What Life is She Living? Cathy Holloway Hill left a six-figure salary to pursue her lifelong dream. OCTOBER 2009

What Life is She Living?

With an illustrious 28-year career in the business and technology industry — and a six-figure salary to match — it would appear that she had reached her pinnacle of success. But Cathy didn’t feel fulfilled. She had another goal in mind: Cathy wanted to devote her time to making a positive difference in the lives of others, but didn’t know where to start. Then a series of personal hardships inspired her to turn her lifelong dream into a reality. In 2007, she started C. Holloway Hill Enterprises, a personal and professional development organization specializing in technology consulting, training, and career/life coaching. The following year, she took the grand leap when she left her position at Brown Forman to officially begin her career as a certified career and life coach, author, and motivational speaker. It was one of the best moves she ever made. Since then, Cathy has racked up an extensive list of accomplishments that keeps growing.

Every Wednesday, she hosts Living By Design, a live radio talk show focusing on self, health, and wealth to enhance and advance the lives of women. She has co-authored five books with the Professional Women Network and authored her first book, Emotional Bailout! Nine Principles for Rising When Your World is Falling. Cathy also hosts a weekly call-in segment which airs on the CW Louisville Morning Show. The show focuses on helping people discover the emotional issue in their life that is holding them back from achieving their goals.

Cathy remains devoted to serving the community in any way possible. She is an advisory board member of the Professional Women Network, and is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, National Association of Female Executives, GLI Louisville, the Nationwide Premiere Coach for the eWNetwork, and Who’s Who in Black Louisville.

Inspiration:

I get my inspiration from the fact that I have helped change a life. I always speak with strong conviction and when someone comes up to me and says ‘you really made me want to change my life,’ that is my inspiration; because I know that I am making a difference.

Defining moment:

Raising my niece at a young age…when I had to step in and really instill in her the values that I wanted her to have.

Best ideas come:

They can come at any given moment. They could come when I am in the car driving or in the middle of the night. When God speaks you have to be ready to listen.

Jumpstarts her day:

Every morning, I don’t budge until I do my positive affirmation, and then I do deep breathing, 30 minutes of meditation, and then I walk. It clears my spirit and my mind.

Most proud of:

I am most of proud of the young woman my niece/daughter has become.

Can’t stand:

What frustrates me is when I see people who talk the talk so well and they seem like they get it, but they do not walk the walk.

Lifetime plan:

My vision is to be able to be seen by millions and for millions of people to know what I am about…to know that I have a powerful message and to embrace my message and to feel that magnificent power coming from that message so that they can change their lives. I want that message to be passed on from person to person so that we can change the world.

Can’t get the knack of:

When you are living your purpose, there is nothing you can’t get the knack of.

Word to the wise:

Try to understand that everyone has something that we bring from our childhood into adulthood that stifles our growth. You need to find out what that is. When you find it and eliminate it, so many doors will open up for you.

Getting ahead:

Have an open mind and be open for change. One thing you can definitely count on in your life is change and if you are committed to change, you can have whatever you desire, but it is something you have to embrace very strongly.

Ideal work environment:

Being able to work with people who are hungry for knowledge, who are hungry to succeed, who are hungry for change. I thrive in that type of environment.

Biggest block to creativity:

Not enough hours in the day; sometimes I need to pull myself away. I have to realize that I can’t do it all.

What she learned recently:

I learned that the most effective way for me to get my projects accomplished is to surround myself with very positive people.

Staying motivated:

I have a fabulous networking circle of contacts. I belong to several mastermind groups that are very good, and the number one motivator is my heavenly father.

Books she reads:

Anything that is related to life improvement, self improvement, relationship enhancement. I love reading motivational, powerful, inspiring books. I’ve always been a Zig Ziglar fan.

Next project:

Starting in 2010, I will be doing a lot of touring based on the projects and programs I’ve created and for my latest book.

I am also working on my second book, which will focus on post-recession life planning.

Here is an excerpt from Cathy Holloway Hill’s book, "Emotional Bailout!"