalyst for Growth

Over four years ago, my husband Kyle and I found ourselves at a crossroads. We were building what many would consider a business empire. Our salon, Let Em Have It in Denver, had survived and was beginning to thrive after the 2020 pandemic. We also owned a bustling coffee shop and had just opened a café—just a month before the world shut down due to COVID-19.

We were finally in a position to reestablish and grow our businesses. But, despite all the outward signs of success, we were on a hamster wheel of chaos. We never had the chance to slow down and really ask ourselves: What are we doing all of this for?

The culture at our salon, after eight years, had finally reached the place I’d always envisioned. I had delegated myself out of a job, becoming 95% absentee, only coming in for meetings and educational events. We had a beautiful home that we had lovingly renovated over 14 years, complete with a garden we built from the ground up.

To the outside world, we seemed to have it all. But in reality, we had outgrown our garden. We had evolved through all the challenges of business and life, and as adventurers at heart, Kyle and I realized we needed something more—a challenge that would stretch our capacity to grow and help us discover who we really were.

So, we took a pause and asked ourselves: Why are we doing this? What fulfills us?

Our passions for gardening, nature, travel, and architecture led us to Europe, a place we’d always loved. After much research, we made the bold decision to sell everything, pack up our four cats, and move to Spain. It was a huge leap—one that would be difficult to reverse, but we knew it was the right move.

Moving to Spain wasn’t just about escaping the chaos. It was the catalyst for something bigger. A year after we settled in Spain, I realized I had a calling I hadn’t fully acknowledged before: mentorship.

One day, a fellow hairstylist reached out to me for advice, and after speaking for a few hours, he said, “You’re really good at this. You should do this for a living.” That comment sparked a flash of recognition in me. I had always been drawn to helping others let go of limiting beliefs and discover their full potential, whether in business or personal life. I’d mentored many people before, but I hadn’t yet fully embraced the idea that this was my purpose.

It became clear to me that my "why" was always about helping others turn their dreams into reality. Whether it was behind the chair, leading a team, or even producing fashion shows, I found fulfillment in encouraging people to dream big and providing the insights they needed to make those dreams happen.

Moving to Spain gave me the space to reflect. For the first time, I could step away from the chaos of business and listen to my inner self. Through journaling, meditation, and a lot of reading, I began to understand why I felt so passionate about mentoring others to grow.

I realized that growing up, my life was shaped by my parents’ dreams, not my own. I never really asked myself what I wanted to be or what fulfilled me. I was always a go-getter, believing that anything was possible. But after a series of life challenges, including a toxic relationship that shattered my self-belief, it wasn’t until I met Kyle that things began to change for the better. Kyle became my catalyst for growth, encouraging me to believe in myself and helping me transform my life.

We’ve now been on this journey together for 24 years, pushing and supporting each other to let go of what’s holding us back and ask the question, “Why not?”

Healing from the emotional neglect of my upbringing and rewriting my inner narrative has been liberating and empowering. When I reflect on the culture I created at Let Em Have It, I realize that while I helped my team grow, the business was ultimately a vehicle for my own personal growth. The challenges I faced in business taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, resilience, and self-discovery.

One of the most vivid lessons came early on when I had the idea to create a 15-foot vertical garden at the salon. We were on a bootstrap budget, so Kyle built the plant wall out of rain gutters. But I made the mistake of planting over 500 plants of different varieties in the same rain gutter, without considering their specific needs.

Over time, the plants began to rot at the roots, just as our salon culture was suffering due to misalignment and chaos. We had to rip out the old plants and start fresh—much like we had to do with our team.

As I’ve learned through gardening, a thriving culture—like a garden—needs the right environment. Plants (and people) need the right nourishment, care, and alignment to thrive. If you create the conditions for growth, whether in a garden or a team, you can help everything reach its full potential.

That's where Your Catalyst for Growth was born. Throughout my life, I’ve experienced catalysts that sparked personal growth, and each one has been significantly liberating. My passion for empowering others and encouraging them to believe in themselves comes from a deeply personal place. I understand the importance of creating an environment where both people and businesses can not only grow but truly thrive.

As I embrace my role as a mentor, I’m dedicated to helping you create the right growing conditions for your own journey. Just like a garden, your potential needs the right environment to blossom, and I’m here to help you build that environment, step by step.

Join the Journey

If you’re ready to let go of what’s holding you back, to break free from limiting beliefs, and to create the conditions for your own growth—whether in business or life—Let’s grow together and turn your dreams into reality.