RTDM: Lisa Kaplin
Lisa Kaplin
Professional Coach, Speaker, and Psychologist
Chicago, IL
We want to get to know you! Briefly tell us about yourself: Where you came from, where you've been and how you're living your dream?
I’m a lifelong Chicagoan but now I travel all over the country for my dream job. I’m educated as a psychologist, however now I’m strictly a coach and a professional speaker. My psychology training helps me understand people better and has increased my awareness around human behavior. I’m living my dream by working for myself and aligning myself with companies and people who are authentic and working to make the world a better place.
How do you define success?
Success is being happy and content with who you are, what you do, how you do it, and how you are compensated for what you do. It’s how you contribute to the world.
What did it take to make your dream happen and how do you make it sustainable?
It took dedication and a belief in myself. My life motto is, “I never give up.” And although my husband and children find that a bit annoying, it has served me well in my career and personal life. I keep going regardless of barriers in my way or setbacks. I make my dream sustainable by constantly checking in with myself and the dream. I’ve changed the dream numerous times based on what has worked for me and what hasn’t.
What are you most proud of? Go ahead, boast a little!
I am most proud of the business that I have built for myself and my family. I do work every day that changes peoples lives for the better and I get paid well to do that. My coaching and training helps people to identify and live their dreams and to alleviate the areas that they get stuck in. To make enough money to support my family and have fun is icing on the cake of my career! I love that I make my own schedule, travel, and meet incredibly wonderful people. I’m proud of myself for not giving up during some of the tougher times and I look forward to new adventures as my career evolves and changes.
What was your biggest obstacle/fear and what was your turning point?
The biggest obstacle was my fear. I was afraid of taking a risk, of leaving some of the child raising to my husband, of missing out on aspects of my children’s lives, of failing to make money, or of not being a good coach. The turning point for me was when I walked through that fear and said, “I’ve got this. I can handle anything that comes my way.” I still feel that way and I face my own fears every day. I’m a scaredy cat by nature so now I just accept that about myself and move forward anyway.
What’s the best advice you’d give to a younger you?
Be kind to yourself. Slow down and enjoy all of it, even the struggles. Those struggles will make you stronger and wiser in the long run.
How do you stay motivated and purposeful when you feel overwhelmed?
I remind myself that I’m choosing overwhelm and I can choose differently. I ask myself what I need to do to take care of myself in the moment. Sometimes it’s to take a nap, or a walk, or time with family and friends, and self care always remotivates me and helps me reconnect to my purpose in life.
Tell us a time when a perceived failure was actually a blessing in disguise or served you in a surprising way.
Ha! How much time do you have? When I walked away from my therapy practice because I felt that I was failing both as a therapist and as a mother. I felt like I had spent all of that time and money on my education and then I wasn’t even using it. I was so discouraged and mad at myself. That was a huge blessing in that I sat in those feelings for quite a while until one of my children let me know that my unhappiness was painfully obvious to all around me. That motivated me to get up and get moving. I signed up for iPEC coaching that week and the blessings keep on coming.
What is your favorite vice/guilty pleasure/strange habit? Come on now, we all have them!
I’m a voracious reader and I like to pretend that I only read quality fiction and that isn’t completely true. Sometimes I’ll be perfectly happy with a trashy novel and some Red Vines as a snack. However, I don’t feel guilty about either!
What's the smartest investment you’ve made for yourself?
Education. I’ve never regretted learning even when it has been financially expensive.
What’s MOST important to you right now?
My family.
Share 1-2 books that have impacted you the most:
Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl and The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.
What have you learned to say no to?
Over committing and over scheduling. I don’t do client calls on the weekends or after 8 on weeknights. When I travel for weekend work I take the day before the trainings and the day after off. I also say no to low paying jobs or work that doesn’t really excite me.
What's something surprising about you?
I absolutely hate to shop.
Who is a Risk Taker Dream Maker(s) that has inspired you?
Michelle Kuei, she’s an ipec grad.
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